course focus - 17 march 2015

StarSpecialTHE STAR Tuesday 17 March 2015

COURSE FOCUS:BUSINESS, MARKETING, ACCOUNTING & FINANCE

Making your choiceEntrepreneurs in the making > 5 Entering the world of business > 7

The right education takes you further.

2 COURSE FOCUS StarSpecial, Tuesday 17 March 2015

Healthy demand for marketersHAVE you ever imagined what life would be like without marketers?

For instance, how many people would be interested in investing in a face cream made of snail slime and snake venom that costs RM800 a tub? Or how about a pack of coffee beans that comes from a civet cats faeces and costs RM500?

Not many, obviously. The absence of marketers would simply mean that many of the brands we have grown to know and love would not exist. Without marketers, the creation and exchange of goods would not be as profound as it is today.

In a nutshell, marketing is the study of peoples needs, motives, wants and behaviours so that products and services can be created and promoted to meet these requirements. All these are performed while keeping profitability in mind.

Many career opportunities

A marketers daily responsibilities might include writing copies, reviewing and approving content, measuring success and making customer-focused decisions. Aside from these tasks, marketers develop the marketing plan for a product or brand.

Marketing managers are in demand as Malaysias economy spurs the need for people with

marketing skills. Although marketing managers do not begin their careers with the highest salaries, they have the highest range of career opportunities in almost any industry sector and are able to climb the salary ladder quite quickly.

A recent study conducted by Jobstreet.com reveals that candidates in sales and marketing are the most sought-after employees this year, followed by those with expertise in human resources and engineering.

The Hays Quarterly Report 2015, published by international professional recruiting group Hays, shows that sales and marketing managers continue to be in high demand across various industries, including the multi-million-dollar consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry made up of a wide range of famous brand names.

According to the report, most businesses are seeing the biggest changes in their sales teams as these positions have high turnover rates due to the performance aspects of the roles. It is expected that a lot of replacement roles and possibly some new positions will become available as businesses grow in Malaysia.

Hot spots in the job market

Brand managers Mid-management brand managers continue to be in high demand across various industries, including the CPG sector.

Heads of digital marketing There has been a spike in the need

for people to lead the digital marketing teams in different businesses. This is due to the continuing need for bigger and better digital marketing teams to capitalise on the growing online marketing trends.

Product managers Companies are looking to increase the number of people handling the product marketing side of their business as they expand.

Key account managers As businesses increase in size, their major accounts grow with them as well. Key account managers who are well-spoken and can deal specifically with hypermarkets and supermarkets will be in great demand.

Digital marketing analysts At a time when digital technology is exploding, companies need people who can take note of trends and then develop marketing and advertising campaigns around them. These professionals drive account management and work closely with sales and creative teams to develop strategic campaigns.

Sales managers As businesses continue to sell their products and services online, there is an increasing demand for sales managers who can sell advertising space on these online platforms.

Digital marketing technology architects As more companies launch digital marketing promotions, they will need the support of IT specialists who have digital marketing, media and communications experience. These professionals build and maintain the cloud-based platforms from which digital marketing promotions take place.

Universities offering marketing courses

The entry requirements may vary for each institution of higher learning. Generally, STPM or A-Levels students need to have a minimum of two principal passes to qualify for the course.

For foundation, diploma (must be business related) and

matriculation, applicants must have a CGPA of at least 2.0. Other qualifications are reviewed by the faculty on a case-to-case basis.

Here are some private institutions of higher learning that offer marketing programmes:

HELP University A pioneer in the study of psychology in Malaysia, HELP offers an array of business and marketing courses. Its Bachelor of Business in Marketing is designed to provide students with a sound background in business, together with an understanding of marketing roles within and between organisations.

Brickfields Asia College (BAC) Well known for their UK Transfer Degree Programme, BAC enables students to study and complete their marketing degree overseas. Students can study in one of their partner universities such as University of South Wales, De Montfort University, Keele University and Northumbria University.

UCSI University Its Bachelor of Arts in Marketing provides students with the fundamental academic and vocational skills in marketing and business principles through a variety of teaching and learning methods.

Nilai University The B.B.A (Hons) in Marketing emphasises business theories and concepts that help facilitate the exchange of products, services and ideas. It is aimed at equipping students with a solid grounding of business and marketing education.

Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) APU offers BA (Hons) in Media Marketing that aims to cultivate in students a thorough understanding of the issues relating to effective human interaction, an appreciation for user interfaces and the skills to develop interactive multimedia applications, as well as research skills required in media marketing.

Public universities such as Universiti Utara Malaysia, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak also offer marketing courses.

Sales and marketing graduates are highly

sought after across various

industries.

StarSpecial, Tuesday 17 March 2015 COURSE FOCUS 3

Build yoursuccess storywith ACCA

1800 88 5051 [email protected] Facebook.com/ACCA.my

See what your career could look likeat yourfuture.accaglobal.com

With ACCA,you can enjoy acareer across anyindustry and rolespecialisations in180 countries.

Leaders in the global world

Excellence in educationQUEST International University Perak (QIUP) is a fresh and dynamic university with equity participation from the Perak state government.

Conceptualised to nurture the younger generation to become inquisitive, socially aware and impactful individuals, this university deploys the best intellectual minds.

Gain a solid foundation

QIUPs foundation programmes provide a good platform for students to develop practical and academic skills after SPM that will help them in their journey towards higher education.

The Foundation in Business and Foundation in Science programmes have a practical focus, which means having hands-on activities that help students gain the confidence and skills needed to participate effectively in tertiary studies.

Well-rounded graduates

QIUPs goal is to develop well-rounded graduates who not only excel in their studies but have also participated in conferences and educational competitions during their study here.

The first-year medical undergraduates selected for the Third International Public Health Conference and 20th National Public Health Colloquium, which took place in Kuching, Sarawak, had their paper chosen among the thousands of papers submitted for selection.

The paper was titled Prevalence of hypertension and its risk factors in an Orang

Asli community in Perak, Malaysia.In addition, four undergraduates of the

Bachelor of Computer Science programme were crowned champions at the national level of the IBM Mobilithon 2013 competition.

Wide range of programmes offered

There are three faculties and one centre at QIUP.

At foundation level, the programmes offered are in business and science while at diploma level, courses are in hotel management, business management, tourism management and accountancy.

A number of programmes are offered at degree level, including the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Biotechnology and Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Electronics and Communications Engineering.

The university offers the Master of Business Administration at postgraduate level.

n For more information, call 1800 887 487, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.qiup.edu.my

Students gain the confidence and skills needed to participate effectively in their tertiary studies.

WHEN Prof John Benson first entered Monash University in the late 1960s to pursue the Bachelor of Economics, he was constantly encouraged by his professors to challenge conventional economic theories.

This training taught him not to accept the status quo but to instead be inquisitive.

Inspired by his own Monash experience, as the head of the School of Business at Monash University Malaysia, Prof Benson hopes to produce graduates who are innovative, entrepreneurial and capable of asking the right questions.

I want the school to be the leading business school in the region. To achieve

this goal, the school will have to focus on three things

research that addresses contemporary business issues, engagement with and maintaining relevance to industries, and

encouraging students to be inquisitive of the world around them, says Prof Benson (pic).

He has high hopes of producing well-rounded graduates who can

be future leaders in the global business world.

At the School of

Business, we develop our students not just academically but also holistically. Coming to university is not only about attending lectures, reading books and passing exams.

We want our students and researchers to be able to push themselves and be the very best that they can be.

Our graduates will be career ready, and when they leave the university and join the workforce often global and multicultural organisations they will be able to adapt and succeed, says Prof Benson.

To ensure its relevance to business and industry, he says the school has an Industry Advisory Board comprising senior managers that plays an integral role in its decision-making processes.

We do not make decisions in isolation about what is best for students.

Rather, we listen carefully to the board members as to what we should be doing to ensure that we are, and will continue to remain, relevant to the global business world.

The board looks into various aspects of the activities that are taking place at the school and if they think we are not doing enough on the content of certain subjects, or we need to re-align our research more closely with industry, we will listen as we take the comments raised by the board very seriously, says Prof Benson.

n For more information on Monash Malaysias School of Business, visit www.buseco.monash.edu.my


Vast careeropportunitiesWHEN I was younger, I wanted to be a scientist, doctor, pilot or engineer. But I realised that understanding accountancy topics came naturally to me, so I chose to pursue something that I was good at instead, says Muhammad Razin Shah Mohd Roslan, a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

It was then that I discovered just how vast the career opportunities are in the field of finance.

Razin is currently a senior executive at the Securities Commission of Malaysia where he is building his expertise in regulatory enforcement.

Being on the regulatory side is something different as it is not a desk job. More often than not, Ill be engaging with people from various industries, which is something I enjoy as I get to exchange ideas and knowledge in addition to building my confidence in liaising with people from all walks of life, he shares.

A career in accounting was not what he had anticipated but he has no regrets. The finance industry that we know today is different from that of 50 years ago. New regulations, products and concepts are being introduced rapidly, so those who plan to pursue a career in finance need to keep their knowledge current and be open to innovation, says Razin.

It was through the process of getting his ACCA qualification and membership that Razin understood the value of a professional qualification. Right off the bat, he noticed how the ACCA syllabus requires students to be more critical and think outside of the box.

It was a challenge I accepted because the results were evident when I started working, says Razin. There are no textbook answers to your problems at work. Youll need to analyse issues and work on solutions.

This might sound like an

easy concept, but Razin says the execution of this is no simple task. The training I received from studying ACCA really helped me tackle day-to-day issues more calmly and effectively.

Razin advises young graduates not to limit themselves. I have met many graduates who think that by having the ACCA qualification in hand, they must only work in the auditing sector. In truth, we can choose to specialise in any area of finance. The ACCA programme teaches us to be a professional first and an accountant second, he says.

Razin believes his enthusiasm and drive are what earned him a nomination by his employer to participate in ACCAs Leaders of Tomorrow (LoT) programme, which is open to only a select group of talents.

He joins 27 other nominated ACCA members below the age of 30 for the intensive, high-level learning and development programme aimed at grooming them to become effective leaders in business.

LoT, which is developed by ACCA with the support of Talent Corporation Malaysia, will also see participants being mentored by senior ACCA members at the C-suite level. Razin is enthusiastic about the 12 months to be spent in this programme.

My mentor is Nuraini Ismail FCCA, vice president-treasury of Petronas. From our initial meeting, she appears very knowledgeable and she brings such positive energy. Im very motivated, says Razin.

Razin joins the global ACCA network of 436,000 students and 170,000 members around the world.

It is the worlds fastest-growing gateway to the accountancy profession, helping people build successful careers across industries and national borders.

n For more information, visit www.yourfuture.accaglobal.com

Muhammad Razin Shah Mohd Roslan is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

A distinctive degreeSWINBURNE University of Technology offers individuals the opportunity to pursue a unique, internationally recognised Australian education in its Sarawak campus.

The impressive graduate employability of the university, which has been awarded Setara Tier 5: Excellent Status multiple times, is attributed to the hands-on focus of its programmes that tackle real-world issues.

Applied learning is experienced through classes. Laboratory work, case studies, teamwork projects, research projects and project-based assignments are among the components found in most programmes.

The curriculum originates from Swinburne University, Australia, and the high standard of its courses is maintained in the Sarawak campus. Students in Malaysia will receive the same qualification as their Australian counterparts.

The programmes in Swinburne Sarawak may be completed entirely in Kuching, Sarawak, but

students may choose to transfer to the Australia campus to complete their course.

Students can also do a one-semester exchange programme in the Australian campus while paying their fees in ringgit, making it a third of its cost in Australian dollars.

For most of the universitys three-year degrees, students can undertake a professional major alongside a co-major or two minors, which may come from a different discipline to the major,

allowing students to add breadth to their studies.

The multicultural diversity on campus encourages a rich learning experience and helps create a broader outlook among students and staff.

Swinburne Sarawak has highly advanced facilities. For example, its lecture theatre is equipped with the latest audio-visual technology and seats more than 300 people.

n For more information, call 03-5637 2202 or e-mail [email protected]

Dedicated facilities and services ensure that students have access to the latest technology and adequate support in their studies.


Entrepreneurs in the makingAT Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur (IUKL), the Faculty of Business and Accounting (FBA) believes that theories have to be put into practice to make a difference in society.

FBA is the place where you can develop your interests and skills to be a successful player in the industry.

Managing business

Business administration is a popular field of study among students and is also one of the core business programmes offered at IUKL. It focuses on how organisations operate, such as what they do, how they do it and which strategies they employ.

At IUKL, the Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) is unique in its approach to management, leadership and entrepreneurship in the business profession.

With eight majors - entrepreneurship, finance and banking, Islamic finance and banking, marketing, management, and e-commerce - this programme prepares students for management positions or professional careers in various departments.

During the programme, students will have the opportunity to meet people and build contacts relevant to their future career. Graduates will be able to demonstrate an understanding of markets, finance, operations, management of business and people and all the other business-related aspects.

Students can also opt to pursue IUKLs Diploma in Business Administration. This programme offers insights to the world of business administration, which covers topics ranging from management to information technology.

Students will be able to develop fundamental skills to acquire knowledge in business, finance, marketing and management in this two-year programme.

The course syllabus has been carefully designed to introduce new ideas and concepts emerging in the marketplace.

Students will be exposed to effective classroom discussions, case studies and business plans.

For individuals who aspire to further their studies at higher levels, the Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration programmes are also available.

Creating quality accountants

IUKLs Bachelor of Accountancy (Hons) offers specific knowledge in accounting, finance, taxation, auditing, costing, management and economics.

The aim of this three-and-a-half year programme is to produce competent and dedicated accountants who possess the attributes required in the accounting profession and to develop a holistic understanding of business operations, particularly in all functional areas of accounting.

Through industrial placement at established corporations, students will be able to gain valuable hands-on experience in real-life working environments.

The programme is recognised by professional bodies such as ACCA, CIMA and MICPA.

IUKL also offers Diploma in Accounting. The curriculum of this two-and-a-half-year programme is designed to provide sound knowledge on the important principles and concepts of accounting, auditing, taxation as well as analysis of various corporate financial statements.

Scholarships and tuition fee waivers of up to 60% are offered to students who excel in their studies. Study loans such as PTPTN, MARA and Yayasan Negeri are also applicable.

IUKL Info Day will be held on March 21 and 22 from 10am to 4pm. You can start a programme at IUKL with only RM100 and enjoy a RM500 rebate for on-the-spot registration during the Info Day. Its March intake is in progress.

n For more information, call 1 800 88 STUDY (78839) or visit www.IUKL.edu.my

A background in business or accounting will open doors to business opportunities worldwide.


Establishing valuable connectionsCHINESE independent high schools in the country have been successful with

more and more students opting to study there. Recognising this, KBU International College (KBU) embarked on a journey of creating a strong rapport with Chinese schools.

Our main purpose in visiting schools is to create a mutually beneficial relationship between organisations. Through our visit, we found that there are abundant opportunities for more strategic collaborations, says KBU principal Dr Chee Choong Kooi.

For instance, we would like to introduce initiatives such as English language programmes and innovative projects that will enhance students creative thinking and help nurture the leaders of tomorrow.

The visits were also to introduce the quality UK programmes, fun-learning approaches and attractive scholarship schemes offered at KBU.

The visits will create opportunities for KBU as the college gets upgraded to First City University College.

KBU also has plans to visit Chinese independent high schools in Selangor and other states to forge good relationships with them.

Dr Chee, together with a team of representatives, recently

visited the Chinese independent high schools in Johor. Those who joined him were marketing and corporate communication manager Angela Tan, School of Design head Siow Yin Yoong, School of Engineering and Computing head Lye Boon Han and senior marketing executive Sophie Wai Chung Peik.

Among the new programmes

that the college plans to offer in the future are BSc (Hons) Hospitality Management, BA (Hons) Mass Communication, BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing and Branding, and BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering.

KBU International College is a private institution of higher learning known for its relevant programmes that meet the requirements of various industries.

KBU is also well known for its excellent track record in providing UK 3+0 degree programmes. Courses offered include those in art and design; business; hospitality and tourism management; computing or software engineering; engineering; languages (English and German) as well as pre-university programmes such as the Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT) and GCE A-Levels.

Since its inception in 1990, KBU has produced hundreds of first class honours graduates through collaborations with reputable partner universities in the United Kingdom, namely Nottingham Trent University, Sheffield Hallam University and Anglia Ruskin University.

KBU graduates have successfully gained employment in diverse fields, all within a short period of time and in many instances, immediately upon graduation. KBU is hosting its Open Day weekends from now to March 29 from 10am to 6pm.

Early birds can receive up to 30% tuition fee waiver (terms and conditions apply).

n For more information, call 03-7727 3200 or e-mail [email protected] or visit www.kbu.edu.my

KBU representatives with Foon Yew High School, Johor Baru principal at a visit to the school.

UoRM will offer various programmes when its main campus is opened this September.

Build a fulfilling career

THE University of Reading Malaysia (UoRM) is expanding in its delivery of world-class programmes in Malaysia.

In September last year, UoRM launched its first undergraduate programme BSc in Finance & Business Management.

The BSc in Finance & Business Management is an innovative programme that focuses on equipping students for the finance and business management field, delivered through its world-renowned and prestigious Henley Business School.

This programme combines the leadership and management studies for which Henley is famous for with the knowledge of the banking and investment industry. There are two intakes for the programme September and January.

The University of Reading is renowned for its exciting and innovative research-led teaching, friendly and supportive environment and excellent graduate employability record.

Students at the new Malaysian campus will benefit from the same world-class education that is offered in the United Kingdom.

The cost of studying at UoRM is significantly lower than in the UK, yet, the opportunities for learning are as diverse and varied. UoRM provides scholarship opportunities and awards for high-achieving students throughout their studies.

UoRMs soon-to-be-completed main campus in EduCity, Iskandar, brings together the very best of its UK campus experience with Malaysias natural environment.

It will cater up to 2,500 students. The main campus will

open in September this year and will offer programmes at undergraduate level (subject to approval by the Malaysian Ministry of Education) in the subject areas of business and management, accounting, finance, real estate, quantity surveying, pharmacy, psychology and law. Programmes at postgraduate level will be offered next year.

The University of Readings vice-chancellor David Bell says, We are delighted to be part of the EduCity initiative and to meet the growing demand for quality education. We have about 3,000 graduates from the University of Reading in Malaysia and Singapore, the majority of whom travelled to the UK to experience our unique education offering, first-class resources and world-class teaching.

We are therefore proud and excited to have the opportunity to deliver the same experience to students in the Asia-Pacific region. We are developing this campus to offer the best experience to students, from infrastructure to the education delivered.

Each programme at University of Reading will draw on its long-established reputation for academic excellence and tailored support.

Its impressive 15-acre (6.07ha) campus in Malaysia is designed to provide students with everything they need to make the most out of their university studies.

n For more information, call 07-295 5010 or e-mail [email protected] or visit www.reading.edu.my


Enteringthe world of business

SEGi has 38 years of experience in providing quality business programmes that effectively prepare its students for work upon graduation.

IT is important that you get the right foundation before pursuing a degree. With so many choices available, it is easy to be inundated.

In recognising the importance of a strong foundation, SEGi offers a wide range of programmes that leads seamlessly to degrees in business. These programmes are:

If you are certain of your decision to pursue business studies in your undergraduate degree, you can take up the Foundation in Commerce. This foundation programme helps you to progress in your higher education by providing you a platform to qualify for university entrance.

The foundation programme is preferred by many students as it provides a smooth transition from secondary studies to a university degree and takes only one year to complete.

The duration of a diploma programme is usually longer than that of a foundation, taking two and a half to three years to complete. However, the beauty of having a diploma is that you will have the option of joining the workforce upon completion of the programme should you choose not to pursue a bachelors degree.

Alternatively, you may decide to pursue an undergraduate degree and, depending on the modules completed in the diploma programme, may even apply for exemption from certain modules. This allows

for the possibility of obtaining a business degree in a shorter period of time.

Progressing to degree programmes

Upon completion of the pre-university programme, there is a wide variety of business degree programmes you can pursue at SEGi.

For other business degrees that can be completed locally, SEGi also offers 3+0 business degree programmes from the University of Greenwich, University of Sunderland and University of Teesside, all from the United Kingdom.

You get to complete your business studies at one of the five SEGi campuses in Malaysia while obtaining a bachelors degree from top-notch UK universities.

Opportunities to study abroad

There is also an option to pursue 2+1 business degree programmes from Abertay University. You only need to spend two years at the SEGi Kota Damansara campus and, upon meeting all necessary requirements, transfer to Abertay University located in Dundee, Scotland for the final year of study.

SEGi University at Kota Damansara also offers its own business degrees and dual award business degrees from SEGi University and Abertay University.

n For more information on the business programmes, call 03-2070 2078 or 1800 888 028 (SEGi College Kuala Lumpur), 03-6145 1777 or 1800 887 344 (SEGi University), 03-8600 1888 or 1800 888 622 (SEGi College Subang Jaya), 04-263 3888 (SEGi College Penang) or 082-252 566 (SEGi College Sarawak), e-mail [email protected] or visit www.segi.edu.my


The right head startOUR Business and Accounting graduates enjoy outstanding graduate employability because we equip them with extensive industry-specific skills required to become Industry Specialist Professional (ISP) Certified graduates, says Soon Fook Huang, senior lecturer of Binary Universitys School of Accounting and Finance.

The ISP Centre of Excellence at Binary University is supported by more than 280 Faculty of Industry Professionals (FIPs).

The ISP Certified programme is conducted over a three-year period and runs parallel with Binary University degrees. It has a positive impact on graduate employability as students acquire more industry-specific skills.

Binary Universitys graduate employability is one of the highest in the country as evidenced by the Tracer Study (an annual study that surveys the performance of

graduates in the job market upon graduation) conducted by the Ministry of Education, Malaysia, says Roland Wee, Binary University registrar.

Binary also equips its graduates with extensive entrepreneurial skills. Driven by the EYE Centre of Excellence (E3), all business and accounting students acquire extensive entrepreneurial knowledge and skills as our degrees have high entrepreneurial content, says Datuk Prof Joseph Adaikalam, founder and chairman of Binary University.

The BA (Hons) in Accounting is among the few accounting qualifications in Malaysia that is triple accredited - by CPA Australia, MQA and ACCA. It provides exemption from eight ACCA papers.

Binary University offers PhD, masters, bachelors and diploma courses.

The next intake will commence on March 25 and April 28.

n For more information, call 03-8070 6590/96 or visit www.binary.edu.my

The ISP certified programme is run concurrently with degree programmmes at Binary University.


Become a recognised accountant

THE Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (CFAB) by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) is a stand-alone business qualification.

It provides essential knowledge in the fundamentals of finance, accounting and business, and can be used as an entry route into the ICAEW programme.

Innovative pathway

At the Sunway TES Centre for Accountancy Excellence (Sunway TES CAE), the CFAB qualification is an innovative pathway designed for school-leavers to provide them with an accelerated route to the ICAEW ACA qualification.

The Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ACA) qualification, regarded globally as a leading business and finance qualification, is recognised and valued in practice, the industry, commerce and the public sector.

Through this pathway at Sunway TES CAE, students can progress to the ICAEW programme as well as obtain the ACA qualification right after completing secondary school.

The ACAs unique approach to classroom studies and practical activities offers students a holistic learning experience.

It equips them with the relevant skills needed to be an adept chartered accountant.

The ICAEW qualifications are recognised around the world.

Proven track record of excellence

The ICAEW is the largest professional accountancy body in Europe that provides leadership and practical support to more than 140,000 members working in the government, regulatory agencies and industry, maintaining the highest standards in 160 countries.

In South-East Asia alone, there are more than 1,800 members with a majority being in Malaysia and Singapore.

Sunway TES CAE is the only ICAEW Partner in Malaysia offering both the ACA and the CFAB qualifications and the only provider in the world to offer CFAB as an accelerated route to the ICAEW for school-leavers.

Pave your way forward

With their SPM or O-Levels results, high-achieving students can qualify as an ACA within a minimum of five and a half years through this pathway.

For this accelerated route, students are required to pass all their exams in their first attempt, followed by fulfilling an ICAEW training contract for three years.

Students are also required to take additional subjects in English, business mathematics, interpersonal communication and thinking skills to help equip them with important soft skills.

Practical learning experience

Students have a chance to receive exposure to real business environments and hands-on opportunities to put theory into practice through a three-month work-based learning programme at an ICAEW-authorised training employer.

Sunway TES CAE works closely with ICAEW Authorised Training Employers (ATEs) to provide students with work-based learning and ICAEW training contracts.

The ATEs include BDO, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PwC.

Preparing for the future

Students are provided a chance to meet potential employers through the Meet Your Future Employers yearly forum where representatives from Ernst & Young, PwC, KPMG, Deloitte, BDO and Grant Thornton are invited to share their organisations recruitment and selection criteria.

Through a practical approach, students are fully equipped with the relevant experience, skills and professional knowledge required to make sound decisions in genuine business environments.

Intakes for the CFAB at Sunway TES CAE are in January and July.

n For more information on the Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (CFAB) or other professional accounting programmes offered by Sunway TES CAE, call 03-7491 8622 or e-mail [email protected] or visit sunway.edu.my/college/sunwaytes

In the Meet Your Future Employers yearly forum, students hear from companies such as Ernst & Young, PwC, KPMG, Deloitte, BDO and Grant Thornton on their recruitment and selection criteria.

A solid foundation10 COURSE FOCUS StarSpecial, Tuesday 17 March 2015

TUNKU Abdul Rahman University College (TAR University College) has established itself as one of the nations leading institutions with a track record in preparing school-leavers for tertiary education.

With the recent upgrading to University College, the Centre for Pre-University Studies (CPUS) now offers a foundation programme that is unique to TAR University College, which will allow a seamless transition into various TAR University College bachelors degree programmes.

The TAR University College Foundation Programme has been specially designed to ease the progression into tertiary studies for school-leavers, particularly for disciplines at TAR University College.

The foundation programme comprises the arts and science

streams. Each stream consists of two different pathways Track A and Track B which have been developed to strengthen the key knowledge and competencies required in undertaking specific disciplines at undergraduate level.

Students are guided in their track selection by academic counsellors. Students have to consider the degree that they intend to take at TAR University College as well as their academic results.

For the Foundation in Arts programme, Track A includes core statistics and accounting-related subjects that develop quantitative skills in students intending to pursue accounting, business or finance degree programmes.

Track B for the Foundation in Arts, on the other hand, will focus more on the arts, humanities and communication aspects.

For the Foundation in Science programme, Track A consists of subjects in applied physics, information technology, engineering and built environment areas, with a stronger focus on mathematics.

Track B has core subjects that lean more towards pure science subjects such as chemistry and biology that stream students into bachelors degrees in chemistry and biology as well as bioscience at TAR University College.

Head of CPUS Looi Li Chin says, Our foundation programme curriculum is developed to complement the specific academic requirements of the various degree programmes at TAR University College to ensure students are well-prepared for their undergraduate studies.

With a huge campus covering 186 acres (75.3ha) of land,

students can expect not only quality education but one that is enhanced through a myriad of recreational and leisure facilities at TAR University College.

There are many parks on campus such as the beautiful Koi Waterfall Garden and Spiral Park. There are modern science laboratories, a multi-storey library and a state-of-the-art Cyber Centre, which is the IT hub.

There are also gymnasiums, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, rooftop tennis courts, a football field, running tracks and

futsal courts.With its foundation

programmes and extensive facilities, TAR University College is a complete education provider for students seeking quality tertiary education.

TAR University College is hosting its Open Day until March 22 at its Kuala Lumpur campus and branch campuses in Penang, Perak, Johor, Sabah and Pahang.

n For more information, visit www.tarc.edu.my

Students benefit from an environment that is conducive to learning at TAR University College.

Towards a promising future

BUSINESS is a wide field with a variety of rewarding career options available. Encompassing areas such as finance, marketing, operations and management, it offers opportunities for students to venture into specialisations that are suited to their skill sets. In the finance field, government policies and financial theories are covered.

Students who want to kick-start their career in business and finance should look into obtaining a world-class education that will prepare them for a fast-paced and exciting career. At Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, they will be able to gain just that.

Founded in 1821, Heriot-Watt University is one of the top British universities and has consistently achieved high rankings across a number of key university league tables.

One such table is The Guardian University Guide 2015, which ranked the university 13th in the United Kingdom and second in Scotland, and in the top 10 in the UK for a number of courses, including accounting and finance, business, management and marketing, chemistry and mathematics.

The university has grown and expanded over the years. It currently has campuses in Edinburgh, Dubai and Putrajaya. The university arrived in Malaysia in 2012 and officially welcomed students into its new, green campus in February this year.

Heriot-Watt University Malaysias current programme offerings include foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate

programmes in a variety of fields.

Students will be able to kick start a successful career in business and finance with Heriot-Watt Universitys MA (Hons) Business and Finance programme.

This is a three-year specialist joint undergraduate degree programme that equally emphasises both business and finance studies.

The programme has been structured to teach students how to apply business management as well as finance knowledge and skills to a range of managerial, business and problem-solving situations.

As the university works with industry professionals to develop its curriculum and accredit its programmes, students can be assured that the syllabi and learning materials are up to date and relevant to the industrys requirements.

As is the practice at the university, a mixed mode of teaching and assessments is employed, which includes lectures, coursework, tutorials and projects.

This allows students to put into practice the theories learned in the classroom and to develop a more practical understanding of the course.

Find out more about the universitys programmes, scholarships and application procedures during its Info Week held from March 23 to 27 or at its Open Day on March 28 and 29.

n For more information, call 03-8894 3888, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.hw.edu.my

Heriot-Watt University officially opened its Putrajaya branch in February.


The right fitKHASYAHAR Sanjabi arrived in Malaysia six years ago for his pre-university studies. He then pursued a mechatronics degree at a local private university in the Klang Valley.

However, after two years, Khasyahar found his grades slipping to the point of failing and he was uncomfortable in the crowded urban setting of the city campus.

Khasyahar informed his parents that he wanted to find an alternative and, seeing how miserable their son was, they agreed. His online research led him to Nilai University (Nilai U) in the quiet suburb of Putra Nilai.

Having struggled to adapt to the fast-paced lifestyle in the city, I was keen to find an alternative, says the 23-year-old from Tehran. I learnt that for me to flourish academically, I needed a peaceful environment. The presence of nature and greenery at Nilai U was so calming that I knew I had found the right place.

Besides choosing the right institution, Khasyahar was careful about his choice of programme.

I should have realised early on that I was not suited to the sciences and engineering. I could not understand the lessons and was thoroughly demotivated, which affected my grades, he recalls.

He decided to enrol in the BBA (Hons) in International Business programme as he envisaged a career in a multinational corporation that requires a lot of travel.

I love to travel and I thought my degree should facilitate that dream. I also realised that this degree affords me plenty of employment opportunities both at home and abroad, says Khasyahar.

Six years on, Khasyahar now regards

Malaysia and Nilai U as a home away from home. Initially, he found the multiple languages and accents bewildering, especially in lectures and group discussions. He has since adapted to the culture and now speaks several local languages - Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Cantonese.

Once he had made himself comfortable, Khasyahar began to thrive academically. He credits Nilai U lecturers for their boundless energy in passing on their knowledge.

Nilai U offers many programmes to choose from and a campus environment that is perfect for higher studies, says Khasyahar.

n For more information, call 06-850 2308 or 07-226 2336 or visit www.nilai.edu.my

est. 1984est. 1984

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No. 22-26, Jalan Ipoh Kecil off Jalan Ipoh, 50350 Kuala Lumpur.Tel : 03-4041 8562/92 Fax : 03-4041 8568Website: www.binarycollege.edu.my Email: [email protected]

Binary University No. 1, IOI Business Park, Persiaran Puchong Jaya Selatan, Puchong, 47100 SelangorTel : 03-8070 6590/96 Fax : 03-8070 6594Website: www.binary.edu.my Email: [email protected]

Khasyahar Sanjabi is pursuing the BBA (Hons) in International Business at Nilai U.


Industry-led learning

STANDING out from the myriad of accounting and business management programmes in Malaysia are Universiti Tenaga Nasionals (Uniten) five programmes in these fields.

Provided by Unitens College of Business Management and Accounting (COBA), the five programmes are accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and have gained recognition from various professional bodies.

Recognition from the professional bodies means that our graduates will be exempted from several papers when they pursue professional qualifications. COBA was able to obtain this coveted recognition through its high-quality curriculum and teaching methods, says Assoc Prof Dr Salina Daud, COBAs dean.

In fact, the Bachelor of Accounting (Hons) programmes recognition by the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) means that the graduates can obtain their Chartered Accountant title with just three years working experience.

Dr Salina explains that COBA uses external examiners, usually professors from foreign universities. These academic experts give the college

feedback on its curriculum and examinations so that COBA is able to constantly improve them.

We have linkages to other national universities and several foreign universities, which facilitate staff and student exchanges, knowledge transfers and guest lecturers both ways, she says.

The college also has advisors who are adjunct professors from academia and industries, such as chief executive officer of the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia Tan Sri Datuk Wira Dr Mohd Shukor Mahfar and chief executive officer of hi-tech manufacturer

Silterra Malaysia Sdn Bhd Dr Kamarulzaman Mohamed Zin. They provide updates on the current issues from the business world so that students are provided with real-time practical knowledge of what the industries are like and are aware of current market needs.

The overall development of students is taken seriously. They are required to complete industrial training in their final year, where they are attached to top firms and companies in the country to receive practical training. Many of them are retained by the company after

graduation. Students are also required

to be active in co-curricular activities where each activity earns them certain points that are incorporated in their graduation requirement. Co-curricular activities provide an important component to soft skills and overall development, especially in leadership skills, says Dr Salina.

COBA provides each student with an academic advisor who guides and advises students on their academic progress. The advisors help motivate students to perform better academically and also act as mentors throughout the students university life.

The Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Campus in Bandar Muadzam Shah, Pahang, is fully equipped with all the facilities students require, including a 2,000-pax capacity auditorium, lecture theatres and classrooms equipped with the latest technological aids for learning.

There are full boarding hostels and apartments for students so that students are able to live on-campus for the full duration of their studies. The quiet location, surrounded by lush greenery, makes for an environment conducive learning.

We plan to transform the campus into a green campus and healthy campus within the next two years. We have already implemented a comprehensive

recycling programme. We plan to equip our campus with cycling tracks and car-free zones. For healthy campus initiatives, we are working with the Ministry of Health in organising various healthy living programmes, says Dr Salina.

Registration for Unitens College of Business Management and Accountings June intake opens on May 23.

n For more information, visit www.uniten.edu.my

Uniten College of Business Management and Accounting is fully equipped with state-of-the-art facilitites.

Assoc Prof Dr Salina Daud.

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course focus - 17 march 2015

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