A NEW HORIZON IN POSTGRADUATE PAPER CHASE

In c r e a s i n g d e m a n d f o r postgraduate degree programmes has forced universities to change the definition of learning. A NEW HORIZON IN POSTGRADUATE PAPER CHASE Not only are they developing more of s u ch p ro g ramme s bu t t hrou g h collaboration with both the business community and partner institutions, they can now offer dual postgraduate degrees and provide flexibility to students to design their own study programme. Professor Jim Graham, Chief Executive Officer of Higher Partnerships Sdn Bhd, foresees young people pursuing more than one postgraduate degree throughout their career. ‘Knowledge,’ he says, ‘is expanding so quickly, and the pace of change is so great, that a bachelor’s degree cannot possibly prepare someone for 40 years working life.’

Professor Dr Ismail Rejab, Head of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s International Business School’s (IBS), concurs: ‘Certainly, there is a bigger demand for MBA degree programmes locally, partly due to the push for knowledge economy and the fact that someone with Master degrees among others, would stand a better chance for promotion.’ A similar observation made by Vice Chancellor of Lancaster University, Professor Paul Wellings, reveals that while the enrolment into undergraduate programmes at Lancaster University stays quite consistent at 3,000 students per intake, the enrolment into a Master’s programme has risen from 750 five years ago to over 1,000 students this year.

In countries like China, where the education market is hugely competitive, G l o b a l C ommu n i c a t i o n s Ma n a g e r at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (GSB) in Beijing, Heather Mowbray, observes that the demand for postgraduate education is a phenomenon that has gone hand-in-hand with the country’s reform process. ‘Despite the ever growing need for highly-trained managers, the higher the level of skills set, the higher the chances of getting that job,’ she rationalises. ‘Professionals in China are finding it hard to get a good job by simply having an undergraduate degree.’

A touch of DYNAMISM

o those looking for practical yet flexible academic programmes that are responsive to today’ s dynamic global business environment, the University of Malaya Graduate School Of Business (UMGSB) is an ideal institution to consider. Located within the University’s City Campus at Jalan Tun Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, UMGSB provides excellent facilities and a conducive learning e n v i r o n m e n t t o c o m p l e m e n t i t s outstanding teaching staff. UMGSB was established in 2000 in a move to further strengthen the postgraduate business and management programmes taught in the country. These include full-time and part-time MBA, and PhD by full research.

‘The University of Malaya MBA programme is a rigorous programme that seeks to equip students with theoretical concepts and analytic tools, which will prepare them for the complexities and challenges of an increasingly dynamic and globalise business environment,’ Dr Roselee Shah Shahrudin, UMGSB’s Director, tells Malaysian Business. Courses at UMGSB are structured to provide a deep understanding of theories, with unique real-world problems beyond the boundaries of textbook theories. Through a combination of lectures, case studies, written assignments, group projects, presentations and class discussions, students are exposed to knowledge and experiences necessary to understand, analyse and evaluate actual problems for better solutions. The pedagogies are to optimise the efficiency of the learning process. Each student is required to complete a minimum of 51 credit hours of learning and research activities, which cover various business components.

Meanwhile, the Doctor of Philosophy p r o g r a m m e o f f e r s a n i n t e n s i v e , stimulating and challenging learning experience that will provide students with a broad foundation of knowledge in the main areas of business administration, management and accountancy. Among others, the focus of research is in the areas of Accounting, Finance, Marketing, International Business, Business Information, Human resource Management, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Health Care Management, General Management, Internal Auditing, and Islamic Finance System.

BRINGING DENTISTRY to a new level

T BRINGING DENTISTRY to a new level he setting-up of an Oral Health Centre at its main campus in Bukit Jalil is just one of the many initiatives being undertaken by the International Medical University (IMU) to enhance its dentistry programme with the aim of bringing the profession to an entirely new and higher level. In many ways, the centre, which will be opened and ready to accept patients by 2010, will serve as a critical proving ground for IMU’s new approaches and teaching methods. While conventional teachings empower its undergraduates with the science, knowledge and technical ability, it is IMU’s acknowledgement of the importance of soft skills, personalised t r e a t m e n t a n d a m o r e i n f o r m e d understanding of general health that sets its programme apart.

the belief in offering general treatment for all patients, today’s advancement in research, knowledge and methods have made it possible and necessary for every individual patient’s treatment to be customised and personalised,’ IMU’s Dean for the School of Dentistry Professor Dr Toh Chooi Gait tells Malaysian Business. ‘It is recognition that every individual is unique in terms of risk factors and health condition, and an important paradigm shift in the attitude, thinking and caring shown by future health professionals,’ adds Dr Toh. It is precisely this approach that has helped to evolve modern dentistry, which today greatly focuses on minimum invasion and maximum interception in which disease and risk factors are identified early enough to intercept progress of the disease and initiate reversal to healthy state, similar to how one would detect and treat cancer at its infancy stages to prevent the condition from escalating.

Of Attitude, Skills and Knowledge

Summarising his formula for success, Professor Dr Khalifah Othman says postgraduate students have to possess ASK – an acronym he uses to refer to Attitude, Skills and Knowledge. The Dean and Director of Universiti Industri Selangor (Unisel) Graduate School of Management (UGSM) says attitude is all about having a strong p a s s i o n f o r l e a r n i n g , a t h i r s t f o r knowledge and willingness to adopt an open mind about everything. ‘They also need to develop their soft skills if they want to enhance their careers,’ he tells Malaysian Business. ‘This is where they learn all the social, communication and networking skills, including the way they are attired for the occasion.’ As one climbs up the corporate ladder, it becomes obvious that he or she can no longer be the “doers”. ‘The accountant who has become the Chief Executive Officer, for example, now finds himself required to chart the direction of the company. This is where the CEOs have to be strategic thinkers themselves,’ suggests Khalifah.

In Knowledge-based economies, besides being strategic thinkers, company CEOs also have to acquire knowledge in various areas of discipline. ‘The CEO has to understand how purchasing, marketing and operations work handin- hand within the organisation,’ Khalifah elaborates. ‘Knowledge has become convergent and integrated. It is interdisciplinary.’ This is why with 11 compulsory core subjects, and another four subjects of specialisation, the MBA graduate would have been adequately prepared for such a big task of managing the organisation with success. Currently, a number of specialisations have been developed, namely Shipping Management, Logistic Management and General Management. Additionally, Unisel is also working in collaboration with the KLIA Training Centre in developing specialisation in Facilities Management, Project Management and Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA).

Persistence pays

Th e f e e l i n g i s s i m p l y ecstatic! World and Malaysian C e r t i f i e d A c c o u n t i n g T e c h n i c i a n ( C A T ) T o p Scorer, Darylin Tong Kheng Ling who emerged as top student in the recent CAT examination, admits she has never expected the outcome. ‘I have had to compete with all the candidates throughout the world,’ she says. ‘It actually took me a few minutes to accept this good news, especially for the audit paper, which is well-known as a “killer paper” in CAT.’ Another World and Malaysian CAT Top Scorer, Lim Jia Wen expresses her state of shock as she never expected she could score a full mark for the paper on Information for Management Control.

`I, too, feel so lucky and relieved because all my hard work has been paid off,’ Lim tells Malaysian Business. ` T h e a c h i e v e m e n t m o t i v a t e s m e t o ma x imi s e my p o t e n t i a l i n t h i s course.’ Fellow student, Michelle Tan Wan Ying, who emerged as CAT’s Top Scorer for Planning, Control and Performance Management, says she was simply delighted. ‘I can now tell myself that I have proven myself to be able to excel in my studies,’ she says. Wong Viang Wing, another World and Malaysian’s Top ACCA Prize-Winner, attributes his success to the support that he receives from his parents and lecturers at Sunway TES. ‘Without their support and guidance, I could never have achieved such good results,’ he admits. Goh Qing Quan, a CAT Global Prize- Winner (Joint Second), cannot contain her excitement. ‘It’s simply amazing,’ she says. ‘It’s really unexpected, especially after analysing from the past trend that most of the top scorers are the holders of the World Prize or Malaysian Prize, of which I wasn’t the holder of any one of them.’

Enabling and broadening strategic THINKING

By Stephen Ng THINKING oth Azman Tambi Chik and A f r e e z a l T a h r i n r e c e n t l y completed their Master of B u s i n e s s A dmi n i s t r a t i o n (Strategic Management) from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s International Business School (IBS). Azman, who scored a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.97, says that, since completing his MBA, he has been promoted to be the Chief Operating Offi cer of his company, which commands a bigger salary package. ‘I am currently applying what I learnt in strategic thinking and management on a daily basis,’ he tells Malaysian Business. ‘What I learnt has helped to broaden my horizon in business, beyond my area of specialisation, which is investments. The MBA has also helped me appreciate the non-fi nancial sides of my job.’

Unlike Azman who holds a Bachelor of Business Management, Afreezal has a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronic) from University of New South Wales, Australia. Currently employed as Assistant to Maybank’s Vice-President of Corporate Banking, Afreezal decided to upgrade himself to keep up with the current competitive and demanding working environment. ‘The MBA has helped me develop a broader perspective of business and management issues, in which some can be solved with some common sense,’ he explains.

He has learnt that sometimes, there is no right or wrong answer, or the one and only answer that could fi x it all. ‘It is how creative and innovative you are in looking at these issues in the big picture, and how you are able to relate with the possible unorthodox solutions,’ he elaborates.

CIMA launches new accounting qualification for 2010

CIMA has launched the new C h a r t e r e d Ma n a g e m e n t Accounting Qualification 2 0 1 0 . D e v e l o p e d i n accounting qualifi cation for 2010 c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e U n i v e r s i t y of Bath, United Kingdom, the new qualification follows extensive research and contributions from more than 4,500 employers and other stakeholders worldwide. As an employer-led body, CIMA is the only professional accountancy qualification that is reviewed and updated every four years to ensure it remains the most relevant international accountancy qualification for business. The three pillars of study for all levels are now named Enterprise, Performance and Financial, and the pre-requisite entry requirements still apply to gain entry onto the professional qualification.

The Managerial level is now split into two parts – Operational and Managerial. This means the qualification structure will now comprise of three levels, beginning with Operational, rising to Managerial, and then Strategic. There will be a new qualification for students successfully completing three papers at Operational level – the CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting. The CIMA Advanced Diploma in Ma n a g e me n t A c c o u n t i n g w i l l b e a w a r d e d u p o n c omp l e t i o n o f t h e Managerial level. This decision to split the Managerial level into two parts reflects the career progression and development of students by marking their achievement at attaining this level of the qualification.