PostGraduate 19 August 2014

8/11/2019 PostGraduate 19 August 2014

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THE STARTuesday 19 August 2014

Spearheading quality education > 8 Fighting economic crime > 16

StarSpecial

Life by designUpskilling professionals for

sustainable living.


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2POSTGRADUATEStarSpecial, Tuesday 19 August 2014

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BY TINA CARMILLIA

GREEN architecture andsustainable building are

relatively new buzzwords.While it once catered to a nichegroup, the trend is slowly seepingnto the wider market.

In fact, sustainable architecturehas always been part of the

rchitecture curriculum at theundergraduate level, but it canbe said that it has only recently

ntered the public consciousnesswith accreditation bodies and

gencies recognising and ratinggreen buildings.

Without a doubt, sustainablebuildings are the future and theres a huge need for research and

postgraduate work in this sphereor this to gain traction in a bigger

way in Malaysia.Strictly speaking, green homes

n Malaysia need to be evaluatednd accredited by the Green

Building Index and GreenRE tobe formally recognised as a greenbuilding, says Ar Melvyn Kanny,principal architect of MJKannyArchitect, who has more thanwo decades of experience inhe construction and property

development industry.Although from the marketing

perspective developers use greenrchitecture as a selling point,he process of getting a buildingssessed and certified consumesime and money.

It may not be worthwhileor private home owners to getheir homes certified as a green

home even if the design andonstruction meet the criteria.

Additionally, there is as muchncentive by the municipal council

or federal government exceptor rebates on energy-efficientlectrical appliances and taxncentives, to name a few.

Maybe that is a good thingbecause it means that those whonsist on green buildings are inact doing it for the right reasonsnstead of financial gains.

Undeniably, the most popularmisconception is that building agreen home is more expensivehan the conventional method.

It is a matter of perspective.ome people will design a home

first and then add green elementso it. Of course that meansdditional costs.

For me, everything beginsrom the start by using less

material and reusing material thatwould typically be wasted. That

lone can cut the overall cost ofhe project, shares Kanny.

Indeed, Kanny adopts amore passive approach unlikeother builders who add greenechnology such as solar panelsnd wind turbines to their

development possibly like anfter-thought.

Architects of a greener future

For example, when Kanny builthis own home, he used concreteblocks as the external walls of abuilding.

In addition to the fact that itdoes not require a paint job, thereis also no need for extra labourcosts to hack into the walls sinceplumbing and wiring can runthrough the hollow spaces withinthe blocks, thus further lowering

the cost.As a result of this simple way

of redefining the way buildingsare designed, green buildingstypically have a more rustic andraw finish, giving it character.

Innovative architecture

Even in a larger scale,sustainable architecture does nothave to be expensive it onlyneeds to be innovative.

Jaime Lerner, the former mayorof Curitiba and former governor ofthe state of Parana in Brazil, is alsoa renowned architect and urbanplanner. During his mayorship, heprovided unorthodox solutions to

Curitiba based on its own uniquegeography, being bordered by afloodplain.

Unlike other wealthier cities,Curitiba is constrained byfinances, so instead of buildingan expensive floodplain system,Curitiba uses municipal sheepto keep the parks vegetationunder control, with the woolfrom the sheep funding childrensprogrammes in the city.

As a result of this innovativeapproach, the city ranks as amongthe top cities in per-capita parkarea.

Lerner says of this feat:Every city in the world canbe improved in less than threeyears. Its not a question of scale;its not a question of financialresources. Every problem in a cityhas to have its own equation ofco-responsibility and design.

Another notable Brazilianlandscape architect is the lateRoberto Burle Marx whose

designs of parks and gardensmade him well-known as amodernist nature artist and publicurban space designer.

His work has inspired andinfluenced many tropical gardendesigns in the 20th century.

One of his last works was theKuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC)Park that adorns the PetronasTwin Towers with greenery.

The park is one of the bestexamples in the country toshowcase an excellent use ofpublic open spaces. It integratestropical greenery with man-madestructures.

The park features acombination of plants and

sculptures to provide colour andform, says Kanny.

The park creates a miniecosystem at the heart of the city,where the temperature is coolerand biodiversity greater than itssurrounding vicinity.

The 20ha park has 66 species ofpalms and 1,900 indigenous trees,some of which are rare speciesselected to attract local andmigratory birds.

Sustainable building andgreen architecture are becomingthe new ideological medium forpublic and living spaces, especially

in urban areas.While some are motivated

to reduce tangible impacts oncarbon footprints and globalwarming, others are justwarming up to the idea of sleekdesign images that results fromusing less material and usingspaces more effectively.

The future is green

Judging from the amount ofprojects, green architecture iscertainly an upcoming trend inthe building industry.

This is due to a fewfactors such as increasingcost of energy and waterdue to subsequent removalof subsidies, the branding ofmultinational companies fromthe aspect of corporate socialresponsibility, and the variousincentives, legislative andpolicy frameworks that makesuch movement feasible, saysLim Gene Harn, green buildingconsultant at IEN Consultants.

Any future architects,

engineers or designers arethe future shapers of our builtenvironment.

It takes experienceand insight to know therelationship between the builtenvironment and the livelihoodof the community, the socialintegration of various citizens,the well-being of naturalenvironment and also economicjustice to all layers of society.

We do not need to reinventthe wheel as the solutions aredisplayed around the world.Thus, I believe any professional

should travel sufficiently witha mind of curiosity to getexperience from abroad, whichcan be the solution for our built

environment, advises Lim tofuture architects and designers.According to Lim, the academic

field may not be providing enoughto produce the talent pipeline forthis trend.

I think most local universitiesdo not have specialisedprogrammes such as buildingscience, energy engineering andbuilding energy models. Younggraduates from the conventionalstudies in this field will struggleas their skill sets are not updatedto the industrys demand, heexplains.

He adds that another challengeis the mentality barrier wheremost young professional have themindset that they have to workin a particular field based on theirtheir educated skill sets.

A fresh graduate inarchitecture is not limited to acareer within architecture firms,but is free to explore careeroptions of the building industrysuch as contractor, developer,landscape designer or interiordesigner to see the industryas a whole by unlearning andrelearning, he says.

Is a postgraduate degreenecessary to fill in the gaps? Limbelieves it is relevant becausepostgraduate education enrichesan individuals experience in aniche subject.

However, I firmly believe one

should have a working experienceof a year or two to get a view ofthe industry and discover what hereally likes to focus on from there.

It is not advisable for one tojump into postgraduate educationjust for the sake of doing so orexpect a higher salary from itbecause often the quality of apersons postgraduate experiencedepends on his passion anddetermination towards a subject,says Lim, who is currentlyundertaking a Master in Scienceprogramme in Architecture(Sustainable Design) in UniversityMalaya.

Kanny also points out thatyoung professionals in this field

tend to switch too fast betweenjobs and firms, leaving for a newopportunity every two or threeyears.

The average project takesthree to four years to complete. So,those who jump from one job toanother will never get to see thecompletion of a project from startto finish.

How then will they be fullyversed in the architecture process?They will never be ready to starttheir own practice, he cautions.

Future architects, engineersor designers are thefuture shapers of our builtenvironment.


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More than phone calls and gamesWHENEVER Mark Ng looks ata smartphone, he sees it asmuch more than a device for

ommunication and entertainment.Smartphones are essentially mini

omputers and can be used for a rangef intelligent engineering and technicalpplications, says the electrical andomputer systems engineer from Monash

University Malaysia.Smartphones are underrated because

hey are generally used for gaming, makingalls and sending messages. In actual fact,hey are mini computers and have theame processing potential as any ordinaryomputer, Ng says.

Ng, who completed his honoursprogramme and PhD at Monash UniversityMalaysia, is engaged in the research field ofault diagnosis and also designs engineeringpplications on mobile computing

platforms.One area Im particularly interested in

xploring is the fast-evolving smartphoneechnology to develop a remote controlystem for data mining and real-time

processing, specifically as a first responseor natural disasters, he says.

When a natural disaster occurs, thefirst thing we need to do is to ensure thathe environment is safe before we send inhe search and rescue teams. The existingystems being used are controlled byomplicated computers that require trainedpecialists to operate.

But in situations such as naturaldisasters, we cant afford to wait for thepecialists to arrive and there is a need forn urgent and quick response.

As smartphone technology continues tovolve, the devices can take up significantly

more processing loads, thus enabling theystems that they control to perform moreomplicated functions.

He has also been exploring the idea ofreating mobile applications for betterafety in automotive systems.

Newer cars have sensors that alert

Mark Ng says smartphones can be used for a range of intelligent engineering and technical applications.

a driver if the car comes too close to thevehicle in front. A mechanism within thecar will then automatically apply the brakesshould the driver ignore the initial warning.There is also a system that gives the drivera warning signal if the vehicle is veering offits lane, he says.

Ng and his team are developing a mobileapplication that will serve as a real-timesafety system for drivers on the road, giventhe fact that cars fitted with the advancedsensors mentioned earlier are still notaffordable for most of the general public.

Most people, however, do own

smartphones and this is where he sees thepotential of this mobile application.

The possibilities of using mobilecomputing are endless, especially with thesmartphone technology evolving as rapidlyas it is, he says.

The downside to this mobile technologyis the battery life of smartphones, whichtends to deplete very quickly. However,Ng says that researchers and technologycompanies worldwide are already findingways to create longer lasting batteries andhe believes that the smartphone industrywill benefit from this in the near future.

Ng, who teaches electrical systemsand electronic systems and control at theSchool of Engineering, says the potential ofutilising smartphones to control a growingnumber of engineering systems is stilllargely untapped. He adds that many ofhis students have shown keen interest inpursuing this area of research.

All Monash University Malaysiaengineering programmes are accreditedby Engineers Australia and have beenapproved by the Engineering AccreditationCouncil Malaysia.

nFor more information, visitwww.eng.monash.edu.my

Smartphones areessentially minicomputers and can

be used for a range ofintelligent engineeringand technicalapplications.As smartphonetechnology continuesto evolve, the devicescan take up significantlymore processingloads, thus enablingthe systems that theycontrol to perform more

complicated functions.

BESIDES the challenges of greenarchitecture, space constraint is also one ofthe biggest concerns for architects today.Small-space living is the norm in the city.Instead of boxing out the interior spacesfrom the natural outdoors, architects areturning to nature for inspiration.

When a structure is opened tothe elements outside, it is not a staticspace anymore, unlike spaces that haveboundaries or clear segments, says Kanny.

Property prices are skyrocketing so tomake homes affordable, developers are

building smaller homes to offset the risingprice-per-square-feet. Condominium unitscan be as small as 500sq ft and this is thetypical first home for many young homeowners especially in the city.

By making wise decisions in materialchoices, the market price for it can also bereduced over the course of time.

Timber, for example, easily takesmore than a century to grow into qualityhardwood that can be used for buildingmaterial, making it not just expensivebut an unsustainable choice. A cheaperlocal solution to this is bamboo, whichcan be used for flooring and even to makefurniture. Bamboo grows much faster thantimber and can be found in abundance.

Additionally, the country is runningout of local marble sources and relies on

imported marbles. Just like fur, which usedto be fashionable a few decades ago but isnow rejected, I hope that the same will betrue for materials like marble and timberas people change their perspective, saysKanny.

Another problem faced by urbandwellers is sick building syndrome (SBS),which affects thousands of office buildingworkers due to poor indoor air quality asa result of flaws in heating, ventilation andair-conditioning systems.

Additionally, volatile organic compounds(VOC), toxic materials that can be foundin paint and furniture adhesives, furthercontaminate the air quality indoors.

Thus, new green building designsattempt to remodel the way office buildingsare designed to address SBS.

Besides switching to anti-oxidant paintand designing the buildings in such a waythat it benefits from natural wind flow,another way to improve the health of officeworkers lies in using space and lightingefficiently. This is Lims area of interest and

the subject of his research.My thesis argues that an office work

space that uses natural daylight withtask lamps are more economically,environmentally and ergonomicallyeffective in comparison to the conventionaloffice ceiling down lights. It is my hope thatthis research can contribute to a conclusionthat we need not over-light an office spaceand incur unnecessary energy usage,explains Lim.

The shift towards environmentallyconscious consumer behaviour means thatarchitects, designers and urban plannersneed to work together and rise up tothe high expectations of delivering cost-savvy and environmentally sustainablebuildings while complying to the laws andregulations related to green architecture.

The federal government has alreadyimposed policies to ensure that newprojects in Putrajaya and the GoldenTriangle in Kuala Lumpur are certified asgreen buildings.

It is not too far-fetched to imagine thatin the future, there will be a blanket policyacross the entire nation that will make itthe norm, says Kanny.

To put it succinctly, he concludes:Green architecture is the only future forbuildings.

It is a matter of design> FROM PAGE 2


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StarSpecial, Tuesday 19 August 2014 POSTGRADUATE7

A benchmarkin flexiblelearning

THESE days it is difficult

for working professionals,particularly those who

ravel frequently or have busywork schedules, to find good

ptions for further study.Balancing studies with

work and family commitmentss not easy so flexibility iskey consideration in any

programme of study.GlobalNxt University, a

Manipal Group Institution,pecifically targets working

professionals and mobilexecutives who desire highly

flexible, high-quality educationwith a global perspective.

With its academicheadquarters in KL Sentral, the

university began operations inDecember 2012.

The university has a richcademic heritage. It was firststablished in 2002 in Singapores the U21Global graduatechool.

After 10 years and 7,000raduates, the institution wasnvited to re-establish itselfs a full-fledged university in

Malaysia as part of the countrysvision to be a global educationhub.

GlobalNxt Universitysdistinctive feature is its learning

pproach and interactive, globallassroom model.

Students can log on to the

lobal classrooms anytimend anywhere with Internetonnection. In the classroom,tudents have access to course

materials, videos, lectureecordings and the e-library

with more than 40,000 journalsnd 75,000 e-books.

The learning experience ishighly engaging as studentsnteract with each other andheir professors through

discussion boards and virtual

webinar (web seminar)sessions so they feel constantlysupported in their studies.

In fact, they get to engagewith students from more than73 different countries as part ofa global learning community.

Each classroom is facilitatedby a professor from theuniversitys pool of morethan 50 international facultymembers from across the world.

GlobalNxt University isone of the few institutionswhere all faculty membershave a doctoral degreeand substantial researchexperience. Furthermore, 70%of its professors have industrial

experience.Students can get in touch

with their professors for queriesand will find the professorshelpful in supporting andguiding them through theirstudies.

In addition, the universityalso has a capable support teamthat comprises programmeexecutives and technical staffwho can address any issues orproblems that a student mayhave.

Students also have theoption to study at a pace thatsuits them. An MBA student, forexample, can complete his MBAbetween 14 months and three

years.The university has launched

its first Doctorate of BusinessAdministration programme.Admissions are currently openwith a 50% scholarship on thefull fee. Students with relevantexperience will be eligible forcredit transfer.

nFor more information, e-mailat [email protected]

lobalNxt University offers students a learning experience that is highlyngaging.


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Spearheading quality educationL

OCAL private and public educationalinstitutions have always strived topar graduates with their

nternational counterparts.A popular concern amongndustry circles is that graduatesre not as skilled and competent as thendustry demands them to be.

Open University Malaysia (OUM) ist the frontline in terms of providing

business administration, managementnd marketing programmes via itsaculty of Business and Management.

OUM recently restructuredts Faculty of Business and

Management to OUMBusiness School (OUMBS)

nd is now enhanced byxperienced instructors,ound support andxcellent students.

Pro-chancellor ofOUM, Tan Sri AzmanHashim, says despiteompeting with a

variety of public andprivate institutions ofhigher learning that

xist in this country,OUM still has a distinct

dvantage in termsof the virtual learning

nvironment.He adds that through

Despite competingwith a variety of

public and privateinstitutions of higherlearning that existin this country, OUMstill has a distinctadvantage in termsof the virtual learningenvironment.

The advantages of OUMBS include:

Delivery approach 50% academics +50% industry practitioners (qualified andexperienced) to conduct seminars.

Community of learners local andinternational students benefit fromon-time credit transfers between OUMand its partners.

Flexible flowof professorsbetween/among OUM partners to teach students.

Rapid updating of knowledgein thesyllabus so that the topics discussedin the classrooms or at seminars arecurrent.

the e-learning system provided, studentsare required to participate in the online

forum to discuss among

themselves and withtheir tutors on thesubject and given

assignments.The Learning

Management System(LMS) was developed by

the staff of OUM whenthe university was formed.

It serves as the mainplatform for the

delivery ofcontent by theuniversity.

Azman,who is alsothe chairmanof theAmBankGroup, sayshe willensure thatthe deliverymethodsfollow the

most innovative delivery approach usingmultimedia and technology. This is forOUM to maintain its reputation as a top-notch university.

These are efforts on our part to ensurethat no other institution can rival OUMin terms of offering quality educationthat meets the markets demands. Moststudents today tend to choose programmesthat are considered easy but do notmeet the requirements of the market,thus causing an alarming increase inunemployment rates, he says.

Another main national concern is thatmore than half of university graduates areweak in English and this is also a concernfor Azman. He adds that OUM is tacklingthis issue by placing emphasis on masteringthe skills of communication.

He says that OUMBS graduates who wishto become successful entrepreneurs mustbe competitive, possess self-confidenceand have the ability to self-improve ones

communication skills in English.This is because in every business there

is stiff competition and if graduates are notwilling to level themselves in the field, theywill be left behind.

Meanwhile, the dean and director ofOUMBS, Assoc Prof Dr Wardah Mohamad,says that the rebranding of OUMBS has seena record intake of students since January.

She says that some of the popularprogrammes offered include the Bachelorof Business Administration (BBA) (Hons),Bachelor in Management (BIM) (Hons) andthe Bachelor in Marketing (BM) (Hons). Inits intake next month, OUMBS will offer theBachelor of Banking and Finance (Hons) tomeet the increased market demands.

Our long-term goal is to meet theindustrys ever-changing patterns, in

addition to producing good-qualitygraduates at the local, regional and globallevel. So far, the number of postgraduate

students at OUMBS has increased becauseof operational efficiency, appropriatemarketing initiatives and continuousprogramme quality, she says.

Dr Wardah adds that with experiencedlecturers in the fields of teaching, researchand publication, OUMBS will also offeradditional programmes that are relevant tothe field of business.

We also have lecturers who are PhDholders from both foreign and localuniversities, she says, adding that OUMBSstrives to be known as an institutionthat catalyses the knowledge and criticalthinking skills of a person.

Academic staff and tutors need to becontinuously trained and upgraded in theirpedagogical skills. Learners who are OUMsmost important stakeholder need to be fullytrained to cope well in their online learningenvironment. This will catapult OUMBS asa producer of innovative and competentgraduates.

The restructuring of a faculty is oneof the universitys on-going efforts tointernationalise courses. Few maincampuses have been specifically chosen tobe a national centre for a specific faculty.

For instance, the Sri Rampai branchis the national centre for the Faculty ofInformation Technology and MultimediaCommunication (FITMC) and the PetalingJaya branch, the Nursing and Allied HealthScience Faculty.

nFor more information, callAssoc Prof Dr Wardah Mohamad, dean ofOUMBS on 03-8922 2294 or Assoc Prof DrRichard Ng on 03-2773 2211

Pro-chancellorof OUM,Tan Sri AzmanHashim.

The OUM Business School aims to produce graduates who meet the ever-changing needs of the industry.

Tan Sri Azman Hashim


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Transitioning

towards competitiveself-sustainabilityT

HE public funding ofinstitutions of higherlearning has always

been a major influence onn institutions activities ineaching and research.

Recent funding reformsby the government shiftedhe funding mechanismso enable universities to

become more dynamic,ompetitive and productive.

The strategy, premisedupon the National HigherEducation Strategic PlanNHESP), if followed closely

by public universities,will transform the higher

ducation system and raiset to world-class standingnd make the country the

hub of higher education inhe region.

The government haslso introduced a systemo categorise public

universities under theategories of research

university, comprehensiveuniversity and focused

university to determinehe area and level of fundllocation.

In addition, universitiesre expected to generatet least 30% of their ownunding by next year.

Beyond 2020, publicuniversities are expected tobe self-sustainable withoutmuch reliance on federalunding.

In answer to theovernments call,

Universiti Utara MalaysiaUUM) has been generatingts own revenue fromunding sources createdhrough its holdings

ompany UniutamaManagement Holdings SdnBhd (UMHSB).

UMHSB wasncorporated in May999 as a private limitedompany. It is whollywned by UUM and hasuthorised capital of

RM10mil and paid upapital of RM5.8mil.

UMHSB acts as aorporate business wingf UUM and deals withommercial activities

within and without theintok campus.

UMHSB has venturednto several business

fields through its fourubsidiaries, namely

Uniutama Education SdnBhd (UECSB), UniutamaProperty Sdn Bhd (UPSB),Uniutama Travels & Tours

dn Bhd (UTTSB) anderindIT.Com Sdn BhdSerindIT).

SerindIT has recentlybeen rebranded asUniutama Solutions Sdn

ByPROFDATUKWIRA DRMOHAMEDMUSTAFAISHAK

VC COLUMN

Bhd (USSB).UECSB focuses on areas

related to consultation,training, educationand human capitaldevelopment.

Some of the projectsit has carried outinclude in-housetraining programmesin team building,leadership, management,communication and skillsenhancement.

UECSB has also providedpublic courses and eventmanagement servicessuch as the intensivecourse for the Japanese

Language Proficiency Testand a promotional visitby the China EducationalDelegation.

UPSB managesbusinesses related toproperty development andfacilities management.As its pilot project, UPSBcarried out maintenancework for the universitycampus.

Now, its main operationfocuses on contract workin agriculture, forestry andlandscaping, not only forthe university campus, butalso for external agencies.

UTTSB provides tour,

travel and ticketing servicesnot only to the staff andstudents of UUM, but also tomembers of the public.

UTTSB also runs foodand beverage outlets andprovides hotel servicesthrough The University Inn,and tour bus services.

UTTSBs aim centreson enhancing its incomeearning capacity forUUM while providingtourism and hospitalityservices more efficientlyand effectively to thecommunity.

Lastly, USSB is thebackbone of research and

development for UUM inthe field of ICT and systemdevelopment. It is also asoftware and hardwarevendor.

Not only has USSB beenimproving the productivityand competitiveness ofall the other businessesthrough the use of ICT formore than a decade, it hasalso been providing such

services to UUM.In fact, our campus was

among the earliest in thecountry to be fully equippedwith ICT infrastructure inaddition to being the firstuniversity to be fully wiredwith fibre optic cables.

Furthermore, we werethe first institution of higherlearning in the countryto receive the MS ISO IEC27001:2007 InformationSecurity ManagementSystem (ISMS) certificationfrom Sirim in 2012.

This certificationrecognises our informationmanagement system forexcellent ability to safeguardagainst security risks andcyber threats.

Other business venturesby UMHSB centre on:lRunning the NationalService Training Camp oncampuslLaundry serviceslInsurance brokingserviceslRunning a tuition centrelFilm productionlE-Umrah services

UUM, through UMHSB,ventured into the above-listed fields to address thebusiness needs of not justthe campus population butalso the growing market inthe vicinity.

As a result, of all thepublic universities in thecountry, we generate thehighest revenue.

Our ability to diversifyour sources of revenue willcertainly help us gain acompetitive financial edgein the overall management

of our activities in teachingand research.

Being self-reliant andself-sustainable are thehallmarks of a matureinstitution, and UUM willexcel in being one becausewe pride ourselves on beingan eminent managementuniversity.

By providing excellentand efficient businessservices to the UUM campuscommunity and the widercommunity at large, I amconfident that UMHSB willcontinue to contribute tothe growth of the universityrevenue.

This will enable UUMto contribute significantlyto the enhancement of thequality of Malaysian highereducation, in keeping withthe governments NHESPobjectives.

nProf Datuk Wira DrMohamed Mustafa Ishakis the vice-chancellor ofUniversiti Utara Malaysia.


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Foreign partnershipsthat give you an edge

UNIVERSITI Putra Malaysia(UPM) offers students anedge in their career when

hey opt for the InternationalCollaborative Dual/JointPostgraduate ProgrammeUPM-ICP).

This programme can either bedual or joint degree from top-

notch universities that are withinhe collaboration.

The programme is undoubtedlygreat opportunity for students toobtain their masters or PhD fromnot only UPM, a leading premieruniversity, but also from toporeign universities.

Foreign experience is crucialor the intellectual, academicnd personal development of atudent. Pursuing a postgraduate

programme at UPM providestudents with a platform to gain

different experiences, learn anddevelop new skills and buildprofessional linkages.

A dual or joint degrees coupledwith a well-rounded personalitywill give students a competitive

dvantage in the global market.UPM currently has 10

programmes under UPM-ICP.The number of programmes is

xpected to increase to 13 by endof this year. UPM-ICP was initiatedn 2009 when the universityigned an agreement with the

University of Sheffield to offerointly awarded research degree

programmes.The two types of collaborative

programme available in UPM arehe Jointly Awarded Research

Degree (JARD) and the DualDegree. For the JARD programme,tudents will receive a jointlyonferred degree upon completion

of their studies. The Dual Degree

programme offers studentstwo certificates issued by bothuniversities upon completion oftheir studies.

Below is the list of the UPM-ICPprogrammes:lUPM-University of SheffieldJointly Awarded PhD DegreelUPM-Universit Pierre et MarieCurie Dual PhD Degree

lUPM-Ajou University DualMaster of SciencelUPM-Kyushu Institute ofTechnology Dual PhD DegreelUPM-University of NewcastleAustralia Jointly Awarded PhDDegreelUPM-University of NottinghamMalaysia Campus Dual PhDDegree

lUPM-University of SouthernQueensland Dual PhD DegreelUPM-Universit Montpellier 2Dual PhD DegreelUPM-University of Glasgow DualMaster of SciencelUPM-Naresuan University DualMaster and PhD Degree.

This programme requiresstudents to spend part of their

studies at UPM and at least oneyear for PhD programme andsix months for the mastersprogramme at the partneruniversity. The students progresswill be supervised and monitoredby a joint supervisory committeefrom both universities.

nFor more information,call 03-8946 4207, [email protected] or visitwww.sgs.upm.edu.my

Universiti Putra Malaysia has10 programmes under theInternational CollaborativeDual/Joint PostgraduateProgramme (UPM-ICP).

The dual or joint degrees will givestudents a competitive advantagein the global market.


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StarSpecial, Tuesday 19 August 2014 POSTGRADUATE 11

MOST workingprofessionals todaychoose to enrol in an

MBA programme as it is aplatform to propel their salary

nd career growth.According to the GMAC

Global Management EducationGraduate Survey, 85% of

raduates reported thatheir graduate managementducation gave them aompetitive advantage in theob market and 77% felt their

MBA afforded them new careerpportunities.

It was also reported that

tudents who have more thanix years of work experiencexpect to see a 57% increase inarnings after obtaining their

MBA.Today, working professionals

have many options when itomes to choosing an MBA.

Given the many optionsvailable, it is imperative thathey choose a programme thatdds value to their career.

It is also important forhem to choose an MBA that

not only focuses on classroomearning and case studies butlso gives them the opportunityo network with peers andndustry leaders.

Taylors University isntroducing its new MBA

programme that stronglydvocates industry-drivenxperience and experientialearning, not only from thepeakers and adjunct professors

who conduct the classes, butlso among students whoome from various industrial

backgrounds.Unlike other MBA

programmes, the Taylors MBAllows students to go throughxperiential learning via the

Business Circle gathering.The Business Circle is a series

f networking and businesseminars by industry and

orporate leaders who havebeen invited to share theirhoughts and experiences withtudents.

This session is designed tollow face-to-face interactionnd idea exchange betweentudents and guest speakersrom top industries.

Business Circle, whichlso provides an enhanced

networking platform, will see

participation from top industrypartners who adopt specificmodules to share their valuableinsights on the industries.

The learning experienceof a Taylors MBA is uniqueas it allows students to workon actual cases presentedby industry partners. Thesereal-life cases allow them tolearn how to apply certaintechniques and informationand it is invaluable as theylearn from real situations, saysVinitha Guptan, dean of TaylorsBusiness School.

She adds that an MBA

does not just add value toprofessionals wealth ofknowledge but also gives themthe opportunity to grow theirnetwork with like-mindedindividuals.

The Taylors MBA programmealso offers students the globalrotation option. Studentscan do a certain module forseven to nine days betweenMay and September everyyear via the Taylors-OxfordEntrepreneurship LeadershipProgramme at OxfordUniversity, UK.

This will give students accessto professors and networkingopportunities with industry

leaders in other countries aswell as students from otheruniversities.

The Taylors MBA isconducted by the TaylorsBusiness School, one of thelargest and most reputablebusiness schools in privatehigher education in Malaysia.

An industry-relevantcurriculum provides a balancebetween theoretical andpractical education based on thelatest professional standards,practices and requirementsof todays global businesscommunity. The final yearproject must be of an industry-based model.

The Taylors MBA is offeredon a full-time basis for aduration of one year or on apart-time basis for a minimumof two years and a maximum offive years. Scholarships are alsoavailable.

nFor more information,call 03-5629 5000, [email protected] visit www.taylors.edu.my

he Taylors MBA provides students with industry-driven experience andxperiential learning.

Learning from

industry experts


12/16


Do your residency in the US

MALAYSIA is a country that continues toproduce good quality doctors year after year.However, the medical industry in Malaysias extremely competitive and sometimes,ood physicians fail to achieve recognition

because of the surplus of doctors and medicalraduates.

An easy way to stay ahead of theompetition is by enrolling in the Unitedtates Medical Licensing ExaminationUSMLE).

The USMLE is a three-step examination formedical licensure in the United States. Upon

btaining the USMLE, successful candidatesan proceed to carry out their specialisationsn the US.

The USMLE assesses a physicians abilityo apply knowledge, concepts and principles,nd to demonstrate fundamental patient-entred skills.

Many medical students and doctorsfrom countries such as Singapore andThailand have successfully undergone theUSMLE examinations and progressed totheir specialisation residency in the US.

Nugrahan Sdn Bhd was appointedas the sole representative for educationprovider Kaplan in Malaysia to assistMalaysian students through the USMLEprogramme.

Students can enrol in the programmewhile they are still in medical school.Nugrahan and Kaplan aim to providedoctors and medical students with a widerperspective on what they can achieve withtheir skills and knowledge.

nFor information, call1800 222 939 or visitwww.facebook.com/kaplannugrahanusmle

Nugrahan Sdn Bhdwas appointedas the solerepresentativefor educationprovider Kaplan in

Malaysia.

Providingopportunities forskills developmentT

HE College ofGraduate Studies(COGS) at Universiti

Tenaga Nasional (Uniten)was established in1999, with the objectiveof coordinating allpostgraduate programmes.

With the universitysvision of becoming aleading global universitythat shapes a sustainablefuture, COGS providesopportunities for graduates,professionals and the publicto enhance their academicand professional skills viapostgraduate studies.

The journeyforward

COGS has developed astrategic plan addressingthe concerns and issuesbrought by its stakeholders Tenaga Nasional Berhad,the Ministry of Education(MOE), industries, students,professional bodies andfunding and regulatorybodies.

COGS supports andaligns its strategic planwith that of Unitens WI5Estrategic plan.

To realise its vision andmission, COGS defines andsets its direction for thefuture through:lQuality postgraduateprogrammeslCreating a niche in energyand sustainabilitylBecoming a top businessschool in MalaysialIncreasing graduates andpostgraduate enrolmentslRevitalising its currentprogrammes

Below are some ofthe steps COGS will taketowards achieving theoutlined strategies:lEnsuring that allprogrammes are accreditedby the MalaysianQualifications Agency andthe MOElPromoting COGSpostgraduate programmesto ministries overseaslFacilitating studentmobility between partneruniversitieslPromoting Malaysianpostgraduates to utiliseMyMaster, MyPhD andMyPhD industry grants

lExpanding the GraduateBusiness School andstrengthening its networksbetween MalaysianuniversitieslMaintaining itsmembership in theMalaysian Deans ofGraduate School andMalaysian Deans ofGraduate Business SchoolCouncil

Programmes available at COGS

Full Research Structure A1. Master of ElectricalEngineering2. Master of MechanicalEngineering3. Master of Civil Engineering4. Master of Industrial Science5. Master of InformationTechnology6. PhD in Engineering

7. PhD in Industrial Science8. PhD in Information &Communication9. PhD in Business Management

Sultan Haji Ahmad ShahCampus10. Master of Science inManagement11. Master of Science inAccounting12. Master of Science in Finance

Coursework andresearch Structure B1. Master of ElectricalEngineering2. Master of MechanicalEngineering3. Master of InformationTechnology4. Master of SoftwareEngineering

Coursework andproject Structure C1. Master in EngineeringManagement2. Master of BusinessAdministration3. Master of CommunicationSystems Engineering4. Master of Electronics andSystems Engineering

lOrganising annualprogramme reviews toensure all programmes areup-to-date with the current

trendslImproving online facilitiesto ensure excellent studentservice in the future

Uniten NationalGraduate Conference

Postgraduate studiesrequire students to presenttheir ideas and researchfindings in an effective way.

To facilitate this, thecollege annually organisesthe Uniten NationalGraduate Conference(Natgrad), previously knownas Uniten SCORED.

This conference provides

a platform for postgraduatestudents to present theirresearch findings andexchange ideas on currentresearch issues.

Graduate BusinessSchool

The Graduate

Business School (GBS)was established by theuniversity to managebusiness-relatedpostgraduate programmes.The school is jointlymanaged by COGS and theCollege of Business andAccounting (COBA) withthe aim of becoming oneof the top business schoolsin Malaysia. GBS strives toimprove the quality of itsprogrammes by recruitingqualified and experiencedacademicians in the areaof business and its relateddomains. GBS is currentlyheaded by Prof Dr Zainal

Ariffin Ahmad.

nFor more information,call 03-8921 2020 or visitwww.uniten.edu.my

20

programmesoffered

920

students(2013)

295

internationalstudents

625

local students8

administration staff

8

programmecoordinators

Quick Facts on the College of Graduate Studies.

Postgraduate enrolments from 2011 to 2013 with details oninternational and local students numbers.

20132012

Year

International Lo cal To tal

Numberofstu

dents

2011

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000


13/16


An enriching medical educationS

EVEN members of the IrishMedical Council recentlyvisited Perdana University

Royal College of Surgeons in

reland (PU-RCSI).During their visit, they metwith the PU-RCSI faculty, students

nd clinicians.The Irish Medical Council

omplimented PU-RCSI on itsprogress in terms of clinicalplacements for students,eaching facilities in hospitals,he expansion of the facultynd collaborative postgraduateesearch, courses andxaminations.

A uniqueprogramme

The PU-RCSIprogramme is a five-yearmedical programmehat was establishedn 2011. Its firstraduation ceremony

will take place in June016.

Accreditation forhe undergraduate

medical programmes by the National

University of IrelandNUI), the Irish

Medical Councilnd the Malaysian

Medical Council.What is unique

bout PerdanaUniversity is that it

is a public-private partnership.The Perdana University-RCSIcollaboration is part of a largerproject the Academic Medical

Centre, which is developing acentre of excellence for medicinein Malaysia.

The AMCplans tobuild acustom-builtmedicalcampus,

primarily composed of a privateteaching hospital, a researchcentre and the Perdana Universitycampus, says Prof Cathal Kelly,

the chief executive of the RoyalCollege of Surgeons in Ireland,who was on his regular quarterlyvisit to Perdana University.

PU-RCSI School of Medicinecomprises departmentsin anatomy, physiology,biochemistry, psychology, clinicalpharmacology, epidemiology/public health medicine, pathology,microbiology, medicine andsurgery.

Having the bestin the business

Faculty members of PU-RCSISchool of Medicine includescientists and clinicians fromIreland, Malaysia and othercountries.

Prof David Adams (pic) isexpected to take up the position

What is uniqueabout PerdanaUniversity

is that it is apublic-privatepartnership.The PerdanaUniversity-RCSIcollaborationis part of alarger project the AcademicMedicalCentre, whichis developing

a centre ofexcellence formedicine inMalaysia.

of dean of PU-RCSI School ofMedicine this month.

Prof Anthony Cunninghamserved a three-year term asfoundation dean of the schoolduring which he was supportedby a programme office in Dublin.

He also led the academic andadministrative team consisting

of staff seconded from RCSI inIreland and those who wereappointed locally.

Creating high-qualitystudents

PU-RCSI School of Medicine isfounded on the principle that thepatients interest is paramount inclinical teaching, medical practiceand research.

The objective of the schoolis to provide the education andexperience that will equip ourgraduates to enter postgraduatetraining for any speciality ofmedicine.

This is what drives thedecisions we make in relation tothe programme, says Prof Kelly.

RCSI has a long connectionwith Malaysia and we lookforward to continuing thisrelationship for the benefit ofeducating health professionals ofthe future.

Perdana University is anambitious project to establish aninternational centre of excellencein education, and we at RCSIare pleased to partner with theuniversity in its undergraduatemedical programme, heconcludes.

nFor more information,call 03-8941 8646, [email protected] or visitwww.perdanauniversity.edu.my


14/16


Finding the right universityF

OR Stefanie Ng, looking fora university to do her PhDwas challenging. It was

Asia e Universitys (AeU) logond tagline, its awards and theuniqueness of the AeU brand to

ffer lifelong learning, that caughther eye and ended her search.

She found the low admissionee, fee discounts, flexibility of

payment and learning modesnd AeUs environment highlyttractive.

Ng elected for a PhD (BusinessAdministration). As a retiree, she

njoyed a 50% discount on theprogramme fees, in addition tohe further discounts for earlyee payment and student loyaltyffered by AeU as incentives.

Being a retiree, pursuing a PhDwas often questioned by peopleround her. She replied that

learning is a lifelong pursuit andthat the AeU brand particularlyappealed to her.

Currently in her secondyear, the exposure to variousresearch workshops, colloquiaand clinics have given her theconfidence to go through withher PhD programme. There are16 research workshops and tworesearch colloquia and clinicsavailable during each semester toenhance students competency inusing quantitative and qualitativeresearch methods.

Interactions with the facultymembers and thesis supervisorshelp maintain the welfare ofdoctoral candidates at all stages oftheir PhD journey. Ng is currentlyin her data collection stage, havinggone through the proposal twomonths earlier.

These two years at AeU haveempowered me to re-definelearning using the right

combination of tools, materials,people and other resources, saysNg.

A unique educationprovider

Within a span of seven yearssince its inception in April 2007as an open and distance learning(ODL) university supported by33 Asian countries under theauspices of Asia CooperationDialogue (ACD), AeU has emergedas a powerful brand in theniche segment of postgraduateeducation within a fast growinghigher education market in Asia.

Using an innovative dual-mode system to deliver study

programmes and resources,AeU also caters to internationalstudents seeking higher education

under a reliable and flexiblee-learning environment.Adult learners who work

can balance their work andstudy thanks to the flexibility,affordability and quality highereducation that form the keyunique features of AeU.

In my two years ofeducation at AeU, I gained awealth of knowledge and skillsin conducting research, datacollection, data analysis andthesis writing. It is a journeyof self-discovery and personaltransformation, says Ng.

nFor more information, call1300 300 238 or apply online atwww.aeu.edu.my

Stefanie Ng saw a lot of benefitsin undertaking a PhD (BusinessAdministration) at AeU.

ACCORDING to QS IntelligenceUnit 2013/14 (QS topMBA.comJobs and Salary TrendsReport),there was a 14% increase inMBA job opportunities last year.

I believe ambitiousexecutives should enrol inan MBA programme to gainleverage and capitalise onthese job opportunities, saysLow Hong Keng, head of KBUsSchool of Business, Hospitalityand Tourism Management.

A bachelors degree isinadequate for those whowant to move up the corporateladder. This is why KBU

International College offersa time-tested, rigorous andprestigious MBA programmein collaboration with the LordAshcroft International BusinessSchool of Anglia RuskinUniversity (ARU) in the UnitedKingdom.

The masters programmeis specifically designed tofacilitate executives who wantto move from their specialistposition to a more senior role intheir organisation.

The programme has amore generalist and strategicapproach than those focused onspecific subject areas.

KBUs MBA programme is

internationally recognised andaccredited by the Associationof Business Schools, a body thatrepresents leading businessschools in the UK. It is also anauthoritative voice of businessand management education inthe UK.

Besides being tutored bya highly qualified teachingteam that comprises doctorateholders with industry

experience, students alsobenefit from lectures by visitingUK academics, live lecturesvia video conferencing by UKprofessors and guest lectures byindustry specialists.

Flexibility is another strongpoint of the programme withstudents being able to choosebetween full-time or part-timeclasses.

The part-time classes areheld on Saturdays and Sundays.The MBA programme stretchesover four semesters and aimsto produce well-roundedgraduates.

The academic calendarconsists of two semesters a year(January to April and Septemberto December) to allowstudents an optimal balanceof professional, personal anduniversity life.

Students also do not haveto worry about preparing forexams as the course is 100%assignment-based.

They also have access toEmerald database, the worldsleading scholarly publisher ofjournals and books in businessand management, and ARUsextensive e-library, makingresearching much easier.

ACCA and CIMA members

will be exempted from fourout of the 11 modules. Thesemodules are organisationalbehaviour, decision making andproblem solving, marketingmanagement, and strategicfinancial analysis.

nFor more information, call03-7727 3200, e-mail [email protected] or visitwww.kbu.edu.my

KBUs masters programmeis specifically designed forexecutives who want to movefrom their specialist positionto a more senior role in theirorganisation.

Boost your career


15/16


The College of Graduate Studies, Universiti Tenaga Nasional ( UNITEN ) aims not only to enhance thecompetency and market value of Malaysias professional workforce, but also to provide opportunities for bright

minds to innovate, specialise, and become experts in their chosen professions. In order to achieve this

objective, the university is offering a diverse range of postgraduate programmes in Engineering, Business, and

Information Technology.

With experienced industry professionals on its teaching staff, UNITEN is able to offer courses that are tailored

to the needs of the job market. We believe that the blend of industrial experience and academic knowledge will

produce balanced graduates to cater to the needs of the market place. Discover our postgraduate programmes

and benefit from UNITENS wealth of experience. Enrol today and stay ahead of the rest.

Ph.D in Industrial ScienceJPT/BPP(KA11222)04/15

Ph.D in Information & Communication TechnologyJPT/BPP(KA11224)07/15

Ph.D in EngineeringJPT/BPP(R520/8/0041)12/17

Ph.D in Business ManagementJPT/BPP(R/345/8/0476)02/19

Master of Civil EngineeringJPT/BPP(R/526/7/0052)04/19

Master of Information TechnologyJPT/BPP(R481/7/0220)12/17

Master of Mechanical EngineeringJPT/BPP(R521/7/0089)04/19

Master of Industrial ScienceJPT/BPP(KA11223)04/15

(Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Campus) * Malaysian applicant only

Master of Science in ManagementJPT/BPP(N/345/7/0133)03/17

Master of Science in AccountingJPT/BPP(N/344/7/0093)06/17

Master of Science in FinanceJPT/BPP(N/343/7/0041)06/17

Master of Mechanical EngineeringJPT/BPP(R/521/7/0026)03/18

Master of Electrical EngineeringJPT/BPP(R/522/7/0027)12/17

Master of Information TechnologyJPT/BPP(R/481/7/0399)05/19

Master of Software EngineeringJPT/BPP(N/481/7/0476)03/19(Malaysian Applicant Only)

Master of Business AdministrationJPT/BPP(R/340/7/0156)02/17

JPT/BPP(N/340/7/0034)03/16

(Putrajaya & Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Campus)

Master of Communication Systems EngineeringJPT/BPP(N/523/7/0038)05/16

Master of Electronics and Systems EngineeringJPT/BPP(N/523/7/0019)03/16

Master of Engineering ManagementJPT/BPP(R/520/7/0031)02/17

ELECTRICALPOWER ENGINEERING

Power System Operation &Analysis

Protection, Control and Communication

Power System Economics

Power Electronics, Machine & Drive

Power Quality

Electromagnetics

High Voltage and Power System

Components

Renewable Energy

MECHANICALENGINEERING

Computational Fluid Dynamics

Advanced Manufacturing

Mobile Robotic

Computational Mechanics

Power Generation and Alternative Energy

Biomechanics

Advanced Materials

ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATION

Communication Network

Telecommunication System

Photonic Technologies

Radio Frequency and Microwave

Computer Engineering

Signal Processing and Control Systems (SpaCS)

Embedded System

Microelectronics

CIVILENGINEERING

Water Environment Engineering

Transportation Research

Geotechnical and Geology

Structural and Materials

Forensic Engineering

INDUSTRIALSCIENCE

Industrial &Applied Mathematics

Environmental Science & Chemical Technology

Numerical & Scientific Computing

Applied Optics

Applied Statistics

Materials Science Research

INFORMATIONAND COMMUNICATIONTECHNOLOGY

Graphics and Multimedia

Information Systems

Software Engineering

System and Network

BUSINESSADMINISTRATION

Business Management

Quantitative Economics

Communication/Management/Marketing Group

Economics and Related Disciplines

Submit Application to:

Registrar Office, Level 2, Administration Building, Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, 43000 Kajang, Selangor.

Tel: 603-8921 2020 Email: [email protected]

Research Research Areas

Download Application Form :

www.uniten.edu.my/go/postgrad

One of the selected Universities for the MyMaster, MyPhD and Industrial

PhD programmes under the Ministry of Higher Education

CLOSINGDATE

19/09/2014(Malaysian Applicant)

Coursework&Research

Coursework&Project

POSTGRADUATEPROGRAMMES

(Ph.D & Master)

OCTOBER 2014 SESSION

Curtin Sarawak is a leading international universityand has attracted students from all over the worldto its state-of-the-art campus.

Expanding horizonsW

ORKING professionals withundergraduate degrees can expandtheir horizons or become experts in

heir fields through postgraduate study at

Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia.Postgraduate studies are a growing areaf Curtin Sarawak and hold huge potentialor future growth given the large numberf professionals in the oil and gas industryn Miri.

There is also a demand for highly skilledprofessionals and experts for industrieswithin the Sarawak Corridor of RenewableEnergy (SCORE).

At Curtin Sarawak, one can choose toomplete a range of postgraduate studies.tudents eligible for postgraduate study arelso given the options to do it via researchr coursework.

Its School of Business offers graduateertificates, graduate diplomas andmasters in project management,ll of which are by coursework. This

helps students gain the understanding,knowledge and skills necessary to become

ffective project managers.There is also a PhD programme by

esearch on offer.The programme is identical in all aspects

o the one offered at Curtins main campusn Perth, Western Australia, and adopts aeneric approach to project management.

It is therefore, applicable to a varietyf industries, including construction,ngineering, education, health, commerce,nformation technology and research and

development.Furthermore, the qualifications are

warded under the Australian Qualificationsramework and are accredited by the

Australian government.The qualifications are recognised

hroughout Australia by virtue of Curtin

arawaks self-accreditation status grantedby the Malaysian Qualifications Agency.

A worthwhile journey

THE MBA not only enhanced my academicprofile but also my personal development.Pursuing this programme has enabledme to establish a connection with an

nternational community from a diverseulture and industrial background.

I remember the day when I decided tonrol in the Strathclyde MBA programme

with the aim of developing my long-erm career prospect and to establish a

professional network.The MBA programme was beyond

my expectations. My analytical, criticalhinking skills and business acumen were

honed with the completion of individualnd group coursework in the variousubjects.

Furthermore, the Strathclyde Businesschool has a strong reputation and I couldccess their network of MBA alumnihrough social media channels.

It was possible for me to do a part-timeMBA while staying committed to my familyand my full-time work.

Some of my classmates were in the samesituation as me in juggling their MBA studywith parenthood and nurturing younginfants while working on assignments andexams. It was a great challenge.

There were often trade-offs involved. Forexample, I was not able to socialise as much

with my cohort after group discussions andwe had to work out a timing that wouldallow everyone to participate.

Therefore, doing an MBA while jugglingfamily obligations is not impossible. Witheffective strategy in time management, thisis a worthwhile investment and a chance togain support from your family.

I was fortunate to have a supportive wifeand to meet brilliant people who I couldestablish good relations with.

I have now proceeded to the next leveland taken on bigger responsibilities in mycareer.

nFor more information, call 03-7660 8950or visit www.cdc.edu.my

Wongs journeyhas shown thatcompleting an MBAwhile remainingcommitted to a joband family is not animpossible task.

Johnny Wong shares his experience incompleting a five-year MBA programmeat the University of Strathclyde.

Curtin Sarawak was established in 1999as the first and largest international campusof Western Australias Curtin Universityat the invitation of the Sarawak StateGovernment.

The state recognised the need for atertiary institution of international calibreto match Miris tremendous growth.

In the 15 years since, Curtin Sarawak hasbecome one of the leading internationaluniversities in Malaysia, attracting studentsfrom all over the world to its state-of-the-art campus amid Miris beautiful setting.Currently, there are about 3,500 Malaysianand international students from more than40 countries studying at Curtin Sarawak.

Curtin Sarawak is a popular choice for itsinternational outlook, innovative courses,world-class teaching facilities, flexible studyoptions, applied and practical subjects, useof advanced technology, partnerships withindustry and government, ideal campuslocation, experienced academics and staff,and active community engagement.

n

For more information call 085-443 879 ore-mail to [email protected]


16/16


Fighting economic crimeECONOMIC crime and fraudare becoming more andmore common today as more

ophisticated fraud schemes andyber scams are on the rise.

Organisations recognise theneed for specialist skills that areneeded to prevent, detect, identify

nd deal with economic crimeusing ICT tools.

The Institute of Crime and

Criminology at HELP UniversityHU) was established in 2006 toprovide education and trainingo nurture professionals in thereas of economic crime and fraud

management.In 2010, the institute began

offering the Master of Science inEconomic Crime ManagementECM), a programme specially

developed to train specialistsn preventing economic crimen all aspects of economic andommercial activity.

Our masters programme is theonly one offered in the Asia-Pacificegion and it is one of the best

programmes in the world, saysDatuk Akhbar Satar, director of thenstitute of Crime and Criminology,enior research fellow of the ELM

Graduate School of HU.Datuk Akhbar has held

everal positions at the MalaysiaAnti-Corruption CommissionMACC). He is also the president

of Transparency InternationalMalaysia and president of theAssociation of Certified FraudExaminers (ACFE).

The 22-month mastersprogramme covers aomprehensive set of topics

white collar crime, corporaterime, corruption andransnational money launderingnd theoretical studies of cyber

crime and terrorism.It includes tools and techniques

that are practised such as forensicaccounting, legislation and inter-government protocols, polygraphand psychological tests.

Akhbar says that HU targetsworking professionals, includingcorporate leaders, entrepreneurs,legal practitioners, bankers,accountants, private investigatorsand members of the police force.

The institute has studentsfrom all over the world, includingthe United Kingdom, Mexico,Maldives, China and Kazakhstan.

Economic crime is rampant.

According to the ACFE, studiesand statistics in 2012 showed thatin government-linked companies,5% of revenue is lost due tocorruption.

There may be a need to setup a compliance or integrity unitin corporations to strengtheninternal compliance policy orobtain people with the relevantqualification, he says.

The HELP programme isgood in that the majority of itslecturers involved are industrypractitioners.

They include bankers, certifiedfraud examiners, criminologists,

forensic accountants andpyschologists, all of whom haveextensive experience in economiccrime management.

The institute also hireslecturers from MACC and fromACFE who are experts in fightingfraud and corruption.

These lecturers are updatedon current scenarios and haveundergone special courses andobtained relevant qualifications,says Akhbar.

Classes are conducted in theevening and there are 12 modulesto complete, including eight coremodules and four electives over

the course of 22 months.Seventy per cent of the

assessment is based on coursework and 30% is based on exams.

Students also need to complete

an applied research project on atopic that they have chosen.Another advantage of the

programme is that its contentsare developed locally but areapplicable globally. The institute isalso in the process of developingnew elective modules for theprogramme.

Since 2012, the institutepublished its monograph series,which are articles written by itsgraduates as well as professionalswho have experienced economiccrime.

The monograph series is auseful resource for research anddebate.

The institute has signed aMemorandum of Understandingwith MACC.

Under the agreement, HUprovides training to MACC officersin ECM while also collaboratingwith them in research andpublication.

We also conduct short coursesand workshops in ECM for thepublic. These courses can bedesigned on request to meet thespecific needs of clients, saysAkhbar.

nFor more information, call theEconomic Crime Managementunit at 03-2711 2000 or [email protected]

Datuk Akhbar Satar with an ECMgraduate at this years HELPUniversitys Convocation.

Documents

PostGraduate 19 August 2014