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THE STARTuesday 17 June 2014

Pioneering Islamic science > 4 Enhancing research skills in business > 11

Looking beyond conventional business ways.

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2POSTGRADUATEStarSpecial, Tuesday 17 June 2014

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Islamic studies for

the globalised worldBy TINA CARMILLIAT

HE future of a nation in termsof its laws, governance andeconomic growth many

a time is influenced by newknowledge, universal trends,discoveries and even technology.The influence of Islam is growingand gaining traction across theworld.

In Malaysia, this trend hasbegun to shape the countrysfinancial landscape, legal andgoverning bodies as well higher

education policies and paths ofpostgraduate study.Many early scholars and

scientists especially in the fieldsof mathematics, astronomy andmedicine were Muslims, includingArab physicist Ibn al-Haytham(Alhazen), a pioneer of thescientific method.

Today, Islamic studies is at thepinnacle of its growth especiallybecause of the economic maturityof Islamic countries in the MiddleEast and South-East Asia.

Building onstrong foundations

Malaysia, in fact, plays animportant role in popularisingthe implementation of Islamicprinciples in the countrysgovernance Islam hadhari particularly by former primeminister, Tun Abdullah AhmadBadawi.

Although strongly promotedby the government duringAbdullahs leadership, Islamhadhari (civilisational Islam) isa development theory that wasactually founded by Tunku AbdulRahman to represent new aspectsof significant interest in thedevelopment of Islamic thought onthe new era.

There has been a notably highenhancement in the mobilityof researchers, institutions andprogrammes in the global arena.

As a result, attention of theintellectuals to Islamic studiesand its civilisation also increases,says Assoc Prof Saim Kayadibi ofInternational Islamic UniversityMalaysia.

There is no doubt that sincethe worldwide reaction to theevents of September 11, 2001 aswell as the Arab Spring, there is aglobal emphasis on Islamic studiesin higher education to providean international overview aboutIslamic theology and principles.

In this context, Islamic studies

generally refer to the historicalstudy of the religion includingcivilisation, law and philosophy.

Academics in the branch ofIslamic studies may also focus oncomparative theology as well asthe Arab language, which is theoriginal language of many Islamictexts.

Assoc Prof Saim, who haspublished numerous papers onIslamic studies and its relationsto globalisation, adds that thetrend has led many countries,whether in the Western or Eastern

hemisphere, to aspire to play acentral role as the worlds leadingdestination for Islamic highereducation.

Malaysia, in particular, has ahead start because of its deep-rooted Islamic culture that iscoupled with the innovativeinsights of the countrys leaders.

One of the best examplesto highlight this distinction isthe development of the Islamicbanking system in Malaysia thatis fast growing and has beenadopted by other nations globally.

Although traditionally studiedby Muslims, it will not besurprising if in the near future,this field of study will have a fairshare of non-Muslim scholars.

This is certainly possible asmany leading universities in theUnited States and across Europe,such as Oxford University, havestarted offering academic degreesat both the undergraduate andpostgraduate level in Islamicstudies.

But is Islamic studies thestudy of the religion only or hasit progressed into the applicationof Islamic principles to otheracademic courses?

Essentially, Islamic studies isthe blanket term for the studyof the religion, such as Islamictheology and jurisprudence, butit also incorporates fields thatare usually regarded as secular,such as science and economics.In modern practice, Islamicprinciples are found in thebanking, insurance, social welfare,and legal fields, among others.

Enhancing establishedmethods

Islamic banking emergedas a popular alternative toconventional interest-basedbanking both in Muslim and non-Muslim countries such as China,Denmark and Luxembourg.

Presently, Islamic banking

systems are operational in atleast 60 countries and in somecountries, the entire bankingsystems has been converted tothe Islamic systems such as in Iranand Pakistan.

Although it has the samepurpose as conventional banking,which is to make money forthe banking institute throughlendings of capital, Islamicbanking also has to adhere toIslamic law that ensures fairplay, such as the prohibition ofacceptance of specific interest or

fees for money loans.Principlesbuilt on tenets

The basic principle of syariah-compliant banking is based onrisk-sharing rather than the risk-transfer principle of conventionalbanking.

Additionally, Islamic bankingalso involves concepts such assafekeeping, joint venture, costplus, leasing and profit sharing.

Many of these principles arealso some of the basic tenets of theIslamic insurance concept, knownas takaful insurance.

Unlike conventional insurance,where the risk is transferred fromthe policy holder to the insurancecompany through the paymentof an insurance premium,participants form a common poolto share the risk. The insurancecompany only acts as the managerof the pool.

In other words, the takafulsystem is a cooperative or mutualinsurance where pool participantscontribute donations to help thosewho need assistance.

The system does not deriveadvantage at the cost of others asits purpose is not to make profits.

Besides that, Islamic principlesare also applied in the legalsystem, also known as syariah law.

The law deals with almostevery topic that is addressed bysecular law, including crime,politics, economics and personalmorality derived from theprecepts in the Quran and bythe examples set in the Sunnah.However, the implementation ofthe syariah law varies betweennations.

In Malaysia, the syariah lawapplies in personal status issuesof Muslim citizens such as in thematters of marriage, inheritanceand child custody.

> TURN TO PAGE 13

Keeping up withindustry changesAS the business world becomesincreasingly competitive, havinga degree is simply not enoughto move forward in this rapidlychanging arena.

This is why an increasingnumber of fresh graduates havechosen to give themselves anedge by pursuing a postgraduateeducation as the additional skillsthey obtain can bring about newopportunities.

Limkokwing Universityrecognises the dilemma thatmany face in the workplace.

This is why the university hasplaced emphasis on the digitaltechnological requirements thatwill enable its postgraduatestudents to keep up withincreased digitisation in theworkplace and the importancegiven to social media in businessdealings.

As a university that worksclosely with the industry,Limkokwing ensures that itsgraduates are comfortable withtechnological advancements.

In the last 20 years manycareers have become obsolete,and over the last 10 years,many industries have becomefragmented, with departmentswithin an enterprise branchingout to become full-fledgedbusinesses in their own right.

The next 10 years will bechallenging as CEOs grapplewith the rapidity of change thatis causing great uncertainty in

the marketplace.Therefore, there are two

factors that graduates need towatch out for that will changethe nature of their career paths -talent and technology.

Industries across the worldrate insufficient talent as agreat drawback and realisethat technological advancesare reshaping existing valuechains, influencing productsand services and changing howcompanies connect with theircustomers.

New technologies arealso transforming methodsof production, generation ofservices, management of peopleand processes.

Many organisations conducttraining to up-skill theiremployees but more often thannot, it is up to the employee togo the extra mile. An employeesmindset can decide how brighthis career prospects will be.

If the employee is always onthe ball then he will assureda place at the top. However, ifthe employee approaches histasks without considering newapproaches, he will find himselfoutperformed by his juniors.

But even if the marketmay seem to be in a state ofuncertainty, there are alwaysopportunities to do better.

nFor more information, visitwww.limkokwing.net

Limkokwing University ensures that its graduates are comfortable withtechnological advancements.

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StarSpecial 3Tuesday 17 June 2014

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USIM graduates are equipped to become professionals who can contributesignificantly to the community.

Pioneering Islamic scienceU

NIVERSITI Sains IslamMalaysia (USIM) is anemerging Islamic university

that is fully owned and funded bythe Malaysian government. Being

the 12th public institution ofhigher learning to be establishedin Malaysia, it aims to spearheadknowledge and be the globalreference centre for Islamicscience.

USIM adopts a balancedapproach in its academicprogrammes as well as in otheraspects of the university such as atadministration and managementlevels. USIM graduates aremoulded based on this ethosto become professionals intheir respective disciplines andsignificantly contribute to society.

USIMs education paradigmis based on the basic principle ofintegrating religious sciences with

social and physical sciences tonot only provide a comprehensiveunderstanding of current globalchallenges but also to offeralternative solutions.

Against this backdrop, USIMembraces a holistic approach tothe delivery of knowledge, whichunites revelational sciences (naqliknowledge) and the rationalsciences (aqliknowledge). USIMthus offers a unique model ofIslamic higher education thatsets it apart from other Islamicuniversities.

USIM has eight faculties inQuranic and Sunnah studies,economics and muamalat,

leadership and management,dentistry, medicine and healthsciences, major language studies,science and technology, andsyariah and law.

These faculties offer more than60 academic programmes fromfoundation to postgraduate levelsand are delivered in English andArabic.

In addition, the professionalprogrammes offered arecertified by their respectiveprofessional bodies at national andinternational levels.

The most sought-afterprogrammes at the undergraduate

level include studies inbiotechnology, industrialchemical technology, actuarialscience and risk management,financial mathematics, Islamicstudies, Arabic language studies,Islamic banking and finance,information security assurance,medicine, dentistry, counselling,communications, Islamiceducation, law and Islamic law.

Some of these programmesare also offered at a masters anddoctoral level, either by research,coursework, or mixed or blendedmodes. Among the uniquepostgraduate programmes offered

at USIM are courses in drugand substance abuse, computerscience, halal food technology,Islamic economics and muamalatadministration and Islamic

Science.In less than 10 years ofbecoming a full-fledgeduniversity, USIM has become thechoice for local and internationalstudents in their pursuit oftertiary education, especiallyamong students with Islamicbackground who would havepreviously opted for universitiesin the Middle East.

This is evident from the ten-fold increase in student admissionto the university and the presenceof students from 36 countriessince being established in 2007.The university currently has astudent enrolment of more than11,000 and the international

student population has increasedby more than 100% over the lastthree years.

USIM is now accelerating itsresearch activities to furtherdevelop the university in itsrole as a leader in Islamicscience. It is pioneering Islamicscience research in multi- andinterdisciplinary (fields of studies)that integrate revelational andrational sciences.

The university conductsresearch activities in its eightacademic faculties and six Centresof Excellence. Through theseresearch initiatives, USIM aspiresto attract the best brains to drive

The most sought-after

programmes include theseareas of study: Food biotechnology Industrial chemical technology Actuarial science and riskmanagement

Financial mathematics Islamic studies Arabic language studies Islamic banking and finance Information security assurance Medicine Dentistry Counselling Communications Islamic education Law Islamic law

Popular undergraduatesubjects

its research agenda.In light of these developments,

USIM established the PermataInsan College, which is a school-on-campus project for Muslim

children who have an IQ of morethan 150.This is an effort to provide a

seamless pathway from primaryto tertiary education based on aunique approach to education.

Through the delivery of USIMsoriginal curriculum based onIslamic science that integratesthe knowledge of naqli and aqli,young Muslims will be nurturedto become tomorrows leaders,scientists and professionals andpotential Nobel laureates.

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StarSpecial, Tuesday 17 June 2014 POSTGRADUATE5

VC COLUMN

Higher education within

the growth of Islamic finance

MUCH of the blame from thefinancial crisis of 2007-2009 that is still affecting

economies worldwide has beenlaid at the door of the bankingindustry. And the industry itselfhas been dogged by high-profilefailures, deteriorating financialperformance and sustained publiccriticism.

The growth, development andincreasing popularity of Islamicfinance sits in sharp contrast tothe challenging times faced byconventional financial servicesproviders.

Although relatively small,Islamic finance is developingrapidly and this has importantimplications for higher educationand particularly business schools.

One of the responsibilitiesof universities is to ensure thatwe help society to develop thekind of workforce it needs withthe right knowledge, skills andcapabilities.

That is a broad responsibilityand touches on many elements

of education, but for now, I wouldlike to think about the importanceof the subjects we teach and howour teaching plays an importantrole in supporting the growth anddevelopment of industries such asIslamic finance.

Many countries aspire toestablish themselves as leadingcentres of Islamic finance. Lastyear, The EconomistdescribedMalaysia as probably the worldsmost important Islamic financecentre, with close to 25% of thebanking system being syariah-compliant.

Malaysia played a keyrole in the early stages of the

development of Islamic financein the 1980s and has a globalreputation for its capability toinnovate.

The first sukuk(Islamicbonds), for example, was issuedin Malaysia in 2000 with othercountries soon following suit.

Increasingly, with its globally

recognised standard-settingbodies, its educational andresearch institutions andits supportive central bank,Malaysia is viewed by manyas the intellectual leader fordevelopments in Islamic finance.

However, the United ArabEmirates, particularly Dubai hasestablished itself as a regionalleader for Islamic finance for theGulf Cooperation Council andwith the United Kingdoms recentannouncement of a 200mil(RM1.1bil) sukukand the ground-breaking creation of new Islamicindex on the London StockExchange this year, London has

now staked its claim as an Islamicfinance superpower.

Of these three centres,Malaysia leads with respect tothe market penetration of Islamicbanking as its capital marketsare more developed than thoseof competing countries. Theregulatory environment is alsomore advanced and tailored to theneeds of the sector.

But alongside performanceto date and regulatoryinfrastructure, we also need to

consider the underpinning humanresource. In relation to education,the UK seems to be leading thepack. The UK appears to havemore than 60 institutions offeringIslamic finance courses and 22universities offering degreeprogrammes with specialisationsin Islamic finance.

In terms of volume, Malaysiaand UAE are followers. Malaysiahas 50 course providers and18 universities offering degreeprogrammes, while the UAE has31 course providers and nineuniversities offering degree

programmes.But when it comes to researchoutput in Islamic finance, Malaysiahas more of a lead with 169research papers, of which 101were peer reviewed in the lastthree years. The UK follows with111 research papers (56 peerreviewed) whereas no data wereavailable for the UAE.

Malaysia is clearly in a strongposition with regard to thisincreasingly important industry.But the evidence relating toeducational provision suggeststhat there is more that the sectorcan do to support the nationsambitions.

Bank Negara estimates thatalongside the growing numbers ofMalaysians opting to study Islamicfinance, students from more than80 countries have chosen Malaysiaas the place to learn more aboutthe principles and practice ofIslamic finance. But in terms ofcourse provision, Malaysia appearsto be lagging behind the UK.

The country must address thechallenges associated with thesupply of high-quality humancapital.

According to MalaysiasFinancial Sector Blueprint 2011-

2020, up to 56,000 new financeindustry positions will be neededin the next 10 years; including upto 40,000 Islamic finance industryjobs.

But poor scores in PISA (theOrganisation for EconomicCo-operation and DevelopmentsProgramme of InternationalStudent Assessment), allegeddeclining English languagecapabilities and persistentconcerns about the employabilityof graduates do not augur well.

nProf Christine Ennew is the CEOand provost of The NottinghamUniversity Malaysia Campus.

By PROFCHRISTINEENNEW

One of theresponsibilitiesof universities isto ensure that wehelp society todevelop the kind ofwork force it needs with the rightknowledge, skillsand capabilities.

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The flexibility of KBUs MBA programme enables students to customise theirschedule with full- or part-time classes.

Climbing the corporate ladderA

CCORDING to the QSIntelligence Unit 2013/14 (QStopMBA.comJobs and Salary

Trends Report), an international

rating system for universities,there was a 14% increase in jobopportunities for MBA holders lastyear.

With that in mind, ambitiousexecutives should enrol in anMBA programme to leverageand capitalise on these jobopportunities, says Low HongKeng, head of KBUs School ofBusiness, Hospitality and TourismManagement.

Just having a bachelors degreeis inadequate for those who wantto advance at a corporate level.To this end, KBU InternationalCollege offers a time-tested,rigorous and prestigious MBAprogramme in collaboration with

the Lord Ashcroft InternationalBusiness School of AngliaRuskin University in the UnitedKingdom, says Low.

The masters degree isspecifically designed to furtherdevelop executives who wantto move from their specialistposition to a more senior rolein their organisation. Thus, theprogramme has a far more generaland strategic approach than thosefocused on specific subject areas.

Why is KBUs MBA the idealchoice? Firstly, it is internationallyrecognised and accredited by theAssociation of Business Schools,a body representing the leading

business schools in the UK. Thebody is an authoritative voice ofthe business and managementeducation there.

Besides being tutored by a

highly qualified teaching teamcomprising doctorate holders withindustry experience, studentsalso benefit from lectures heldby guest lecturers from the

UK as well as live lectures viavideo conferencing taught byUK professors and industryspecialists.

The programme also offersflexibility so that students are able

to customise their schedule withfull- or part-time classes.

Part-time classes are heldon the weekends while full-

time classes cater mainly tointernational students.The programme stretches

over four semesters and focuseson producing well-roundedgraduates.

The academic calendar consistsof two semesters in a year(January to April and Septemberto December) to allow optimalbalance of students professional,personal and university lives.

Students also do not have toworry about preparing for examsas the course is fully assignmentbased. They also have accessto the Emerald database andARUs (Anglia Ruskin University)extensive e-library, making

research easy.ACCA (Association of CharteredCertified Accountants) andCIMA (Chartered Institute ofManagement Accountants)members can also look forwardto getting four exemptions ofthe 11 modules organisationalbehaviour, decision-making andproblem-solving, marketingmanagement and strategicfinancial analysis.

nFor more information, contactKBU International College,Bandar Utama at 03-7727 3200,e-mail [email protected] orvisitwww.kbu.edu.my

KBUs MBAprogrammeis specificallydesigned tofurther developexecutives whowant to move fromtheir specialistposition to a moresenior role in theirorganisation.Thus, theprogramme has afar more general

and strategicapproach thanthose focused onspecific subjectareas.

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VC COLUMN

By PROFDATUK WIRADR MOHAMEDMUSTAFA ISHAK

Building theright foundation

THE heirs of the nations future are itsyouth. This has pressed the leadersof Malaysia to place emphasis on the

nurturing of the countrys youth to secure afavourable future for the nation as a whole.

The nation is earnest in moving forward,exemplified through the devising ofstrategies for its transformation.

The 2014 budget allocations show itsleaders drive to inculcate excellence inhuman capital while recognising that thebiggest challenge for Malaysia is to produceskilled human capital.

These skills include intellectualcapabilities, artistic skills, communicationskills, interpersonal skills, thinking skills,innovation and creativity.

The nations focus on strengtheningpublic and private higher learninginstitutions to produce quality graduateswho meet the demands of the job marketsignifies its efforts to build people who candrive the country forward.

Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)s visionand mission, which are inspired by thegoals of the nation, has always been tohelp the countrys leadership realise thesenational goals.

Since its inception, UUM has solelyfocused on spearheading the developmentof quality tertiary business andmanagement studies. It has evolved andexpanded its academic repertoire to includea wider range of programmes in a varietyof areas.

Our three decades of experience andinvolvement in purveying constantlyreviewed and refined academicprogrammes have enabled us to remain at

the forefront of higher education, especiallyin business and management studies.

Drawing upon our vast experience andexpertise, we have designed a foundationprogramme in management for youngschool-leavers.

This programme, which will be offeredduring the first semester of the 2014/2015academic session that commences on June18, aims to prepare students for UUMundergraduate programmes.

The programme will run for three

semesters with an overall duration ofone year and is designed to help studentscultivate their creativity and be competitivein planning their future in management.

Through this programme, high achieversin the SPM examination will have theopportunity to further their studies atuniversity without having to have a diplomaor STPM qualification or to have taken up amatriculation course prior to enrolment.

Students will have to enrol in 17 courses(50 credit hours) for the programme, whichwill all be conducted in English.

The programme will involve lectures,discussions, tutorials, laboratory activities,seminars, projects, presentations andproblem-based learning activities.

It provides a supportive transition forstudents interested to enrol in the variousundergraduate programmes offered at UUMand other institutions of higher learning.

The graduates of this foundationprogramme can choose to enrol in anyof the 39 undergraduate programmes onoffer at UUM, which include courses inaccounting, law, international business,multimedia, ICT, business management, andinternational studies.

The programme is UUMs latestcontribution to the building of the nationseducation and the betterment of theyounger generation.

It is in line with UUMs mission to beproactive in meeting the needs of thenation.

I hope that students take the opportunityto explore the new vistas that thisprogramme will reveal to them and ventureinto a higher learning experience withvigour.

nProf Datuk Wira Dr Mohamed MustafaIshak is the vice-chancellor of UniversitiUtara Malaysia.

Since its inception, UUM has solely focused on spearheading the development of quality tertiary businessand management studies.

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UKM-GSB is one of only two businessschools in Malaysia to be awarded TopBusiness School status.

The MBA programme from UKM-GSB aims to provide integrated and applicableknowledge of business and management.

Quality and excellencein business education

CHAMPIONING thedevelopment anddissemination of world-class

education and research in thebusiness discipline, UniversitiKebangsaan Malaysia (UKM),through its Graduate School ofBusiness (UKM-GSB), upholds itstradition of prioritising qualityand excellence in businesseducation and research.

By offering high-qualitygraduate programmes in businessthat are relevant for industrialand universal development,UKM-GSB aspires to develophigh-calibre graduates who canchampion the nations vision. As acentre of excellence, it has forgedcollaborative networks with theindustry and other local andforeign institutions.

Master of BusinessAdministration (MBA)

The MBA programme fromUKM-GSB aims to provideintegrated and applicableknowledge of business and

management.This programme is ideal forindividuals who seek progressionin their business and managementcareers. Students are offered twostudy options full-time and part-time (weekend). Currently, UKM-GSB is also conducting customisedin-house MBA programmes invarious organisations.

The core courses are designedto equip students with thefollowing management toolsand skills that are pertinent tobusiness decision-making: Business law and ethics Accounting for decision making Financial management

Organisational management

Marketing management Business economics and decisionanalysis Management operations andinformation system Strategic management.

Students may choose electivecourses offered by GSB in thefollowing fields: Marketing Islamic banking and finance Applied finance and investment Organisational and humanresource management.

Alternatively, students canchoose selected electives offeredby: Faculty of Economics and

Management

Faculty of Law Faculty of Social Sciences andHumanities Faculty of Information Scienceand Technology

Learning objectives

MBA graduates will be able to: Lead an organisation Communicate effectively Work as a team Master and apply advancedknowledge of business andmanagement within complexsituations Make effective decisionsanalytically using quantitative and

qualitative tools Manage creatively andinnovatively Be able to manage relevantinformation obtained fromdifferent sources Identify opportunities andprepare a business plan Behave ethically with high senseof responsibility to society Think and act in a global andcross-cultural environment Observe the impact ofprofessional practice on theenvironment

The UKM-GSB advantage

UKM-GSB is one of only twobusiness schools in Malaysia tobe awarded Top Business Schoolstatus. It currently conductsvalue-added activities to ensurethat its students receive a holisticeducation. Activities outsidethe classroom are constantlyorganised to provide character-building experiences for itsstudents.

The co-curricular activitiesinclude: Corporate Experiential LearningProgramme (14 weeks) Innovation andTechnopreneurship Bootcamp(three days)

Corporate Social Engagementprogramme, an on-going sharingsession where corporate leadersshare their views and industrialand working-life experiences withstudents.

To ensure that all its curriculumis aligned and remains relevantto the industry, representativesfrom UKM-GSB meet up with itsIndustry Academic Committeeevery six months.

nFor more information,call 03-8921 4486, 03- 8921 4718or visit gsb.ukm.my

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Datuk Syed Manshor Syed Mahmood (first row, third from left), managing directorof Adabi together with his staff and the staff of UTM-IBS at the Adabi graduationceremony that was held upon the completion of the companys executivedevelopment programme.

Enhancing confidence andholistic competencies

THE Universiti TeknologiMalaysias InternationalBusiness School (UTM-IBS)

was rated by Eduniversal Ranking,a university ranking by Frenchconsulting company and ratingagency SMBG as the No.1 excellentbusiness school in Malaysia lastyear.

UTM-IBS first started as oneof UTMs centres of excellence

and became a graduate schoolof management in 1997. It isnow a full-fledged businessschool that offers masters inbusiness administration (MBA)programme with specialisationsin strategic management, techno-entrepreneurship and health caremanagement.

UTM-IBS also offers executivedevelopment programmes (EDP)that utilise a number of shortcourses covering all aspects ofmanaging an organisation.

This wide array ofspecialisation is in line withMalaysias vision and theindustrial needs of the Asianregion to nurture industry

captains, corporate leaders,innovation champions and globalentrepreneurs who spur inclusivegrowth for the country and theregion.

In order to support the riseof these critical talents, UTM-IBS aims to sharpen those withpotential by providing themcontemporary competitive skills,strategic thinking skills andethical insights. The experiencesand exposure they gain fromthe learning processes willenhance their confidence andholistic competencies. TheUTM-IBS Doctorate of BusinessAdministration (DBA) was created

to meet these needs.UTM-IBS offers learners

taught courses within the DBAprogramme. The courses aredeveloped based on industry-driven and practical orientationthat focuses on the learnersabilities to sharpen theirmanagerial, entrepreneurial andleadership skills.

In the field of business

administration, UTM-IBSstrives to provide a relevant andcontemporary DBA programmesthat focuses on businessinnovation and strategies. Theschool intends to equip its DBAlearners with effective researchskills that will enable them toperform exceptional researchwork. Through its engagementwith the industry and relevant

stakeholders, UTM-IBS generatesa DBA curriculum that enhanceslearners career development andprofessional well-being.

The DBA programme is aprofessional doctorate thatrequires students to apply existingtheories and frameworks whilefinding new frontiers of practicalknowledge for the benefit ofindustry eco-system.

During the first two years,learners will attend formaltraining sessions in researchmethods and other relevantdisciplines. Students are expectedto write an extensive reviewon their area of interest and an

equally detailed research proposalduring this first stage.In the second stage of their

studies, the taught element isreduced and learners will spendmore time on their researchproject and preparing fortheir research thesis. With thecombination of lectures andfocused research projects with theindustry, this programme providesa useful guideline for students tolook beyond short-term solutions.

UTM-IBS has been collaboratingwith various renowned businessschools and one such collaborationis with professors from theHarvard Business School (HBS).

Through this relationship, UTM-IBS has made HBS a benchmarkto improve its performance andquality in business education.

Recently, UTM-IBS appointedHBS faculty members such asProf Dr Diego Comin, a renownedfigure in business administration,as visiting professors to assistUTM-IBS in achieving its goalof becoming one of the leadingbusiness schools in the regionand also to enhance the schoolsranking internationally.

The EDP is tailored exclusivelyto further enhance the capabilityof the participants managerialand entrepreneurial competencies.

The programmes focus onpreparing participants to face theever-changing demands of themarket.

This is done through theadvancement of managementknowledge through specialcourses conceived by market-oriented teaching and relatedtraining. Recently, UTM-IBSorganised a graduation day for thestaff of Adabi who successfullycompleted the EDP courses.

UTM-IBS next intake is inSeptember.

nFor more information visitwww.ibs.utm.my

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My employer suggested Ipursue my MBA throughthe Edinburgh BusinessSchool because of theschool and Heriot-Wattshigh ranking amongglobal universities.I trusted their judgmentand have never lookedback.

Annie Yu Mei Ying

Edinburghs Business Schools MBA programme which is offered at the Heriot-Watt University Malaysiasupports personal development, encourages strategic thinking and boosts career prospects.

JUGGLING a full-time job and apostgraduate education can bedemanding. However, the first group of

students preparing to complete their MBAat the Heriot-Watt University Malaysiacampus have learnt that pursuing apostgraduate education while workingactually improves their learning experience.

The renowned MBA programme fromEdinburgh Business School, delivered bytop English and Malaysian academiciansin Malaysia, is having a transformationalimpact on managers. It supports personaldevelopment, encourages strategic thinkingand boosts career prospects. The first MBAcohort began their studies in January lastyear.

The Edinburgh Business School MBA,which was launched in 1989, has more than11,300 active students in 160 countries and16,000-strong alumni. In addition, morethan 40% of the MBA students from theEdinburgh Business School MBA come fromFortune 500 companies.

The Edinburgh Business School MBAhas been available to Malaysian studentssince 1992 through study on campus inthe United Kingdom, independent studyor through an academic partner. Thereare more than 1,200 MBA alumni fromMalaysia, including Annie Yu Mei Ying,financial account manager at Hewlett-Packard Malaysia.

Learning how to negotiate, how tointeract with her customers and achievepositive sales results are some of the manyadvantages that Yu has gained from theEdinburgh Business School MBA.

Yus first degree was in charteredmanagement accountancy. She workedin London as an accountant for five yearsbefore returning to Malaysia. Upon herreturn she worked as an auditor beforemoving to Hewlett-Packard, where she hasbeen for the past 14 years.

When I began working at HP, I startedseeing real business in action. My bosses atHP were fantastic because they supportedme in my desire to study practical businessmethods. They suggested I pursue my MBAthrough the Edinburgh Business Schoolbecause of the school and Heriot-Wattshigh ranking among global universities.I trusted their judgment and have neverlooked back.

Yu says she loved the practical nature ofthe MBA.

MBA programmehighlights currentbusiness needs

Once I graduated with my MBA, I waspromoted from a junior managementposition to a senior management position.My company recognised my hard work andrewarded me straight away. This is becausethe MBA was and is reality-driven. Whatyou learn is happening right now in the realworld with examples to back this up. Itsvery inspiring, she says.

Yu says that studying and having a full-time job is not that hard; it is just a questionof motivation and time management.

Learning how to manage your timeis essential in life and it is also a vitalbusiness skill. I learned how to motivatemyself to study and how to break tasksdown into manageable chunks so as notto feel overwhelmed. These are skills thatmanagers need to learn too, so it was anadded bonus for me.

The Edinburgh Business School MBAteaches you what is current in business. It

changes your thinking, excites your mindand gives you skills in vital business areas.My studies were relevant to me becauseI was working in finance but regardlessof where you are in your career or whatindustry you work in, business skills relateto life skills and will be just as useful in yourdaily life. The MBA teaches you the realityof business in action, Yu concludes.

nFor more information, visitwww.hw.edu.my

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StarSpecial, Tuesday 17 June 2014 POSTGRADUATE 11

The DBA programme hasprovided me with a wealth ofknowledge and has allowedme to engage in stimulatingdiscussions with my peers,says Lee Sook Ling, DBAcandidate at AeU.

Enhancingresearch skillsin businessT

HE doctor of businessadministration(DBA) qualification

is a research doctorate inbusiness administrationthat is equivalent to a PhDin business administration.DBA programmes focus moreon applied research thantheoretical research, especiallyin the thesis-writing phase.

With its main campus in

the heart of Kuala Lumpurand learning centres inevery state across the nation,Asia e University (AeU)meets the needs of workingprofessionals and presentsthem the opportunity to revivetheir career by climbing thecorporate ladder. AeU offers thisprogramme for highly skilledprofessionals via full-time andpart-time mode of studies.

The accredited AeU DBAprogramme is administeredby the School of Management(SOM) to prepare futuremanagers with in-depthknowledge and researchskills in the fields ofbusiness administration andmanagement.

It is suited to the needs ofthe industry and aims to honethe students research skills andcompetencies in business. It is ahighly flexible programme andcan accommodate candidatesfrom all levels of management.

I am certainly enjoyingmy DBA studies at AeU. Theprogramme has provided mewith a wealth of knowledgeand has allowed me to engagein stimulating discussions withmy peers. Its unique approachallows me to combine myexpertise in academic researchand work knowledge to lookfor innovative solutions thatare applicable to my workplace.The academic staff is verysupportive. I am very happy thatI chose AeU to pursue my DBAprogramme at, says Lee SookLing, DBA candidate at AeU.

The AeU DBA programmeis suitable for professionalswho are pursuing careeradvancements and not justacademic careers. Its practical-oriented approach will greatlybenefit working professionalsas it allows the immediate

integration of actionableknowledge and critical thinkingskills into their workingenvironment, says Prof DrJuhary Ali, dean of SOM.

The admission requirementfor the DBA programme is arecognised masters degreein a relevant field or otherqualifications recognisedby the AeU Senate. Studentswho are enrolling will not

need to submit a researchproposal at their point of entry.AeU also allows the transferof candidature from otherinstitutions.

The DBA programmeis supported by researchworkshops, colloquia and clinicsto assist students in researchdevelopment. In facilitatingtheir research, AeU studentshave access to a digital librarythat holds more than 100,000e-books, 71,000 e-journals, and1.6 million e-theses titles.

Learning materials,assignments and researchworkshops or clinics will berecorded and uploaded inmyPLS (AeUs personalisedportal) for students to refer toat any time. Discussion amongstudents will be facilitatedonline by the universitysacademic facilitators via theforum features available on thesystem.

These forums act as aplatform for students to discussrelevant subject matters withtheir peers as well as withacademic facilitators. Studentscan also communicate withtheir academic facilitators andpeers via e-mail and videoconferencing tools.

There will be a uniqueeight-stage structured researchmonitoring programmeupon the completion of thedissertation, which includesclose supervision for the first12 months. An academicsupervisor will be appointed tosupervise the research basedon the research needs. Studentswill be required to submit adissertation at the end of theprogramme.

The dissertation must satisfythe universitys standards ofquality as determined by theexaminers and the studentmust successfully defend thedissertation and research workin a viva voce conducted bythe examiners in order to beawarded the DBA qualification.

nFor further inquiries,call 1300 300 238 or visitwww.aeu.edu.my

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Sunway Team representing Malaysia in CFA Institute Research Challenge 2014, Asia-Pacific level. From left: Wilson Chiong Zhan Hua,

Carmen Ng Jia Wen, Ang Hui Mei and Ong Yue Wen with their faculty advisor, Andrew Jong.

Partnership paves way to success

APARTNERSHIP witha leading trainingconsultancy that

specialises in CharteredFinancial Analyst (CFA)preparatory classes for capitalmarkets professionals inSouth-East Asia has enabledSunway-TES CAE to offer thebest platform in preparing CFAcandidates in Malaysia for theirexaminations.

Otherwise known asfinancial analyst workshops,these fortnightly sessions arestructured study programmestaught by experts who are CFAcharterholders and experiencedinstructors from the Singapore-based A.B. Maximus & Co PteLtd.

We emphasise how

important it is for CFAcandidates to attend the classesand learn from practitioners inthe industry, says Teo Ee Sing,executive director of Sunway-TES.

Mature students willfind the interactive learningenvironment conducive forlively discussions. They canask questions and obtainclarifications from theinstructors.

The teaching materials usedby the instructors are also topnotch, drawn from a broadCandidate Body of Knowledge(CBOK) from the CFA Institute inthe United States.

I am confident that thecollaboration between thesetwo leading institutions willhelp to produce some of the bestqualified and highly sought-after CFA charters, says Teo.

A.B. Maximus wasestablished in Singapore in 1996and Sunway-TES has been aleading provider of professionalaccountancy programmes inMalaysia and South-East Asiasince 1994.

It is well-known for itscommitment to excellence interms of having high passingrates in examinations andproducing world and Malaysianprize-winners in both ACCA andICAEW.

The institutions have acombined total of more than 30years of teaching experience,says Teo, adding that thecombined learning strategies ofboth A.B. Maximus and Sunway-TES have helped enhance thepass rate of CFA candidatessince the programme started in2011.

Currently, the CFAprogramme offered bySunway-TES and A.B. Maximusis the most structured andexamination-driven, makingit the best CFA programmeavailable in Malaysia.

Sunway CFA students willalso be given the original

Kaplan Schweser PremiumStudy Materials that retail atUSD999.00 (RM3,194.30).

All workshop sessionsare conducted over theweekends in a universitycampus environment, which isconducive to learning, says Teo.

There is a series of guided-learning processes that coversfour functional areas, includingethical and professional

standards, investment tools,asset valuation, and portfoliomanagement and wealth

planning.Within these four areasare 10 topics ethical andprofessional standards,quantitative methods,economics, financial reportingand analysis, corporatefinance, equity investments,fixed income investments,derivatives, alternativeinvestment, and portfoliomanagement and wealthplanning, Teo elaborates.

Each candidate mustcomplete all three levels of theCFA in order to qualify as a CFAcharterholder.

The CFA Programme isorganised into three levels.

Level I focuses on the basicknowledge of the 10 topicareas and analyses them usinginvestment tools.

At Level II, candidates aretaught how to emphasiseapplications of investment toolsand concepts with a focus onthe valuation of all types ofassets.

Level III focuses onsynthesising concepts andanalytical methods in a varietyof applications for effectiveportfolio management andwealth planning.

On completion of the threelevels of the CFA examinationsas well as an accumulatedfour years of relevant workexperience, the graduate willthen be awarded the CFAcharter.

This charter, accordingto Teo, is widely recognisedby investors, investmentpractitioners, employers,regulators and the mediaacross the world to be thehighest ethical, education andprofessional standard in theinvestment community.

Currently, chartered financialanalysts who are registeredwith CFA Malaysia is stillsmall in number comparedto Singapore, with 2,677charterholders and 7,472examination candidates as of2013.

In Malaysia, there areonly 417 CFA charterholdersand 1,610 CFA examinationcandidates.

With the greater focusnow given by the Bank Negarato professional qualifications,more CFA charterholders will beneeded to fill future vacancies,says Teo.

CFA is a graduate-levelprogramme of the CFAInstitute, designed to developthe competencies andprofessionalism required ininvestment management andadvisory services.

It is the one of the most

widely recognised andrespected qualifications in theinvestment field.

The next intake for CFALevel 1 at Sunway-TES will beheld next month.

nFor more information,contact Sunway-TES at03-7491 8622 or e-mailAndrew Jong [email protected]

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Pursuing the MBA dreamIN a competitive businessworld where manyprofessionals share similar

qualities and credentials, anindividual can make himself astandout by having a masters inbusiness administration (MBA)qualification.

For some, the right time topursue a postraguate degreewill come later in life. Honey Ho

was one such individual. Shewas determined to be differentand discovered new strengthduring her postgraduatejourney. After graduatingfrom a local university witha law degree, Ho worked in amultinational company as anin-house legal counsel.

It was then that I beginto take interest in how anorganisation runs its business,she says.

Knowing that an MBAcould give her the knowledgeto understand businessorganisations better, Ho startedsearching for a suitable MBAprogramme to pursue.

It was then that she foundSEGi College Subang Jaya, whichoffered an MBA programmefrom the University ofSunderland, United Kingdom.

It was very important for methat the MBA programme wasaccredited. The Sunderland MBAis recognised by the Ministryof Quality Education (MQE) and

Honey Ho credits her success to herhusband, Colin, for supporting her in her

pursuit of an MBA.

the Ministry of Education inMalaysia, Ho says.

Another reason was becausethe cost for the programmewould not have exceeded my

budget and the location wasclose to where I live.The Sunderland MBA

programme is a uniqueprogramme. It is 90%assignment-based and 10%exam-based and this gave Hopractical experiences that wentbeyond exam-based learning.

Determined to finish

Ho found herself having tojuggle study and work at thesame time, but she remaineddetermined to complete herMBA.

It was extremelychallenging for me especially

because I did not have abusiness education backgroundand I had not been studyingsince 2008. Working onweekdays and attendingclasses on weekends took a lotof energy. When assignmentswere due, I had to clock in extrahours of study on weekdays aswell, she says.

The toughest challenge for Hocame halfway through her secondyear when she obtained a new joband became pregnant.

I deferred my studies for the

first trimester of my pregnancy as Ineeded to concentrate on my newjob. I was quite worried then thatI would not be able to completemy MBA. Thankfully, the SEGiMBA programme is flexible and Iresumed my studies in my secondtrimester, she says.

I submitted my assignmenttwo days prior to giving birthand thought of deferring foranother semester. However, afterdiscussing with the educationcounsellors at SEGi College SubangJaya, we decided to rearrange myclass schedule to accommodatemy timing. So I continued withmy final semester, which wasthe dissertation, without any

deferment.

I was determined to finish theprogramme with my course mates.I am thankful to my husband,Colin, for being understanding andsupportive as he had to spend a

lot of time looking after our baby,Claire, while I was doing my MBA,says Ho.

The sacrifices were worth it inthe end and Ho scored the highestdissertation mark in the SunderlandMBA programme that year.

The experience that I gained atSEGi has been a memorable one.I made really good friends andgained business knowledge that Iwould not have gained through justreading business materials. It wasthrough this MBA programme thatI learned about marketing, businessoperations and managing people,she says.

nFor more information, visitwww.segi.edu.my

> FROM PAGE 2

Call for Islamic

studies scholarsIt is quite obvious thatIslamic principles play a role inshaping the future of the nationwhether in the countrys lawand governance or economiclandscape. Therefore, it isnot a surprise that there is agrowing demand for Islamicstudies courses, especially at apostgraduate level.

This is because Islamicvalues are universal and historyhas proven that these values canbe shared by people of all faiths,living together harmoniouslywith mutual respect andtolerance.

It is also an effort towardsreviving the scientific andtechnological feats of Muslimscholars in the past and movingit forward, says Prof DatukDr Muhamad Muda, dean ofCentre for Graduate Studiesand professor at the Facultyof Economics and Muamalatat University Science IslamMalaysia.

Application of Islamicprinciples to conventionalacademic studies is based onthe basic principle of integratingreligious sciences with socialand physical sciences.

It will not only providea more comprehensive

understanding of current globalchallenges, but also offer freshalternatives in solving them.

Students not only learnthe conventional knowledgeof the field, but their learningis also integrated with theunderstanding of the Islamicapproach to knowledge,explains Prof Muhamad.

However, at a roundtablediscussion on The Direction of

Islamic Studiesat the recentInternational Islamic Thinkingand Civilisation Institute(ISTAC), the chairman of theCouncil of the Deans of IslamicStudies in the Public Institute ofHigher Learning, Prof EmeritusDatuk Mahmood Zuhdi AbdulMajid, stressed the importanceof a clear policy for the nationalIslamic studies system.

At the discussion, ProfMahmood said: Our countrystill needs workforce in Islamicbanking, but our system ofIslamic studies is not capableof producing people who arestrong in both areas of bankingand Islamic studies.

He added that the newpolicy would be formed soonso that graduates in Islamicstudies from public institutescan contribute effectively asacademics and professionals.

With Kuala Lumpur beingone of the two leading Islamicfinance hubs in the world(besides Dubai), it is importantthat the nation sets theprecedent of continuing itsstanding as an Islamic financesuperpower, even as the UnitedKingdom recently announcedthe 200mil (RM1.1bil) sukukand creation of the new Islamic

index on the London StockExchange. Malaysia is seen to beat a threshold of reigniting theglory days of Islamic thought-leadership, a prospect that evenIbn al-Haytham would be proudof. Just as the civilisations of thepast did, Islam hadhari, Islamicbanking, takaful insurance,Syariah law, and Islamicacademia together will reshapethe world we live in.

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A masters in business administration is meant to prepare you to undertake a leadership position in an ever-changing globalbusiness environment, says Prof Densten.

Sunway University is a renowned provider ofbusiness education in Malaysia.

Building a global networkTHE dual award MBA programme offeredby Sunway University in collaborationwith Lancaster University ManagementSchool focuses on transforming highachievers into strategic leaders equippedwith the confidence, skills and practicalexpertise to work effectively and lead thechanges in global industrial sectors.

In addition to gaining a thoroughknowledge of the latest managementtheories and tools, MBA learners alsotransform their capacity to learn and honetheir cognition, collaborative, judgmentand decision-making abilities.

The MBAs convenient two-year part-time modular format allows learners tomaintain a job at the same time, allowingthem to implement what they have learntimmediately in the workplace.

Upon completion of the MBAprogramme, graduates will be awardedtwo certificates one from SunwayUniversity and one from LancasterUniversity. This will make one a memberof an elite group of MBA alumni.

Sunway University is a renownedprovider of business education withinMalaysia, recognised by the award ofSETARA 5 (excellent) by the MalaysianMinistry of Education, and LancasterUniversity is ranked in the top 1% ofuniversities globally.

The Lancaster MBA programmes aretriple accredited and globally recognised

and is one among an exclusive group ofnine United Kingdom-based universitiesthat have been listed in the highlyregarded Financial Timesranking for morethan a decade.

The quality of Lancasters MBAprogrammes is recognised in the tripleaccreditation by the Association toAdvance Collegiate Schools of Business(AACSB), European Quality ImprovementSystem (EQUIS) and the Association ofMBAs (AMBA).

The programme is delivered by aglobal faculty that comprises top-notchmanagement consultants, educators andresearch scholars. Coupled with a uniquelearning process, the MBA is set up to be asuccessful programme.

Students also have the flexibilityof gaining credits by taking modulesequivalent to the MBA programmeprovided by Lancaster in locations wherethey are made available. Current locationsinclude Singapore, Jordan, Ghana and theUK.

The programmes global network offersopportunities for participants to developprofessional connections and benefit fromimplementing a multinational approach totheir business and career development.

Students in the MBA dual awardprogramme will have an optional accessto similar study abroad programmesto expand their horizons and businessnetworks.

Sunway University invites prospectivestudents to join a discussion with itsglobal faculty at a preview session, heldon June 25, 6.30pm at Traders Hotel, KualaLumpur.

nFor more information, call 03-7491 8701or visitwww.sunway.edu.my

Staying ahead in international businessC

HANGE is the only constantand such is the nature ofthe global business climate.

While different regions andnations hold similarities in terms

of the business environment, anever-expanding internationalcommunity points to the need formasters graduates to be equippedwith skill sets that enable them toembrace and adapt to changingpractices and situations.

A masters in businessadministration is meant toprepare you to undertakea leadership position in anever-changing global businessenvironment, says Prof IainLeonard Densten, director ofMBA International of the Schoolof Business at Monash UniversityMalaysia.

The MBA in Monash wasestablished in Australia more than

40 years ago. My role as directoris to take this well-established,internationally recognised MBAand forge it in Malaysia for localsas well as students from aroundthis region, he says.

Most of the concepts taughthere will be the same as inAustralia in terms of finance,marketing and so on. We mightfocus more on Islamic financecompared to Australia because itis much more relevant here butmost of the programmes willbe similar as the quality of theMBA there is already proven andestablished, says Prof Densten.

Monash Universitys MBA is

accredited by the Association ofMBAs (AMBA). This internationalauthority focuses on MBAsthroughout the world and ensuresthat the MBA meets its well-established, high internationalstandards.

This accreditation makes thisMBA one out of the 65 locallyavailable MBA programmes inMalaysia to have such qualityrecognition.

The accreditation also providesanother quality assurance

mechanism in terms of enablingMonash be a benchmark againstother leading international MBAprogrammes through the world.

We believe that our MBAprogramme has a proven track-record for high-quality andrelevant postgraduate education,which will benefit individualswho need to lead with a globalperspective, Prof Densten says.

He adds that another keyaspect of the Monash UniversityMBA is the great diversity

present within the classroom. Hebelieves that a high-quality MBAprogramme that distinguishesitself from others is one that canprovide students the richnessof different experiences fromdifferent industries.

The MBA was first developedfor non-business graduates whoneeded to know the various facetsof management. So Monashstarget market is not just businesspeople but also people outside thebusiness industry.

If there is a cohort comprisingstudents from various fields,the students will have greaterdiversity in their discussions.

When they learn together,

they exchange ideas and opinions.It gives them the richness ofdifferent experiences fromdifferent industries. Teachingexamples is different from havingsomeone talk about it fromtheir personal experience. Thatis a powerful experience, ProfDensten says.

He adds that the Malaysian mixof students will be younger andmore diverse than their Australiancounterparts, thus reinforcing thegreat depths of experiences thatstudents will stand to enjoy.

Prof Denstens researchhas focused on leadership andmanagerial expertise.

He has taught for more than

20 years in leading internationalresearch universities in the UK andAustralia, where he has held threeprofessorships.

He says that the study ofeffective leadership is closelyrelated to the ability to embraceand move with changes of the day.

Change is never going to slowdown. In fact, it is always movingahead.

The Monash MBA in Malaysiaprogramme commences inJanuary next year.

nFor more information, [email protected] or visitwww.buseco.monash.edu.my/mba

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Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali said that OUMsemphasis on quality will have a positive impact onstudents.

Associate Professor Dr Wardah Mohamadsays OUMBS is on a quest to become a leadingprovider of graduate business studies.

Towards becoming a leadinggraduate studies providerI

N keeping with its mission of providingmore access to quality education andlifelong learning opportunities, Open

University Malaysia (OUM) is restructuringits Faculty of Business Management. Byestablishing the OUM Business School, itis contributing to the nations continuouseffort of elevating academic standards.

Even though the faculty currentlyoffers a range of programmes to fulfil thenational demand for management andaccounting on a managerial level, thepurpose of establishing the OUM BusinessSchool (OUMBS) is to give undividedfocus to undergraduate and postgraduateprogrammes, says Prof Emeritus TanSri Anuwar Ali OUM president and vice-

chancellor.Most institutions in Malaysia now offerpostgraduate programmes in businessmanagement but OUM aspires to take it togreater heights. In evolving these businessprogrammes, Prof Anuwar emphasisesachieving quality through the redesigningand restructuring of its curricula.

Under the leadership of its dean, AssocProf Dr Wardah Mohamad, OUMBS isworking towards positioning itself as abusiness school that offers quality businessand management courses for all levels oftertiary education.

To achieve this, Dr Wardah has putin place a system where academics areassigned to teams to look into specificportfolios such as research and publication,teaching and learning, and assessment.

We have eight teams and each istasked with ensuring that concertedefforts are being made to attain the desiredquality set by the university.

This is important as our main aim isto eventually attain the Association toAdvance Collegiate Schools of Business(AACSB) accreditation, which is aninternationally recognised gold standardin the collegiate schools of business, shesays.

OUMBS is on a quest to become aleading provider of graduate businessstudies and, according to Dr Wardah,having highly experienced professors andacademics will definitely lend credibility tothe school and to its reputation.

The restructuring also pushes internalstaff and administrative personnelto improve themselves and develop aqualitative way of working and delivering.

Prof Anuwar says a staff of high qualityis crucial and well-rounded academicswho are qualified, experienced andknowledgeable are maintained at OUMBS.

When we restructure the programmes,we will use new methods that will improvethe quality of teaching in terms of itscurriculum, online learning and qualitativemodules delivered to undergraduateand postgraduate students. We are alsofocusing on enhancing the academicfaculty, he continues.

Prof Anuwar says as most studentsat OUM are from the workforce, theyhave standards and expectations thatthe university has to meet. They alsofrequently have queries and feedback onthe quality of OUMs staff.

This pushes the university to strive forexcellence not only in its curriculum butalso in its academic body.

In 10 years, OUM aims to make OUMBSamong the best business school, bothlocally and internationally. As an openuniversity, we have also established jointventures with a few foreign universities,including the Ho Chi Minh City Universityof Technology, Vietnam; Villa Collegein Maldives; University of Science &Technology, Yemen; Graduate School ofManagement, Sri Lanka; Simad Universityand Mogadishu University, Somalia; NIECSchool of Management Trust, Zambia;Eszterhazy Kroly College, Hungary; AccraInstitute of Technology, Ghana; and theArab Open University, Kingdom of Bahrainfor their MBA programmes, says ProfAnuwar.

Collaboration with these foreignuniversities will enable OUM to furtherstrengthen its foundation. With thenewly restructured Faculty of BusinessManagement, OUM aims to reach greaterheights in its quality of education.

This plays an important role in makingMalaysia an educational hub, says ProfAnuwar.

The programmes offered by OUMBS arethe Diploma in Management, Diploma inHuman Resources Management, Bachelorof Accounting with Honours, Bachelor of

Business Administration with Honours,Bachelor of Human Resource Managementwith Honours, Bachelor of Managementwith Honours, Bachelor of Marketing withHonours and Bachelor of ManagementTourism with Honours.

The postgraduate programmes offeredare the MBA, Master of Management,Master of Human Resource Management,Doctor of Philosophy (AdministrationBusiness) and Doctor of BusinessAdministration.

OUMBS is also responsive to the changingneeds of the public and is planning tooffer new programmes such as Diploma inAccounting and Bachelor of InternationalBusiness.

In addition, it will expand its currentBachelor of Management programme toinclude majors in four areas strategicsupply chain management, warehouseand inventory management, internationalpurchasing and supply management, andinternational logistics and transportationmanagement.

The university also has plans to provideshort-term training, corporate managementand leadership programmes for seniormanagers.

In addition, OUM will focus on

strengthening its existing programmes aswell as improving its teaching methods interms of online and digital libraries at bothundergraduate and postgraduate levels.

In shaping its curriculum, OUM plansto engage with academics who possess awealth of experience.

OUMs emphasis on quality will have apositive impact on students. Although theuniversity has only been in operation for 12years, it has shown an impressive enrolmentrecord.

This is evident as OUM has had54,000 graduates walking at 15 successfulconvocations, says Prof Anuwar.

nFor more information, visitwww.oum.edu.my

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Documents

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