THE STAR, TUESDAY 18 JULY 2017

A wider
perspective
The modern workplace requires
managers to not only achieve
economic goals but be
conscious of sociological and
ecological needs of the
company. Turn the page to
understand how an MBA can
help professionals prepare
themselves.
2 Postgraduate THE STAR, TUESDAY 18 JULY 2017

By IAN JEROME LEONG

A COMMON denominator among senior

executives and heads of companies the
world over is a master of business
administration (MBA) qualification.
Though not a prerequisite for top-level
management, undergoing the rigours of an
MBA has become somewhat of the norm as
students learn a range of values, ethics and
business skills beneficial in managing a
company, not to mention the possibility of
establishing extensive networks for future
business opportunities.
In recent years, however, international
MBA programmes are putting a bigger
emphasis on the environment and ecological
sustainability, also known as the triple
bottom line viewpoint, where the

More than just numbers

sustainability of a business depends not only
on the economic aspect but involves
environmental and social contexts as well.
Postgraduate looks at what modern MBA
graduates bring to the table, particularly in
the areas of sustainability.

The current factor
The topic of sustainability has gained
prominence in the last few decades due to
endless lobbying by environmentalists,
human rights activists, non-profit
organisations and the release of films such
as An Inconvenient Truth.
Whats more, the media is constantly
bombarding the public with reports of
international events such as rapid
deforestation, rising levels of greenhouse
gases and sea levels as well as racial and
gender discrimination.
Due to the never-ending pursuit of
development, the natural evolution of trade
industry life cycles and ever-changing
business cultures, industry professionals
seek deeper understanding of the
environments they operate in, thus
signalling the need for universities to offer
sustainability and environment-focused
programmes that will address these
concerns.
Among those institutions is the Schulich
School of Business at York University, Canada
one of the first schools in the world to offer
an MBA with a specialisation in
sustainability which has been recognised
numerous times by the business and society
magazine Corporate Knights as the top venue
for responsible business programmes.
With a faculty of world-leading business
and sustainability researchers, an MBA
at the university can include topics
such as sustainability strategy, social
entrepreneurship and social-impact finance.
In a 2015 find-mba.com article, Andrew
Crane, director for the Center of Excellence
in Responsible Business at York University,
said, More students now see the general
relevance of viewing strategy through the
lens of sustainability.
The attention to sustainability has grown
and the challenges we face are getting
bigger. We are not solving them any time
soon, so the interest is going to continue.
He commented that the university
receives many marketing, finance and
accounting students who want to understand
the issues surrounding sustainability just as
thoroughly as those wanting to become
sustainability specialists or intending to run
non-profit organisations.
The depth of sustainability topics covered
in different MBA programmes can vary
tremendously from one institution to the
next, with some courses only highlighting
environmental elements on top of traditional
MBA curricula while others, such as those in
the United States, offer what are known as
green MBAs.
Examples of green MBAs are the
MBA in Energy and Environment at Duke
University, MBA in Environmental Science at
Loyola University Chicago and a joint MBA
programme with a Master of Environment
Management or Master of Forestry at Yale
University.
Such specialised MBA programmes may
not have found their way to our shores but
the issue of sustainability is no doubt a
current and growing issue discussed in local
programmes.
Support leader
Companies can no longer be ignorant to
the way they conduct their day-to-day
operations as they are constantly scrutinised
and pressured by stakeholders, including
their own staff as well as the communities
who may be affected by issues such as
irresponsible waste disposal, depletion of
surrounding natural habitat and greenery,
sound or air pollution, and the rise of
motorised traffic in the vicinity.
Businesses of the modern age need to be
proactive in all operations and be mindful of
the social consequences of production and
supply chain processes.
> SEE NEXT PAGE
THE STAR, TUESDAY 18 JULY 2017
Transforming
communities
GRADUATES of Master of Science in Public
Health (MSc in Public Health) from
International Medical University (IMU) are
helping to build happier and healthier
communities. From the villages of Nigeria to
the metropolis of Kuala Lumpur, these
postgraduates are transforming lives of the
people they serve.
The graduates of this programme are
making their presence felt in a wide variety
of public health initiatives, health education
as well as research and disease prevention
in Malaysia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Myanmar,
India and Tanzania.
The broad-based flexible and modular
curriculum has enabled these graduates to
leverage on their knowledge and skills learnt
at the undergraduate level. It has also
allowed them to upgrade their competencies
in a field they prefer as well as apply them
with a public health perspective in the
community they are serving.
With the MSc in Public Health, IMU has
produced nurses who are working as health
executives in the corporate sector,
nutritionists as lecturers, pharmacists as
researchers or executives in pharmaceutical
organisations, medical doctors in clinical
research centres and biomedical scientists as
health programme officers.
The diversity of talent, which the
programme attracts from Malaysia and
internationally, has fortified the curriculum
and the classroom itself, making it a rich
collaborative learning experience for the
students and the faculty.
Coupled with input from the faculty that
has years of public health experience at the
national and international level, it is no
wonder that the MSc in Public Health is the
most popular postgraduate taught
programme in IMU.
Throughout the curriculum,
communication skills are enhanced with
hours of face-to-face presentation, seminars
and written assignments. In addition,
research is given its due prominence and
can be done either locally or elsewhere.
In the past, students have carried out their
studies in Bangladesh, Nigeria and India. The
studies done have varied from condom use
among sex workers in Bangladesh to
utilisation of complementary and alternative
medicine in Teluk Intan, Malaysia. The
theses are assessed by both internal and
external examiners.
In addition to the research module, the
Balanced thinking
> FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
The important point every business must
understand is that the issue of being
environmentally and socially conscious
should not be considered a matter of social
responsibility but an important factor that
can jeopardise the reputation of the
company and, in the long run, its viability as
a successful business.
It is also crucial for companies to realise
that stakeholders can see through blatant
efforts of greenwashing and should thus
have a genuine interest in maintaining the
well-being of everyone involved and the
ecosystem.
Initiator and disciplinarian
MBA graduates of today need to be
sensitive to the actions and procedures of
their respective organisations and be key
initiators to introduce carefully crafted
strategies to ensure daily operations meet
the necessary economic, social and
environmental standards.
Among the things MBA graduates are
expected to accomplish at the economic level
are streamlining daily operations, reducing
Postgraduate 3
programme also includes modules in
epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental,
occupational and population health, medical
sociology, health promotion and public
health practice.
Furthermore, there are field visits and a
two-week attachment in a government
public health organisation.
The quality control of MSc in Public Health
is stringent and the programme is
benchmarked against superior standards.
Unsurprisingly, this is the only postgraduate
programme from a private university that is
recognised by the Public Service Department
(JPA) for employment in the government
sector, provided the students undergraduate
degree is also recognised by JPA.
Thus, pursuing the MSc in Public Heath in
IMU is a unique rewarding journey that
prepares students for a successful vocation
to gainfully serve the community they live
in.
IMU offers various taught master
programmes, including the MSc Molecular
Medicine, MSc Analytical and
Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Master of
Pharmacy Practice, Master of Health
Professions Education, and MSc and PhD by
research.
n For more information, call 03-2731 7272,
e-mail postgraduate@imu.edu.my or visit
www.imu.edu.my.
Master of Science in Public Health
postgraduates from International Medical
University are now making waves, from
battling malaria in Nigeria to ensuring
medicine safety in Malaysia.
the waste of resources, having better supply
chain management, introducing cost-cutting
measures, adhering to industry regulations,
maintaining quality control, maximising
productivity without compromising quality,
and ensuring the availability of required
funds and technology.
In relation to the natural environment, the
danger many companies face is to claim a
list of eco-sensitive measures, only to be
deemed as corporate greenwashing by
stakeholders.
It is worse when companies are caught for
dishonesty, as was German automaker
Volkswagen that is infamous for the biggest
scandal in recent years for installing
hardware in cars designed to cheat nitrous
oxide emissions tests and for falsely
reporting carbon dioxide emissions.
Not only were the cars displaying lowered
emission results, they were spewing higher
amounts of pollutants than legally allowed.
The case was all the more alarming as the
automaker has always prided itself as a
champion of corporate responsibility and
topped the Dow Jones Sustainability Index as
the most sustainable carmaker.
> TURN TO PAGE 5
4 Postgraduate
THE demands of carving out a
career in the 21st century promise
to make the journey a tough one.
This is especially true in the
business world, where the use
of information technology (IT)
is no longer separate but
interdependent.
Cognizant of this, Monash
University Malaysias Master of
Business Information Systems
(MBIS) programme has been
designed to integrate niche
business and IT areas for students
with or without an IT background.
The world is very competitive.
Hence, we need multidisciplinary
experts who have knowledge in
different domains, including the
business and IT sector, says Dr
Jasbir Kaur Dhaliwal, lecturer and
MBIS coordinator at the School of
Information Technology, Monash
University Malaysia.
She adds that multidisciplinary
experts can conquer blind spots
that cannot be resolved by
single-domain experts.
Dr Jasbir explains that the MBIS
course prepares students to use IT
to tackle business problems and
work in areas such as business
information research, project
management and consultancy.
Candidates without an IT
background can enrol in
fundamental units such as
Introduction to Business
Information Systems and
Foundations of Programming
before moving on to advanced
materials.
The programme has two tracks
students have the option of
branching into the research stream
or the industry experience stream,
depending on the candidates area
of interest, says Dr Jasbir, adding
that students can enrol in the
programme on a full-time (two
Developing
multidisciplinary experts
Speaking about
career options for
graduates, Dr Jasbir
explains that the
Master of Business
Information Systems
(MBIS) programme
is a stepping stone
for students to work
in various industries
either locally or
abroad, as the skills
and knowledge
acquired are in
high demand.
years) or part-time (four years)
basis.
Students with an IT background
can complete the programme in
one and a half years.
Previous students have
embarked on the programme for
different reasons, including to
THE STAR, TUESDAY 18 JULY 2017
enhance their knowledge for Rankings 2014-2015.
career progression while those
who are keen on research go on to
In addition to being one of
Australias most prestigious
pursue their PhD after completing universities, students would be
their MBIS. able to go anywhere in the world
Speaking about career options with a Monash MBIS degree.
for graduates, Dr Jasbir explains
that the programme is a stepping n For more information
stone for students to work in on the MBIS programme
at Monash Malaysia,
various industries either locally or
abroad, as the skills and knowledge visit www.infotech.monash.
acquired are in high demand.
Some of the fields graduates can
edu.my.
enter are cloud data centres,
human resource analysis, food,
clothing and companies handling Dr Jasbir says
trend analysis, depending on their
area of interest.
that the skills
and knowledge
A study carried out by Kelly
Services shows that the monthly
gained through
salaries for high-demand jobs such Monash University
Malaysias Master
as lead software developer and
software development manager of Business
with five to 12 years of experience
can range from RM9,000 to
Information
Systems (MBIS)
RM15,000 and RM12,000 to prepare individuals
RM18,000 respectively. to work in various
Project directors or SAP team industries locally
leads with more than eight years of and abroad.
experience can pocket minimum
salaries of around RM15,000 or
RM18,000 respectively.
Monash consistently ranks
among the top 1% of universities in
the world and was 48th in the
world for engineering and
technology in the Times Higher
Education World University
THE STAR, TUESDAY 18 JULY 2017
Making progress
in engineering
CURTIN Universitys Master of Engineering
Science in Electrical Engineering
(by coursework) is designed to broaden the
career prospects of electrical, electrical
power, electronic and telecommunication
engineers across the world.
Curtins largest international campus,
Curtin Malaysia, offers the course to
Malaysian and international students at
roughly one-third the cost of pursuing the
same programme at Curtins main campus in
Perth, Australia.
The course as well as the quality of
teaching and student support mechanisms
are identical to those offered in Perth. As a
result, degrees earned at the Sarawak
campus are conferred by Curtin Perth.
Students can rest assured that their
qualifications are widely accepted globally
through professional accreditation and
government recognition of the programmes.
In Year 1 of the two-year course, students
can choose one of three streams emerging
power systems, telecommunications and
networking, or embedded systems.
Year 2 involves research design projects
over two semesters where students are
required to develop a prototype and present
a formal thesis on the outcome to
demonstrate their technical knowledge and
professional skills.
Among a wide range of optional units,
students may also study electrical power,
renewable energy, communications and
computer engineering at the system level
and the component level.
The emerging power systems major
addresses challenges in the generation,
transmission and distribution of electricity.
Emergent technologies such as smart grid
and distributed generation are covered in
detail.
The telecommunications and networking
major explores relevant topics in
telecommunications and networking such as
mobile radio communications and data
For the good of all
> FROM PAGE 3
Japanese electronics manufacturer
Toshiba, on the other hand, was guilty in a
social context the company was reported to
have inflated net profits of up to 780mil
(RM4.337bil) over several years.
A report filed to the Tokyo Stock Exchange
claims a broken corporate culture, where the
company had set unrealistic targets and
employees were discouraged from
questioning the actions of bosses. The
president and chief executive officer were
reportedly aware of the overstatement.
The Guardian claims Toshibas share prices
dropped by 40% in 2015 and nearly 7,000
workers were dismissed as part of the post-
scandal restructuring process.
New breed
The transferable skills taught in an MBA
has always been the qualifications key
strength and the reason for the degrees
continuous existence and popularity.
Now, with the triple bottom line approach
Postgraduate 5
network security.
Optional units include topics such as
computer architectural philosophies, LAN
(local area network) and WAN (wide area
network) technologies, electromagnetics,
error control coding, troubleshooter
management, legal frameworks and system
design.
In the embedded systems major, students
study intermediate and advanced topics such
as embedded systems in field-programmable
gate arrays (FPGAs) and embedded software
engineering.
In every major, they will have the
opportunity to further investigate a specialist
area and apply their skills and knowledge
through their project work.
Those interested to enrol in the Master
of Engineering Science in Electrical
Engineering must have a bachelors degree
in electronic, communications, electrical,
electrical power or computer systems
engineering from a recognised university.
Two intakes are offered each year (February
and July).
Upon completing the course, students are
expected to be able to apply electrical
engineering theory and design methods to
investigate and solve significant
technological problems.
They should also be able to analyse
problems and apply research and creative
thinking to the formulation of solutions, in
addition to communicating concepts and
technical information in written, oral and
electronic forms.
Furthermore, graduates should be able to
apply international standards, practices and
conventions appropriate to electrical
engineering as well as function effectively
within a multidisciplinary and multicultural
engineering design team.
n For more information, call 085-443 939,
e-mail enquiries@curtin.edu.my or visit
www.curtin.edu.my.
moulding a new breed of graduates,
professionals will be better prepared to
guide their companies by navigating through
economic, social and environmental
obstacles while also avoiding possible
pitfalls, media backlash and legal
complications.
Given the changing dynamics of the
working world, universities both locally and
abroad are quite rightly adapting to the
times and, therefore, maintaining the
degrees relevance.
6 Postgraduate
A world-renowned programme
EDINBURGH Business School has welcomed
its latest cohort of 21 students to the Heriot-
Watt University Malaysia campus at
Putrajaya to begin their Master of Business
Administration (MBA) programme.
The students, mostly busy working
professionals, have chosen one of the most
popular and flexible MBA programmes in
the world. The MBA programme boasts more
than 11,200 active students and 20,500
graduates in 166 countries.
Nina Marini Idris, who is an oil trader for
the national oil company, has chosen the
Edinburgh MBA programme because of the
flexibility and quality of lecturers.
Balancing a full-time job and part-time
MBA is no easy feat. However, the Edinburgh
MBA course structure makes it more feasible
for me to manage my time and commitments
despite my busy schedule of long hours,
Take the Next Step Forward
POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
at a Leading Private Medical &
Health Sciences University
Programmes:
MSc in Analytical and
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
KPT/JPT(R-CDL/442/7/0001)01/2022
Mar & Sep
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Janice Lim
never-ending deadlines and business
travels, says Nina who is already reaping
the benefits of her studies
I have been assigned to take on more
Master of Pharmacy Practice
KPT/JPT(N/727/7/0051)03/2019
Mar & Sep
MSc in Public Health
KPT/JPT(R/720/7/0077)09/2020
Mar & Sep
Postgraduate Certificate /
Postgraduate Diploma /
Master of Health Professions
Education
KPM/JPT(N/145/7/0064)09/2020
KPM/JPT(N/145/7/0066)09/2020
KPM/JPT(N/145/7/0070)09/2020
Mar
Postgraduate Diploma in Implant
Dentistry
KPT/JPT(N/724/7/0019)06/2021
Oct
MSc / PhD in Medical and
Health Sciences (by Research)
KPT/JPT(R/720/7/0049)06/2019
KPT/JPT(R/721/8/0043)01/2020
Throughout the year
start@imu.edu.my www.imu.edu.my/pg
projects, hence contributing more to the
team and organisation by pitching as well as
challenging ideas. My studies have also
aided me in terms of critical thinking and
sharpened my observation skills, she says.
Janice Lim is another example of an
Edinburgh Business School student. As a
manager, wife and mother of three, she is
combining her MBA studies with work and
family responsibilities. She is also a qualified
chartered accountant.
My main objective in taking an MBA
is to continue learning, equipping myself
and strengthening my skills. By studying, I
am a good role model for my children,
showing them that age should not stop
anyone from learning. They are very proud
of me.
At work, as a leader, I am a good example
to my staff. Knowledge does not stop at your
job title. A leader needs to continue learning,
exploring and being adventurous, says
Janice Lim, head of department at Asia
Pacific Finance Shared Services Experian
Asia Pacific.
When Fakhrur Bukhary, a senior project
manager for Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), was
researching MBA programmes prior to
starting his studies, one programme stood
out for him, which is the Edinburgh Business
School MBA.
In comparison with other shortlisted
institutions, the MBA course offered at
Edinburgh Business School covers a wider
spectrum. The weekend classes suit me and I
like the reputation of both the Edinburgh
Business School and the universitys ranking.
Fakhrur
Bukhary
Breaking the norm
AS industries continue to evolve and
diversify operations to meet market trends
and demands, universities are also expected
to follow suit and update their courses.
Many universities around the world have
introduced industry-specific or niche
masters in business administration (MBA)
degree programmes to help professionals
gain a deeper grasp of business-related
concepts and better understand the theories
applied within respective industries.
The city of Nashville in the United States
has produced and attracted the very best
performers in the music industry for
generations.
The MBA programme at Belmont
University allows students to specialise in
the entertainment and music business,
teaching strategic marketing in music
business, entertainment asset management
and technology in the business of music.
Guest lecturers include top executives
from established companies such as EMI.
In the United Kingdom, the Henley MBA
for the Music and Creative Industries
programme developed by University of
Reading is catered to experienced managers
who want to develop their international
management competencies and includes
bespoke workshops, presentations, working
with creatives as well as courses to
understand intellectual property and
innovation in the music industry.
The Football Industries MBA (FIMBA)
offered at the University of Liverpool, UK, is
designed for people who wish to work with
THE STAR, TUESDAY 18 JULY 2017
In comparison with other
shortlisted institutions,
the MBA course offered at
Edinburgh Business School
covers a wider spectrum.
Fakhrur Bukhary
I am confident that the knowledge and
skills that I am developing will contribute
positively to my career progression or in a
new venture should I decide to run my own
business, says Fakhrur.
The world-renowned MBA programme
has been delivered by top United Kingdom
and Asian staff at the Heriot-Watt University
Malaysia campus since January 2013. As for
now, 47 students have completed the
programme and 98 students are currently
studying part time.
The Edinburgh Business School MBA
programme is approved by the Higher
Education Ministry and fully accredited by
the Malaysian Qualifications Agency in
Malaysia.
Preview evenings for prospective students
will be held at 6.30pm on July 20, at the
Hilton Sentral, Kuala Lumpur and Aug 5 at
the university's Putrajaya campus.
n For more information e-mail,
MalaysiaMBA@ebs.hw.ac.uk
Nina
Marini
Idris
football clubs, governing bodies or related
marketing, media and sponsorship
companies.
Previous work-based projects providers
include Celtic, Everton, Liverpool and
Manchester City football clubs, The Football
Association and the Union of European
Football Associations.
The MBA in Aviation and MBA in Aviation
Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University in the US offer students an insight
into airline service quality issues, financial
performance metrics, airline operations, life
cycle analysis and other areas.
Recruiters of the universitys graduates
include United Airlines, Delta Air Lines,
Sabre Airline Solutions and Rolls-Royce.
Situated within the wine regions of the
respective countries, Sonoma State
University in California in the US, Bordeauxs
INSEEC (French abbreviation of Institute of
Economic Studies) in France and the
University of Bologna in Italy offer MBA
programmes related to the wine and food
industry.
> SEE NEXT PAGE
THE STAR, TUESDAY 18 JULY 2017
VC COLUMN
GRAEME Wood said Change
has never happened this fast
before, and it will never be this
slow again. To me, this quote
sums up the monumental
changes that we are
experiencing at the moment.
Others might be more
persuaded by the speed of
change that estimates 65% of
children entering primary
school will end up doing jobs
that do not currently exist.
We are used to revolutionary
changes. The first industrial
revolution was possible due to
steam, which enabled
production to be mechanised.
The second industrial revolution
saw electricity enabling mass
production and the third was
brought about by an
information technology
revolution that gave us the
potential to automate many of
our routine tasks. We are now
living through the fourth
industrial revolution the digital
revolution. The digital
revolution is changing every
aspect of our lives. We only have
to look at companies such as
Grab/Uber, Airbnb and Amazon
for examples of the disruption to
industries that have taken place.
Companies are struggling to
keep up with these changes. The
average lifespan of a Fortune
500 company in 1955 was 75
years. Today, it is 15 years. Most
of the companies that will
employ people in 100 years from
now have not been formed yet.
Education has yet to be
disrupted in the same way as
other industries but it will
inevitably happen. The
challenge to the higher
education sector is that it
disrupts the sector itself rather
than wait to be disrupted by
somebody else.
Paul Rennie, the Deputy
British High Commissioner to
Malaysia, recently gave a talk to
the senior management team of
the three international
campuses of The University of
Nottingham.
Rennie told a story of how the
stagecoach industry failed to
develop and was wiped out by
the railways within a few years
of their introduction. It would
have been logical for the
stagecoach operators to have
transitioned into railway
operators but that is not what
happened. What changes need
to take place for higher
Tailored courses
> FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
Course topics include wine
business strategy, wine
entrepreneurship, wine supply
chain management, viticulture,
food and wine distribution,
retailing and how to taste and
assess food properly.
These courses also provide
the necessary skills to be
consultants and managers in
wine sales and export,
agribusiness, restaurants and
distribution companies.
For more than a decade,
Frances ESSEC (French
abbreviation of Superior School
of Economic Science and
Business) located in Paris offers
the MBA in International
Luxury Brand Management.
Partnerships with top
international fashion brands
expose students to emerging
and mature fashion trends
Postgraduate 7
Digital revolution in education
education to embrace the fourth
industrial revolution? It is By PROF
always dangerous to make GRAHAM
predictions but here are a few KENDALL
thoughts.
Technology, content party operators who can enrol
and lecture students and match them with a
number of universities. One of
The way we are interacting these new operators could be the
with the world is changing. Uber/Airbnb of the higher
Students are now used to education sector and could
accessing information through quickly become
their mobile phones instead of the largest university in the world.
desktop computers, laptops or Unless the higher education
tablets. sector acts now, it may face the
As technology converges, same fate as the stagecoach
there will be less need for large operators. Let us act before it is
computer laboratories. Contents too late and we are disrupted by
will have to be delivered the railways.
through mediums that are used
by students, rather than asking n For more information, visit
students to accept legacy ways www.nottingham.edu.my or
of content delivery. follow Prof Kendall on Twitter
A common lecture duration is (@Graham_Kendall)
50 minutes and has been for
many years. As attention spans
decrease, we need to find
different delivery methods to
replace the traditional lecture.
MOOCs
Massive open online course
(MOOC) has seen significant
uptake in recent years, but no
model is yet to emerge that
meets all the challenges that
MOOCs present.
This includes how to
monetise, integrate into a wider
degree programme, ensure the
integrity of the assessment and
introduce some face-to-face
interaction.
Flexibility
Students may want to take
courses from many different
institutions to build a degree
that is customised for them.
This presents challenges not
only as to who awards the
degree but in ensuring that the
content fulfils the requirements
towards getting a degree.
There are also issues on
accreditation for professional
bodies, quality assurance, entry
requirements, fee payment and
global identities for universities.
If these issues could be
addressed, it opens up the
higher education sector to third
while also providing
hands-on experience during
international trips to explore
local markets, meet market
analysts and heads of
prestigious local firms.
Previous destinations include
Hong Kong, Dubai and visits to
top Italian jewellers such as
Bulgari, Gucci and Fendi.
The lists of guest speakers
during the courses duration
include presidents, directors
and chief executives of
Christian Dior Couture,
Burberry, LOreal and Chanel.
Though distinct, the
fundamentals of these courses
remain similar to the traditional
MBA, enabling students to be
successful in diverse fields.
As a result, the popularity of
niche MBA courses will
continue to drive the existence
of such programmes for the
coming years.
8 Postgraduate
Know no boundaries
I AM the head of regulatory and corporate
affairs at Smart Axiata, Cambodias leading
mobile operator owned by Malaysian-based
Axiata Group.
Having been in the telecommunications
industry for nearly 10 years now, I am glad
I decided to sign up for the Strathclyde
MBA at CDC in 2013 as it has broadened my
knowledge and strategic thinking while
moving up the corporate ladder.
Learning opportunities in the programme
are limitless. If I were to do it again, I would
optimise the various networking
opportunities available.
I chose this part-time MBA because it has
triple accreditations and is flexible enough
for me to study at my own pace.
After being in the technical field for five
years, I wanted to build my knowledge in
business management and strategy to
diversify my expertise and increase high-
level contributions in my daily work.
The three-year experience at CDC was
certainly a memorable one. I distinctly
remember the supposed orientation
weekend that took me by surprise with a
full-blown module, setting the tone of the
amount of learning experiences I would
receive.
The mix of tutors from the local industry
and lecturers from the University of
Strathclyde in Glasgow offered a breadth of
local and international experiences in our
classes. Group mates from different
industries provided additional networking
opportunities.
Saying that the MBA programme was a
ride in the park would be a lie. It was
challenging and involved finding the time to
do our many group assignments, giving up
weekends, stepping out of our comfort zones
and sitting for examinations.
What I really liked about the course
structure was the assignments, which were
always case studies of different industries
that helped me learn through application.
In addition, the opportunity to do my
electives in Glasgow and Singapore was
enriching as I had always wanted to
experience studying at an international
campus and interacting with students there.
Looking back on my MBA journey, the
strategic modules and digital leadership
elective are what I would encourage future
Strathclyde MBA students to leverage on.
These allowed me to dig deeper and
critically examine problems, which I believe
together with other hard and soft skills that
I developed play an essential role that
enabled me to carry out managerial tasks
well in Cambodia.
This programme has challenged me
to reach new heights, given me new
perspectives and reiterated my belief that
learning has no boundaries. By
Jonathan Yap (pic), graduate of MBA with
distinction (2017),
University of Strathclyde
n For more information, call 03-7660 8950
or visit www.cdc.edu.my.
Jonathan Yap
appreciates
the
Strathclyde
MBA
experience.
Meeting 21st
century needs
THERE is no doubt that 21st century
economic dynamics have changed the
landscape of business at home and abroad.
Global organisations and establishments
at all levels of management in corporate and
industrial sectors seek cost-effective ways to
stay afloat in the red ocean.
One vital question remains: can the
current human capital or talent resources
adopt and adapt to the megatrends of
disruptive changes?
The combined approaches of Management
& Science University (MSU) to 21st century
learning and industry-driven education have
built strong traditions that enhance current
and future pools of human capital assets to
address the challenges of 21st century
knowledge economy.
Global companies in Malaysia, the Asean
Economic Community and Asia-Pacific are
constantly on the lookout for innovative
approaches to talent enhancement in
sustaining business leadership beyond the
national boundary.
Offered by its Graduate School of
Management (GSM), MSUs Master of
Business Administration (MSU MBA) is
geared to develop only the most critical skills
for the business and management
marketplace.
The MSU MBA remains high on the
priority list among professionals and leaders
in generating business-centric skills to meet
human capital demands for new business
perspectives around the globe.
Adopting global standards of industrial
best practices, MSU MBAs modules pioneer
new directions in building capacity and
enhancing key abilities for all levels across
the management, entrepreneurial,
managerial, financial, information and
communications technology, governance and
human resource
spectrums.
The MSU MBA seeks to incorporate
real-world practices in the classroom for an
immersive 360 experiential learning.
Advocating the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals, the MSU MBA
incorporates practical dimensions in
developing top-tier management skills
encompassing entrepreneurial leadership,
strategic management, Islamic finance,
project management, and key business and
management knowledge for the 21st century
market.
The MSU MBAs combination of affordable
fees, world-class teaching and leading
industry collaborations has enabled the
creation of a sustainable network of
graduates and managers who are well
prepared to meet the demands of 21st
century business.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 18 JULY 2017
The MSU MBA remains
high on the priority list
among professionals and
leaders in generating
business-centric skills
to meet human capital
demands for new business
perspectives around the
globe.
MSUs series of CEO Talks and
Entrepreneur Talks provides MBA students
with the opportunity to be up close and
personal with global chief executive officers
to learn about cross-sectional approaches
across the business and management
spectrum.
Accreditors include Malaysian
Qualifications Agency (MQA) and the United
Kingdoms Accreditation Services for
International Schools, Colleges & Universities
(ASIC).
MSU has achieved Excellent status on the
Higher Education Ministrys Rating for
Higher Education Institutions in Malaysia
(Setara).
Last year, it fulfilled the highest global
standards on the QS Stars excellence for
teaching, employability, facilities, social
responsibility and inclusiveness.
It was crowned The Most Entrepreneurial
Private University by the Higher Education
Ministry last year and is the first non-
Japanese university to be accredited by the
Alliance on Business Education &
Scholarship for Tomorrow (ABEST21).
In recent recognition, MSU was awarded
the BrandLaureate Best in Education for
Leadership and Human Capital Development
2017.
Besides the MBA programme, GSM also
offers PhD and masters programmes in
management/business, accounting/finance,
management, educational management and
leadership, and Teaching English as a Second
Language (TESL).
These programmes are offered as
weekend or weekday classes in flexible
timeframes and for all management levels.
n For more information, call 03-2718
4302/4300/4301, e-mail gsm@msu.edu.my or
visit www.msu.edu.my.