Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
Documentos de Cultura
Reflecting on 2018,
AS Christmas approaches, it is natural to
look back on the past year and ahead to the
next. Not only does the end of December
mark the end of a calendar year, it also
Trained to research
IN a University World News article titled It is crucial for a postgraduate student to
The need for innovation in research be well-versed in research methodology, as it
methodology, author Ben Daniel wrote: will lead to more positive outcomes,
“Research methods courses offer students including:
the opportunity to learn the various l Higher completion rates – Supervisors
aspects of the research process, including who are knowledgeable in various research
research design, data collection, analysis, methods, as well as the quality of research
writing and presentation, and framing methods courses, play a key role in assuring
useful research questions.” higher course completion rates among
However, with the influx of more students.
complex data because of big data and the l Improved research methodology –
subsequent rise of new analytical tools, the Through the course of their study, students
structure and content of many research will gain the necessary knowledge and skills
methodology courses need to be updated to carry out better research.
to take these changes into account. l Improved data management skills –
Any reliance on research methods Data generated by machines, software
courses that are merely repeating the applications, sensors and networks as well as
syllabi of previous years will prove the associated complexity of the research
erroneous, and it is quite conceivable that environment continue to grow and
research methodology will become an transform. It has thus become essential to
essential part of data science in the future. have the ability to understand and use such
It is for this reason that students should data appropriately to make more accurate
embark on research methods courses, findings and conclusions.
supported by higher learning institutions. l Increased career prospects –
These higher learning institutions, in turn, Increasing volumes of data and the ever-
should focus on constantly reviewing the increasing emphasis on the data-intensive
topics of such courses to ensure they economy means that graduates who have
remain up to date and relevant to their worked on their data and research literacy
students and better contribute to the skills will see increased interest from
global body of knowledge. prospective employers.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2018 Postgraduate 9
Playing host
to first TEDx
Talk event
THE University of Nottingham
Malaysia hosted its inaugural
TEDx event, TEDxUoNMalaysia, I wish to
on Oct 20. The brainchild of a
group of students who wanted to
congratulate the
give new ideas a platform to be organising team for
heard and provide a fresh
perspective on existing ideas, it placing us within
attracted about 100 students.
Themed “The Actual
the TEDx world.
Beginning”, the event explored We were told that
they are already
the stories and origins of artists,
engineers and entrepreneurs
whose lives and achievements
served as an inspiration to
working on the next
others. Eight talented speakers event, and we are
very much looking
and one wonderful performer
shared stories of their lives with
the audience, and provided
advice, hope and lessons to
forward to it.
anyone looking to start a whole
new adventure.
“We are really proud of our motorbikes in South-East Asia,
students, who managed to pull graphic designer Abdelrahman
off a successful TEDx Talk event. Harfoosh, who shared his ideas
It is obvious that working on an on stories and story-telling,
event of this scale with a project director of grassroots
reputable international brand initiative The Rohingya Project
name has been extremely Saqib Sheikh, who shared about
gratifying for them. I am certain activism, spoken word performer
that they are just as proud of Chloe Ling, who spoke on the
their achievements as we are,” nature of time, and University of
says University of Nottingham Nottingham student and singer
Malaysia provost, pro-vice- Nicole Sian, who performed two
chancellor and chief executive of her favourite songs.
officer Prof Graham Kendall. Organiser Yehya Eldeeb, who
“I wish to congratulate the is a student from the university’s
organising team for placing us Department of Mechanical,
within the TEDx world. We were Materials and Manufacturing
told that they are already Engineering, says, “The hardest
working on the next event, and struggle is always the beginning.
we are very much looking Our organising team aimed to
forward to it,” adds Prof Kendall. foster conversation about the
The speakers were certified newest innovations on the
professional coach and founder market and to discuss topics
of Present2Represent philosophically. We also hoped to
Abdelrahman El-far, who spoke inspire learning and personal
on how his company became the growth, and used TEDx as a
first professional development platform to give back to our local
body at the University of community and society.”
Nottingham Malaysia within 15 “Our hope is to provide an
years, founder of Food+ Calvin enriching experience by
Chan, who spoke on how food attracting like-minded people
waste is rapidly turning into a who enjoyed the talk and
social crisis, travel blogger discussions sparked by it, and
Soraya, who shared provided some good feedback
her journey of self-discovery, after the event. It was really
alumnus of the university and worth the effort,” Yehya adds.
consultant Liew Kah Hoong, who
spoke on gamifying education, n For more information on
founder and chief executive University of Nottingham
officer of iMotorbike.com Gil Malaysia, e-mail study@
Carmo, who spoke about the nottingham.edu.my or visit
promising future of electric www.nottingham.edu.my
Take your
studies to
the next level
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membership of more than
163,000 finance, accounting
prepared me well
and business professionals. for my career, as it
exposed me to real-
The CPA (Certified Practising
Accountant) designation is
highly regarded and
recognised internationally.
world accounting
Studying the CPA Program practices. The
knowledge I
equips students with technical
skills and develops their
business, strategic thinking and
leadership qualities, ensuring
gained through the
Farah Hanis Zulkifli chose to study full time so that she could focus her efforts and complete the programme in a year. that they have the essential programme helped
me hone my skills
attributes to be leaders.
As part of the CPA Program,
students gain access to a wide
range of learning resources. and expertise.
They also have the flexibility to
choose how, when, where and
Farah Hanis Zulkifli
what they learn.
CPA Program student Ho Mei studying in Australia and
Shuen chose to join CPA enrolled as soon as she
Australia because it is widely graduated.
recognised in many countries. “Choosing the full-time study
“I believe that CPA Australia is option allowed me to fully
the most relevant professional commit to the programme. I
body to join for my field of could focus and spend more
undergraduate study,” she says. time studying in order to
With flexible study options, complete the programme in
students can choose to complete one year. The CPA Program
the CPA Program through prepared me well for my career,
distance learning, full-time study as it exposed me to real-world
or a combined postgraduate accounting practices. The
degree. Alternatively, students knowledge I gained through the
can opt for online or face-to-face programme helped me hone my
tuition to complement the skills and expertise,” says Farah.
distance learning study option. “For example, by learning
The CPA Program now gives about Malaysian taxation, I now
accounting candidates in have a better understanding of
Malaysia the opportunity to tax regulations in Malaysia and
complete all six subjects in 12 how they impact businesses and
months with its full-time industries,” she adds.
programme at Sunway TES. The CPA Program also offers
“I opted for the full-time soft skills classes and internship
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complete the syllabus in a skills to for the next step in their
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grateful to my lecturers who Visit www.cpaaustralia.com to
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Another CPA Program student, Malaysia office at 03-2267 3388
Farah Hanis Zulkifli, learnt or e-mail kl@cpaaustralia.com.
about the course while she was au
CPA Program
student Ho
Mei Shuen
says she
chose to join
CPA Australia
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countries.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2018 Postgraduate 11
Making an
informed decision
PURSUING a postgraduate degree
takes dedication, hard work and
perseverance. However, before If you cannot
embarking on this journey,
potential students will first reach a
decide on what sort
fork in the road and have to decide of postgraduate
between obtaining a postgraduate
degree by coursework or research. course to enrol in,
A postgraduate degree by
coursework requires students to
you can always
seek the guidance
Innovative approach
cover core and elective subjects
through classroom or online
lessons, undertake assignments of education
and sit for examinations.
Opting to do their postgraduate
counsellors, who
can help you make
to lifelong learning
programme by research requires
students to work on an
independent research project a more informed
under the guidance of a supervisor
and submit a thesis based on this
decision.
research.
Most higher learning institutions
in Malaysia offer both kinds of This does not mean students are
postgraduate programmes in required to spend all their time in ASIA e University (AeU) offers a
different disciplines but choosing the laboratory. A good thesis wide range of postgraduate degree
the most suitable path depends requires extensive use of multiple programmes, including Doctor of
strongly on the student. resources for reference and to Business Administration (DBA),
build the basis for new research. which represents the highest
A familiar path A postgraduate research student
is expected to look through
academic qualification in the field
of business.
Many potential postgraduate textbooks, journals, survey results, A DBA is the bridge between
students cannot afford to dedicate published articles and other theory and practice. Equivalent to
the amount of time needed for sources and discuss the findings a PhD, a DBA allows you to use
research, so students who find it with her supervisor before finally research methods to define,
difficult to allocate the time should writing her thesis. evaluate and analyse complex
opt to pursue postgraduate However, the pathway for each business issues and develop
coursework programmes. These research student is different, and original and reliable solutions.
courses often offer part-time and depends completely on the subject Students will be able to generate
online paths to allow people to of the research. an understanding of the synergies
schedule their studies without A master’s by research is more and insights that come from
sacrificing their careers or other suitable for students who can integrating different disciplines
commitments. devote a lot of time to research and within the context of original
Fresh graduates may find it extensive practical work and is research. The DBA programme
difficult to gain admission into a adept at dealing with a lot of data. demands intelligence, diligence
master’s by research programme, This path is also suitable for and determination, but the
since they have neither the students who are inquisitive, rewards can be significant to both
required work or research innovative and are keen to find your career and your organisation.
experience. Hence, a postgraduate answers to questions and solutions AeU’s DBA programme possesses
coursework programme might be to problems, and who wish to a good mix of coursework and
the only option for such students. pursue a career in academics or independent research, and DBA
A postgraduate coursework want to continue down the students are required to pass all
programme is also more attractive research pathway. their coursework before they can
for students who have a keen embark on the research phase. At
Dr Azzanawawy with his wife Norashikan Saifullah and daughter Azzalea
interest in acquiring knowledge
through textbooks and discussions.
Best of both worlds the end of the programme,
graduates will be able to refine Sofea at AeU's eighth convocation recently.
New knowledge is presented in a If you cannot decide on what theories and concepts, interpret
manner that is most familiar to sort of postgraduate course to enrol research findings and recommend materials from anywhere, enabling AeU at a glance
students, which is through direct in, you can always seek the solutions. me to study at my own pace and
interaction with their lecturers in a guidance of education counsellors, convenience,” he says, adding that AeU is one of Malaysia’s leading
classroom environment. who can help you make a more
informed decision.
Disabled graduate shares AeU’s online library also provided
easy access to online databases and
open and distance learning (ODL)
universities and one of Asia’s
Off the beaten path If you are still of two minds, AeU experience thousands of e-books, e-journals premier ODL institutions. As one of
there is one more option - a and other collections to support his Asia’s premier universities in the
Postgraduate programmes by combined research-coursework Dr Azzanawawy Samat is a learning and research efforts. digital frontier, it believes that
research do not have regular postgraduate programme. This senior assistant director at the “Another big incentive for me innovation and technology have the
lectures or class schedules and is option offers the best of both Education Ministry and a recent was that as part of its corporate power to make education truly
not dependent on assignments and worlds, with face-to-face classes as DBA graduate. He is also physically social responsibility initiative, AeU democratic, personalised and
examinations. Each research well as a thesis submission. disabled. offers a 75% tuition fee discount to borderless.
student will have to work on a With the many different “My disability stems from a disabled students, which made it Today, AeU’s quality education
research project while only postgraduate options available, biking accident at a young age. The affordable for me to continue my system and international focus is
receiving guidance from a there is definitely a programme to effects of my accident manifested studies. proudly supported by its 17,000
supervisor. suit your particular needs. when I was 21, when I found “The most rewarding part of the graduates and nearly 30,000
myself no longer able to balance DBA programme is that I have globally connected students from
and became vulnerable to falls, become smarter in terms of time 100 different countries, and it prides
and I was categorised as having a management. I can now effectively itself on developing career-ready
physical disability. My biggest divide my time between career, graduates who are innovative,
challenge is that it takes me more family and studies, and have resilient and well-prepared for the
energy and effort to go from one learned to be more disciplined and needs of a rapidly changing
place to another compared with better appreciate my family and workforce.
others. colleagues. AeU also offers PhD programmes
“Too often, I have to face risks in “The knowledge I gained by research in business
public places. For example, I can’t throughout my learning journey administration, finance, humanities,
gain access to university buildings also allowed me to contribute more education and information and
and their surroundings if they are effectively towards my communications technology.
not disabled-friendly. I require organisation, and I have published Annual intakes for its DBA
facilities such as disabled toilets three journals and two magazine programme are in January, May and
and parking as well as wider articles. September. However, intakes for all
pedestrian walkways. Their “I enjoyed my experience at postgraduate programmes by
absence poses a danger to my life. AeU. I made new friends from research are open throughout the
“I was attracted to AeU’s flexible different backgrounds, races and year.
mode of study, as that meant I did countries. The diversity of its
not have to leave my job to attend students makes learning at AeU n For enquiries, call 03-5022 3456/
regular classes on campus. unique, and sharing my 013-350 7270, e-mail enquiries@aeu.
Through AeU’s innovative learning experiences and knowledge was edu.my or apply online for the
management system, myPLS, I a wonderful experience,” says Dr January 2019 intake at
could gain access to my learning Azzanawawy. www.aeu.edu.my
THE STAR, TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2018 Postgraduate 13
The Master of
International
Business and
Master of
Commerce
in Marketing
are Curtin
Malaysia’s latest
postgraduate
offerings.