SUNDAY STAR, 27 MARCH 2016

special

INNOVATIONS MALAYSIA

By IAN JEROME
LEONG
FOR decades, the
delivery of
teaching within the
Malaysian education
system could be
described
as being one-way
communication that
required students to
memorise and regurgitate
significant amounts of facts
in examinations.
The countrys education
landscape is quickly changing,
however, and the introduction of
innovative teaching and new
technology will go a long way in
moulding students who are not
only knowledgeable but have the
ability to reason, think critically,
interact, share and apply their
newfound theories and skills to
real-world scenarios.

Developing all-rounded
students

In terms of early years

education, many preschools as well
as private and international
primary schools have adopted
more hands-on and learningfocused teaching styles that were
previously deemed unusual or too
advanced for young ages.
Malaysian schools and
universities are beginning to use
international teaching models such
as the flipped classroom concept,
which is a student-centred, selfpaced and flexible approach that
combines face-to-face and Webbased teaching.
Department of Higher Education
director general Prof Datuk Dr
Asma Ismail said in her foreword
to 2014 Education Ministrypublished report Blended and
Flipped Learning: Case Studies in
Malaysian Higher Education
Institutions that the emergence of
flipped classrooms is a good start
to creating a culture of knowledge
sharing among Malaysian higher
education institutions to deliver
the best teaching and learning
experience to students.
The document concluded that
while some universities needed to
improve on their blended learning
models, other institutions were
able to better engage students in
programmes that complement
face-to-face classes.
Working adults looking to upskill
or progress in their careers have
also benefited from the modern
education innovation of massive
open online courses free
Web-based distance learning
programmes that are designed
for the participation of large
numbers of geographically
dispersed students.
These courses are often

Modernising education
structured and accredited by
established institutions such as
Harvard University, The University
of Edinburgh and Open University
Malaysia.

Private sector
contributions

With the Government looking to

implement innovative strategies in
education as announced in the
Malaysia Education Blueprints
(preschool to post-secondary and
higher education), industry players
have also taken the opportunity to
contribute innovative initiatives.
In 2013, global technology giant
Microsoft Corporation chose four
Malaysian teachers (out of 23,000
educators from more than 150
countries) to be part of its first
class of global Innovative Expert
Educators global educator
visionaries who are using
technology effectively for better
learning and student outcomes.
Besides this global community
of innovative educators who are
able to share their ideas and
experiences, educators can make
use of a designated website

education.microsoft.com that
lists numerous school-based and
out-of-class lessons.
Using tools such as Bing, Office,
Skype, One Drive and Kodu
GameLab on smartphones and
tablets, these lessons are aimed at
improving communication,
creativity, critical thinking and
collaboration among students.

Technological solutions
Computer companies are also
offering information technology
solution packages tailored to
institutions budget, goals and
needs for optimal learning
environments.
Services include setting up
secure networks to access
necessary online resources,
selecting best-in-breed digital
content partners, using actionable
data to track students progress,
personalise training and foster
collaborations, setting up virtual
laboratories, enabling access to live
lectures and offering collaborative
tools such as cloud computing.
Three years ago, the
Government started adopting

Google Apps through

Chromebooks with the aim to
equip all of Malaysias 10,000
schools with a 10:1 student to
computer ratio, a virtual platform
for learning and 4G Internet.
There are no verified reports of
the Education Ministry having
succeeded in achieving this target
but the move allows Malaysia to
keep up with countries that also
use Chromebooks in schools such
as the United States, Singapore,
Japan, Taiwan and some European
countries, consequently
encouraging further innovation
and elevating the delivery of
Malaysian education.

Usage growth
Malaysia is heading in the right
direction in terms of introducing
new teaching and learning
methods and the Education
Ministry is doing its part by
supporting efforts such as the
Digital Education Show Asia 2016
in Kuala Lumpur next month that
will feature e-learning exhibitors

and speakers from local and

international education
institutions, bodies and
private companies.
But irrespective of the
Education Ministrys efforts,
educators and teachers must first
be staunch believers that teaching
need not necessarily be restricted
to traditional pedagogy and use
online resources such as the
Innovations in Education and
Teaching International journal.
There are no one-size-fits-all
teaching programmes and every
student deserves personalised
education to help them reach their
maximum potential.
It is up to every educator to
pick up the gauntlet to provide
innovative and enriching
experiences for their students.

SUNDAY STAR, 27 MARCH 2016

2 innovations malaysia

PhD studentships for research

OWNED and governed by the
Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, Sunway
University is one of Malaysias
leading not-for-profit private
universities.
The vibrant and modern Sunway
University is not only known for
the quality of teaching and
learning, its research is now also
increasing in prominence both
nationally and internationally.
Sunway University has been
offering 20 fully funded PhD
studentships since last year for
aspiring researchers to pursue
their dreams of contributing to and
helping to develop a knowledgebased society in Malaysia and
beyond.
The studentships, which are
available to both Malaysian and
international students, will cover
the three-year programme fees of
successful applicants and a
monthly stipend of RM3,000 for
research areas in business,
computing and information
systems and biological sciences.
The studentships are offered
through the universitys Office for
Research and Enterprise to further
boost the universitys growing
contributions to the worlds
knowledge base.

Prof Jeffrey Sachs at Sunway Universitys Jeffrey Cheah Distinguished

Speakers Series. Doctoral candidates will have the opportunity to be
exposed to some of the the worlds great thinkers.

Prof Peter Heard, deputy vicechancellor for research and

enterprise, believes that the
support given to the university by
the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation to
further develop its research profile
provides for a unique environment
for prospective PhD students.
Sunway University is fast
becoming one of the top
universities in Malaysia and SouthEast Asia. Rated 5* by Quacquarelli
Symonds for its teaching,

employability and facilities, it is the

only private university that I know
of in South-East Asia that truly puts
quality ahead of anything else,
says Prof Heard.
Sunway is a truly international
university in every sense of the
word; we have staff and students
from practically every corner of
the globe, which means our
students not only learn from the
very best but also gain vital
experience of working across

different cultures.
PhD students who join us
under this scheme will have the
chance to attend at least one
leading international conference
during their time with us, he
continues.
With opportunities to listen to
some of the worlds leading
academics and thought-leaders
through the Jeffrey Cheah
Distinguished Lecture Series,
recent speakers at which include
Prof Jeffrey Sachs, Sir Alan
Milburn, Prof John Bowers and
Prof Khaw Kay-Tee, you will be
exposed to some of todays greatest
thinkers.
Aside from experienced
supervision, successful applicants
will have access to some of the
most modern facilities available
anywhere.
The university opened its new
purpose-built RM350mil building
in March last year, boasting some
of the best facilities for research,
teaching and recreation.
These facilities include
state-of-the-art laboratories, lecture
theatres, a FIFA-standard soccer
pitch, gymnasium and Olympicsized swimming pool all within
the confines of Malaysias finest

resort city Bandar Sunway.

The broader Sunway Group to
which the university belongs has
an inspiring mission and vision
with the core values of humility,
integrity and excellence that
permeate all it does.
Sunway University is a member
of the Sunway Education Group,
which has an extensive network of
links with many of the worlds
leading universities.
It has strategic partnership with
Lancaster University, ranked ninth
in the United Kingdom and in the
top 1% of universities worldwide,
which not only offers many joint
degree programmes with Sunway
University, but also undertakes
joint research projects.
Sunway University also
collaborates with Harvard
University, University of Cambridge
and University of Oxford, running
major events including lectures,
conferences, workshops and
symposiums that successful
research candidates will have the
opportunity to leverage on for their
research.

n For more information, visit

sunway.edu.my/university/researchmngmt.

SUNDAY STAR, 27 MARCH 2016

EDUCATION is the manifestation of

perfection already in men, said the great
Indian scholar Swami Vivekananda.
One has to realise that perfection is selfempowered and self-sustained. This process
of self-realisation is facilitated through a
noble process called education.
Though educational philosophy has not
changed much over centuries, methods of
imparting knowledge have taken a huge
leap from delivery on blackboards to
PowerPoint presentations and so on, thanks
to technological advancements that bring
virtual models to the classrooms.
However, empirical evidence suggests that
no one method is proven to be the best for
effective learning.
So, what is the catalysing factor that drives
young brains to be on their toes? Could it be
peer pressure, environment or curiosity?
As Eugene Cernan said in his book The
Last Man on the Moon, Curiosity is the
essence of human existence.
On these grounds, inquisitiveness is the
foremost tool for spawning interest. At the
Ramsay Sime Darby Healthcare College
(RSDH College), we understand that each and
every student is unique in their potential.
Hence, we adopt a blended learning
approach to enable everyone to flourish
while capitalising on individual uniqueness.
Intellectual investment will be profitable
when interest in a subject is created and
it is yieldable when learning becomes
self-empowered.
At the RSDH College, we spark interest by
creating an environment conducive to the
curious mind, as the more curious students
are, the more inquisitive they become.
This approach is called Active L (Active
learning), where students are divided into
small focus groups for facilitation. Each

innovations malaysia 3

Intellectual investment

fared well in the LJM (Lembaga Jururawat

Malaysia) board examinations with an
average of 99% passes over the last 10
years.
Our graduates are highly sought after by
the healthcare industry across the region
with an average employability rate of 88%.
Although our teaching methods focus on
group discussion and self-empowered
sessions, inculcating humanistic values
such as care and compassion are embedded
in almost all teaching delivery.
This is in keeping with RSDH Colleges
values and tagline: People caring for
people. By Manikandan Narayanan and
Shree Ganesh Thavarasa

RSDH College encourages inquisitiveness in its students and empowers them to use their
knowledge in real-life scenarios.

group is scrutinised with care to identify

their strengths and uniqueness.
This process helps to unlock their
potential. The pinnacle of success is
when students knowledge grows beyond
texts and curriculum.
For instance, theoretical facts on
rehabilitation of spinal cord injuries are
delivered by a tested and proven (Journal
of Physiotherapy) eLearning module.
This module allows students to learn
beyond the expectations of the curricula.
This encourages students to be lifelong
learners, resulting in a value-based
education.
The most satisfying part is when our

students are empowered to use their

knowledge in real-life scenarios, which
reduces the theory-practice gap.
RSDH College students have consistently

Manikandan is RSDH Colleges

physiotherapy programme lecturer while
Shree Ganesh is a lecturer in the medical
laboratory technology programme.

n For more information, visit

www.ramsaysimedarbycollege.edu.my
or call 1300 888 321.

SUNDAY STAR, 27 MARCH 2016

4 innovations malaysia

Expand horizons
WORKING professionals with undergraduate
degrees can become experts in their fields
through postgraduate study at Curtin
University Sarawak (Curtin Sarawak).
Postgraduate study at Curtin Sarawak
holds a huge potential for future growth
given the large number of professionals in
the oil and gas industry in Miri and the
demand for highly skilled professionals and
experts for industries within the Sarawak
Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
Postgraduate students are given several
options in either research or coursework.
Its Faculty of Business and Humanities
offers graduate certificate, graduate diploma
and masters of science courses in project
management, all of which are by
coursework, helping students gain necessary
understanding, knowledge and skills.
The faculty also offers the Doctor of
Philosophy (PhD) by research programme.
The programme is identical in all aspects
to the one offered at Curtins main campus in
Perth, Western Australia, and adopts a
generic approach to project management.
It is applicable to a variety of industries,
including construction, engineering,
education, health, commerce, information
technology, and research and development.

The qualifications are awarded under the

Australian Qualifications Framework and
recognised across Australia, and are also
recognised by the Malaysian Qualifications
Agency.
Like its Australian parent, Curtin Sarawak
is widely recognised for its practical research
focused on solving timely, real-world
problems.
It continually creates new learning spaces
equipped with the latest technological
advances in teaching and learning, including
distributed learning technology to support
active student learning.
The campus facilities include a modern
library, state-of-the-art laboratories, secure
student housing and a range of sports and
recreational facilities.
Curtin Sarawaks partnerships and strong
links with the Government, industry and
community further enrich students learning
experiences and ensure their skills and
expertise are aligned with the changing
demands of todays world.

n For more information, call marketing

officer Raihanah at 085-443 879 or 019-855
0688 or e-mail raihanah@curtin.edu.my or
visit www.curtin.edu.my.

Smart, innovative programme

QUALITY has been the cornerstone of
success for the nations leading preschool
education franchise Smart Reader
Worldwide.
Smart Reader Kids programmes stand
out as they are based on the Smart Reader
Creative Teaching Methodology, an
unconventional approach to teaching that
incorporates fun and excitement in the
learning process.
To remain at the helm of the industry,
the organisation continues to invest in the
development of innovative products.
New products recently launched by
Smart Reader Worldwide include the
Smart Speaker_Writer Series and Smart
Calculation.
The Smart Speaker_Writer Series
addresses public speaking and creative
writing skills of young learners. Students
learn to present organised thoughts and
ideas and write in correct grammar.
The programme is excellent for developing
students confidence, articulation,
pronunciation and vocabulary.
Smart Calculationis designed to assist
students to excel in mathematics in a
creative and fun way. The programme is
conducted in both English and Bahasa
Malaysia.
It also stimulates childrens interest to
discover problems, explore answers and
solutions by themselves and promotes the
understanding of arithmetic concepts.
Launched in 2014, the innovative Smart
Reader Kids Islamic programme won the
award for Best Franchise Innovation at the
Malam Anugerah Francais 2015.
Smart Reader Worldwide also launched its

(From left) Smart Reader Worldwides assistant

corporate manager Ahmad Ridzuan Ahmad
Baijuri, Smart Reader Kids Islamics honorary
advisor Datuk Abu Hasan Din Al-Hafiz and
Smart Reader Worldwides chief executive
officer Datuk Seri Dr Richard Ong at the Malam
Anugerah Francais 2015.

first corporate preschool, Smart Reader Kids

Kepong Business Park, on its premises at
Smart Reader International (SRI) College in
December last year.
The corporate preschool caters to working
parents in Smart Reader Worldwide, SRI
College and the companies and communities
around Segambut and Kepong.
Smart Reader Kids Kepong Business Park
has innovative programmes and excellent
facilities, coupled with new and interesting
learning aids and a fun-filled toy land.
Smart Reader Worldwide plans to set up
more corporate preschools next year. Next
in the pipeline is Mines Waterfront Business
Park.

n For more information on Smart Reader

Worldwides franchised programmes, call
03-6279 5555 or the SMARTLine at 1300 885
555 or visit www.smartreader.edu.my.