postgraduate - 19 january 2016

The STar, tuesday 19 January 2016

special

advancing to the top

2 postgraduateTHE STAR, TUESDAY 19 JANUARY 2015

Professional accounting qualifications in Malaysial Chartered Certified Accountant by ACCA

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is a global body for professional accountants that sets out to bring long-term value to economies by applying consistent accounting standards to support businesses.

The Chartered Certified Accountant qualification that is accredited by the ACCA provides individuals with the necessary skills, competence and ethics to progress through the corporate ladder and succeed at the top level of accounting, giving individuals the opportunity to choose which type of accountancy role and the organisation they wish to work for.

The course has a high focus on professional values, ethics and governance and requires each student to complete a series of examinations at a fundamental and advanced level, record 36 months of experience in a relevant accounting role and complete a Professional Ethics module.

The ACCA qualification is flexible and self-paced, allowing students the opportunity to choose how they study, how often they will sit for examinations and where they can get their relevant practical experience.

Students can choose a variety of different study options, including a full- time course, part-time or evening courses and distance learning.

However, new students who register from March onwards must complete all professional level papers within a seven-year time limit.

l CPA Program by CPA Australia

Recognised as one of the world’s largest accounting bodies, CPA Australia has more than 150,000 members working in 120 countries.

The core services offered to its members include education, training, technical support and advocacy.

The Certified Public Accountant Program (CPA Program) endorsed by CPA Australia moulds individuals to become finance, accounting and business professionals who are widely regarded by employers as it is an internationally recognised

qualification. Following an accounting-

related degree, students who wish to become a CPA must complete four compulsory subjects that are ethics and governance, financial reporting, strategic management accounting, and global strategy and leadership as well as two elective subjects.

Practical experience is also needed before one completes the CPA Program.

The qualification indicates soundness in depth, breadth and quality of accounting knowledge and the programme uses real business examples drawn from current news and legislation.

l CIMA Professional qualification

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) is a professional body offering training and qualification in management accountancy and its related subjects.

It is also a leading professional body in the areas of product costing, budgeting, management accounting, investment appraisal and business decision-making.

The CIMA Professional qualification aims to provide students with financial knowledge to influence strategic decisions and manage performance.

Students will be able to uphold the highest ethical and professional standards and have a qualification that is relevant to current issues.

The three main pillars of study are enterprise (how to formulate and effectively implement strategy), performance (how finance helps in formulating and effectively implementing strategy) and financial (how to prepare and interpret financial statements to make decisions).

These subjects are further divided into the operational, management and strategic level.

CIMA offers Certificate in Business Accounting for students with little or no accounting background, which is the basis for its CIMA Professional qualification.

The professional body also has award-winning Islamic finance qualifications at the certificate, diploma and advanced diploma level.

Well-rounded employeeTHE debate on which is the more valuable asset between industry experience and education is not a new one.

A quick search through the Internet will highlight numerous websites that feature the opinions of industry professionals such as human resource managers, senior executives and business owners who favour one criterion over the other when hiring or promoting their staff.

Depending on the organisation and management, the number of years spent within the company and on-the-job experience may be sufficient prerequisites for management to consider offering a promotion to its staff.

Others may be more partial to an individual with a commendable tertiary education background.

However, in many occasions, both experience and education are needed before one can excel, especially in larger organisations with regional or multinational operations.

Applicants for senior management positions are often expected to have not only tertiary education and a high level of experience but professional qualifications as well.

These certifications provide individuals with the necessary industry-specific skills, competence and ethics to progress through the corporate ladder and succeed at the top level.

Professional fitOne of the reasons professional

qualifications are highly regarded by employers is these certifications are accredited by industry professional bodies.

Bodies such as the Certified

Management Institute (CMI), Certified Practicing Accountants Australia (CPA Australia), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) are nationally or internationally recognised and therefore set high assessment standards.

Individuals who are preparing for these certifications are assured of being introduced to the most effective methodologies and kept abreast of the current expectations of the industry.

Not only will individuals gain industry-specific knowledge but the training and preparation involved will help develop cognitive skills such as decision-making that will have a positive impact on their career. A higher earning potential and professional recognition are merely added perks.

Many of these qualifications

have a flexible structure that allows candidates to complete the qualifications on a part-time basis. This means industry professionals can sit for the necessary papers and assessments as well as do assignments and prepare for the examinations around their busy work schedules.

Some certificates have only minimal requirements during the duration of the course, allowing professionals to progress according to their desired timeframe.

Individuals will also have access to a substantial amount of resources as they prepare for the various examination papers.

Companies are confident in hiring and promoting individuals with a professional qualification as every candidate would have completed rigorous examinations before obtaining their certification.

As companies recognise that trained individuals have a positive influence on the organisation, it is not unusual for companies to encourage their current staff to obtain a professional qualification if they do not already have one.

Some examples of how various companies have supported their staff include study leave and funding for examination fees, tuition and required texts and membership fees.

Strong intellectual foundation

Emmanuel Anni Acquah who completed his qualification as a Chartered Certified Accountant accredited by the ACCA believes that professional qualifications such as his make individuals more valuable in the workforce.

> SEE NEXT PAGE

Chartered Certified Accountant Emmanuel Anni Acquah says that the wide breadth of knowledge offered by professional qualifications is useful throughout one’s career.

Professional qualifications provide the skills and knowledge required to succeed in specific industries.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 JANUARY 2016

postgraduate 3

Engaging in a constantlearning curve> FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

“To become a Chartered Certified Accountant, you need to learn a broad range of topics such as law, financial reporting, auditing and basically everything you will need to know to be a financial professional.

“That is the reason for the popularity of the ACCA qualification – it makes you more versatile.

“The ACCA does not train you to be an entry-level accountant but somebody with the skills to be a finance manager or a chief financial officer of a company,” says Acquah.

Acquah adds that the course is structured with a wide breadth of knowledge and theoretical concepts that will be useful throughout one’s accounting career and even at a higher management level.

Acquah is a regional reporting lead at a world- leading company that supplies technology, integrated project management and information solutions to customers in the oil and gas industry.

He says, “A professional qualification says something about you, for example, it shows what you have studied, and that your ethical dimensions and decision-making skills are strong.”

Future opportunitiesTwenty-eight-year-old Linus

Ng, who works as a senior associate in one of the Big Four network of companies, is another individual who has completed his ACCA qualification and believes the certification helps anyone who intends to build a career in the field of accountancy or finance.

“Many accountants will try to work with the Big Four and the ACCA qualification will give them that avenue.

“Although firms do hire individuals with other degrees or from non-accounting backgrounds based on their personal attributes, including attitude, personality and willingness to learn, individuals who complete a professional qualification will have an edge over other entry-level applicants and this will give them an added boost of confidence,” he says.

Ng, who completed his module papers while working at an auditing firm, says the experience allowed him to better understand the fundamental theories and application of some of the auditing solutions as he came across them during his work.

Continuous growthThe advantages of having a

professional qualification do not stop at having a certificate or a professional title added to your name.

Upon completion of the qualification and with relevant work experience, individuals can become members of these international bodies and continue their learning process.

“The ACCA, for example, is not like a degree where you go off once you graduate.

“As a member, I have to submit a Continuos Professional Development form stating what I have learnt in the past year and to provide evidence of how I have improved as an accountant before I can renew my membership every year,” says Acquah.

“As a professional, I also value the amount of online material provided by the ACCA as I get to know about new accounting standards, the issues that are being discussed on the global landscape and new accounting methods.”

Due to the never-ending learning curve and how highly it is regarded by companies, professional qualifications such as the one accredited by the ACCA are therefore highly recommended in the field of accountancy.

Companies will always be supportive of their staff who take the initiative to pursue such courses as they will eventually be able to reap the rewards under the guidance of skilled and highly trained professionals who combine their acquired knowledge with work experience.

Just as German philosopher Immanuel Kant said, “Experience without theory is blind, but theory without experience is mere intellectual play.”

ACCA-certified accountant Linus Ng believes that professional certification will aid anyone who hopes to advance their careers.

AGSB collaborates with relevant industry partners in delivering the curriculum. Frost & Sullivan Malaysia, one of UNITAR’s industry partners, has recently collaborated with AGSB to be part of the teaching team of AGSB.

The collaboration involves experts from Frost & Sullivan participating in giving lectures and assessments in class.

Some sessions will be telecast live to regional centres nationwide so that all students can participate and benefit from the industry-led class activities regardless of their locations.

AGSB offers business


Prof Dr Noor Raihan (second from right) engaging with students of UNITAR International University’s Asia Graduate School of Business.

Leading the wayACCORDING to Prof Dr Noor Raihan, dean of UNITAR International University’s Asia Graduate School of Business (AGSB), most postgraduate students have at least five years of work experience – with some already at managerial level – and are seeking to go to a higher level.

“What they require now are strategic thinking skills and not merely the ability to oversee day-to-day operations,” she says.

“The skills required are beyond conceptual and technical – managers need to be able to think strategically to meet the requirements of specific business environments.

“Businesses operate in a highly competitive environment where every decision has its risk and potential return. This makes a manager’s role as a decision maker more challenging.

“A master’s programme in business administration or management offered by most graduate schools focuses on managing the day-to-day operations of functional areas in finance, accounting, economics and marketing.

“The strategic thinking component, which integrates each functional area into a holistic

system, is only emphasised towards the end of the programme,” says Prof Raihan.

“AGSB embeds strategic thinking from the beginning and throughout the programme, exposing students to strategic planning in all areas of business and in making overall business strategies for the organisation.”

In a competitive industry, AGSB differentiates itself by employing the UNITAR Education Core (UNIEC) teaching and learning approach to enhance students’ understanding of the market and industry as a whole.

Part of UNITAR’s mission is to provide access to learning. Last year, AGSB revised all programmes to be offered on a modular basis to accommodate the working adult segment.

AGSB has introduced the modular-based structure where students can study one course in the first half of a semester and learn another course in the second half. This allows students to concentrate on one course at a time.

The school applies the flipped-classroom approach in which students receive the required materials prior to a class to prepare for discussion.

Active discussions take place through face-to-face classes and online forums uploaded on UNIEC Virtual.

This concept enables students to carry out hands-on applications of theory and problem-solving in class via role-play, debates and case studies as well as interact with the lecturer and peers via video conferencing.

AGSB believes that industry input is an integral part of the discovery of knowledge. Students are exposed to real and current issues by industry experts who are part of the AGSB teaching team, allowing for the seamless linking of theories to real practices.

Prof Raihan believes that future leaders and managers of the industry should be nurtured with good values and lead with sensitivity to the local and global community needs.

“The school is premised on the philosophy that everyone has the potential to lead with values. Managers shoulder a vital responsibility in showing directions and ensuring that goals are met for the benefit of the greater community. We emphasise professional ethics and values throughout our programme,” she says.

administration as well as management programmes at master’s and PhD levels.

While the business administration programmes cover areas from finance to marketing, the management programmes focus on managing people, including leadership, psychology, organisational development and ethics.

The upcoming intakes for UNITAR’s postgraduate studies are open till Feb 14.

n For more information, call 03-7627 7200, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.unitar.my


postgraduate 5

Possessing the green advantageSUSTAINABILITY is the latest buzzword for developed and industrialised economies, especially as governments seek new energy sources and ways to optimise efficiency.

Monash University Malaysia’s Master of Advanced Engineering (Energy and Sustainability), which commences in February, will incorporate aspects of energy use, conservation, sustainability, management and processing in areas such as water and lighting.

Focus on sustainability

“Traditional undergraduate engineering programmes only gloss over these subjects,” says Dr Kenny Tan Boon Thong, senior lecturer and course coordinator (mechanical) in the School of Engineering.

“But these days, a strong emphasis is placed by governments on corporations to ‘clean up their act’.

“As such, there is a need for more engineers who specialise in these areas.”

Dr Tan believes that engineering graduates and professional engineers who wish to make a change in their career should leverage on the master’s programme to capitalise on the emerging trends of green energy and sustainable living.

He adds that as many companies begin incorporating sustainability into their practices, more job opportunities are being created in processing and energy sectors as well as consulting.

Nurturing innovative engineers

Malaysia has acknowledged the importance of such issues by establishing the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water in 2009 and the Renewable Energy Act 2011 to encourage organisations to produce electricity from renewable sources, reduce carbon emissions and drive advancement in green technologies.

The master’s programme accepts students with a bachelor’s degree in any engineering discipline as it incorporates elements of electrical, chemical and mechanical engineering.

According to Dr Tan, this gives graduates an advantage.

“Graduates will have fundamental knowledge of broad areas related to energy and sustainability instead of starting from ‘ground zero’ when joining a consultancy,” he says.

The course also features some unique subjects, including intelligent lighting and engineering entrepreneurship, where students are taught how to commercialise an idea or innovation.

The master’s programme can be completed full time or part time for the duration of one year and two years respectively. Classes are taught from 6pm to 9pm.

n For more information about the Master of Advanced Engineering (Energy and Sustainability), visit www.monash.edu.my

Dr Tan believes that engineering graduates and professional engineers who wish to make a change in their career should leverage on the master’s programme to capitalise on the emerging trends of green energy and sustainable living.


New brand, new leader at the helm

Ahmad Hazriq Azalan, Master of Project ManagementVice president (corporate planning, risk management and internal audit)

AHMAD, who is based in Jakarta, flew down to Kuala Lumpur for the Postgraduate Open Day.

“When I decided to further my studies, my challenge was to find a programme that would suit my circumstances. An online search led me to OUM and its open and distance learning system,” says Ahmad.

“According to the programme coordinators who were really helpful in attending to me, I am the only one in my batch who is based outside the country. I chose to study here in Kuala Lumpur because at OUM, you can opt to pursue any of the

programmes online via various learning methods, mainly OUM’s virtual learning system.

“The programme coordinators were also willing to

provide audio and video recordings for all my classes. Moreover, I was given the contact numbers of the lecturers and facilitators for all

my subjects this semester.

“This was my first time touring the facilities, going

into lecture rooms and seeing OUM’s learning systems. I must say, I was impressed,” he says.

“The course fees are also competitive and, looking at the number of learners enrolled in the programmes and the number of people here today, it seems that OUM is the preferred choice for working adults.”

Ahmad’s parents who accompanied him to the event also attended the briefings, speeches and tours.

His mother comments, “Coming here with my son is definitely time not wasted. It gives me the urge to want to further my studies too, especially after hearing that senior citizens get 75% off their fees.

“Having been a teacher for many years and now working in the Education Ministry, I do think that OUM’s facilities, curriculum and learning methods are very good, especially for working adults. I am strongly thinking of pursuing the Doctor in Education programme next year.” Many learners turned up with families in tow for the Open Day.

Learner speaks

OUM experienced a good turnout of new and potential learners on its Postgraduate Open Day.

OUM welcomes its postgraduate learners

THE Postgraduate Open Day at Open University Malaysia (OUM) saw an overwhelming number of new and potential learners eagerly coming through the doors to understand the university’s blended-learning pedagogy.

Newly appointed President and Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mansor Fadzil, along with many senior members, staff and academicians of the university, were present to meet the learners.

Prof Mansor said he was appreciative of the turnout especially since it was a Sunday and that the university tried its best to accommodate individuals’ questions and educational needs.

Learners attended seminars and briefings on postgraduate courses,

including communication, psychology, occupational health and safety, Islamic studies, project management and early childhood.

Rebates for all diploma, degree, master’s and doctoral programmes were offered to students who registered that weekend.

Additionally, learners aged 60 to 74 benefit from 75% off course fees while 75-year-olds and above study for free.

The January intake is still open for registration.

To register, visit fastrac.oum.edu.my or walk into any of OUM’s 34 learning centres nationwide. l OUM speedline: 03-2773 2121l WhatsApp: 012-303 9934 / 35l E-mail: [email protected]

THIS year sees a great change for the Open University Malaysia (OUM) family. Prof Datuk Dr Mansor Fadzil has been appointed as the new President and Vice-Chancellor.

As part of the pioneering group of 1999, Prof Mansor has served under both the Founding President/Vice-Chancellor Allahyarham Tan Sri Datuk Dr Abdullah Sanusi Ahmad and predecessor Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali.

Formally trained as an engineer, he joined the

University of Malaya (UM) as a lecturer after graduating from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom, in 1985.

It was during his time at UM that he began to realise a personal interest in online learning; he played an instrumental role in introducing the approach to lecturers in 1998.

Prof Mansor is honoured to be given this opportunity to lead OUM and says he plans to continue the good work brought about by Prof Anuwar’s

excellent leadership. His appointment is part of a

bigger expansion move whereby the newly rebranded OUM Education group now encompasses the three existing institutions: OUM (part-time learning for working adults), Institute of Professional Development (professional and career-applicable learning) and International Open College (full-time programmes).

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


postgraduate 7

By PROF CHRISTINE ENNEW

VC COLUMN

Making the right choiceONE of the regular features of the end of the old year and start of the new one is the flurry of education fairs that take place around the country.

As higher education is a major investment, it is one of the most difficult choices that many of us will make.

In his opening speech at the Star Education Fair, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh likened the whole process to the journey of Star Wars, citing the many difficulties and challenges that arise on the higher education journey.

Selecting a course of study is an important decision; what and where we study (and how well we do it) has a major impact on our long-term success as well as economic and social well-being.

Making a choice is difficult due to the diverse options available and because it is tough to evaluate those options and determine which one is best for you.

In addition to the public education system and the widely used option of studying overseas, there is a diverse private sector comprising broad-based universities, campuses of prestigious international universities and specialist higher education colleges and institutes.

With this diversity of institutions comes a diversity of qualifications. An institution might offer its own degree or diploma, a franchised

programme, a validated award or a professional award.

Besides Malaysia, the award could come from any number of countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, India, China and the United States.

With such a comprehensive range of qualifications available, the challenge is to find the best option. What makes this choice difficult is that higher education is hard to evaluate in advance.

Until you actually start your study, how do you really know an institution’s quality of education? Before you join an institution, how can you be sure that the student experience will be good?

And until you have graduated, how would you know whether your qualification can help you get the job and career that you are looking for?

There is no shortage of information from education exhibitions, institution open days, league tables, rankings, brochures, advertising and, increasingly, social networks

and social media. All these have value and can

help in the choice of institution and qualification.

Sometimes, however, there is too much information available – every institution can claim to be outstanding, excellent, globally recognised, highly rated by employers and so on – and those making their choice of study will find it difficult to judge whether a given institution can live up to its claims.

On top of these, there is the tremendous variation in fees to consider.

There is no easy way to handle all of this information, but there

are ways to simplify the process.Determining the subject and

type of qualification you want to pursue will narrow down the range of options to be considered. Budget considerations can further narrow down the available choices.

Gathering information about the institution will help you understand the quality of what is offered – this is where national rankings and international leagues tables can be of value.

It is also helpful to listen to what others have to say. One of the best ways to find out about the quality of an institution is to hear the opinion of those who have studied there.

If you want to know what the student life will be like and the range of extracurricular activities available, then there is no substitute for participating in an open day.

The phrase “see before you buy” makes good sense when you are considering an investment as major as postgraduate education.

n Prof Christine Ennew is the chief executive officer and provost of The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus.

Your university of choice should offer the right study environment that makes student life exciting.


There were ample universities for me to choose from to pursue my PhD. However, because I wanted a course that provided me with a flexible mode of study, I did not choose a conventional university. Dr Than Soo Nyet

Learning from the bestTHE thought of taking up a PhD programme came about when

I realised the importance in keeping myself updated as

a university lecturer to avoid being made obsolete in the future.

The wake-up call for me was when I heard about the Government’s plan to produce 60,000 PhD holders by 2020, just four years from now.

The other factor was my habit of

taking up challenging tasks.I knew that the journey to

attaining a PhD was going to be difficult especially at my age and with my full-time work schedule.

However, as the saying goes, “When there is a will there is a way” – and it was then that I made up my mind to pursue my PhD.

There were ample universities for me to choose from to pursue my PhD. However, because I wanted a course that provided me with a flexible mode of study, I did not choose a conventional university.

Instead, I found that Asia e University (AeU) offered PhD programmes with the criteria that I had been looking for, with an added bonus of tuition fee discounts for senior citizens.

AeU is a dual-mode international university established with the support of 33 Asia Cooperation member countries.

It was this that convinced me that AeU would be able to help me achieve my goal to obtain a PhD.

In January 2010, I enrolled in a PhD course in education to advance my nursing education.

It was an eventful five-year journey for me but I do not have any regrets.

I had a good experience studying in AeU, enjoying the research workshops and colloquium where I learnt so much.

I learnt more than I could have in a conventional university because I could listen to my lectures repeatedly until I mastered the learning concepts such as the quantitative and qualitative methods as well as statistical analyses involved.

I looked forward to attending the research workshops conducted each semester. I attended all the workshops whenever my schedule allowed me to.

I gained the opportunity to learn from experienced lecturers, including Prof Dr Siow Heng Lok and dean of School of Graduate Studies, and Dr Soon Seng Thah, former president of SPSS User’s Association.

The other learning opportunity that I looked forward to was the colloquium that included many international guest speakers who shared their experience on PhD supervision and expectations, including chairman of Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

I also learnt from a Harvard University lecturer how to look for academic literature online via Google Scholar.

Another learning experience that I appreciated was the research clinic where I was able to consult the lecturer regarding my research proposal, where I finally decided on my area of study.

Through attending workshops and the colloquium, I gained the opportunity to meet and share my experience with coursemates from different backgrounds such as music, information technology (IT), army, business and law, among others.

Besides this, AeU provided me with adequate online resources that were useful for my studies. I did not need to come to the library to get information

because I did my search online. The librarians were helpful in

teaching me how to use online materials as I was not very IT-savvy at that point.

After five years of study, I am now confident to do an online search and this has taught me to appreciate the power of information technology in acquiring knowledge and learning.

In fact, I am now planning to use emerging technologies to conduct my teaching at my workplace in the future.

About AeUAeU is a collaborative

multinational university established under the auspices of the 33 Asia Cooperation Dialogue Countries (ACD).

All its academic programmes are internationally benchmarked, approved by the Malaysian Ministry of Education and accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency.

As an open distance learning university, AeU today has an enrolment of more than 22,000 students internationally in 65 countries and has more than 7,000 graduates thus far, with a diverse and international community of about 1,000 fellow doctoral students from 46 countries.

AeU’s programmes are designed and customised for working adults to accommodate their various lifestyles.

With AeU’s personalised learning, students are in the driver’s seat – always moving forward and being in control of their education. – By Dr Than Soo Nyet

Dr Than Soo Nyet is a PhD graduate and alumna of Asia e University (AeU).

n For more information,call 1300 300 238 or visitwww.aeu.edu.my

Merging expertise

Nicholas Fong: ‘Pursuing an MBA with an engineering background has provided me with a career opportunity in the finance industry.’

PURSUING a master’s in business administration (MBA) is a journey that requires strong determination due to the workload and commitment involved.

As a technically trained engineering graduate, pursuing this qualification has enabled me to gain business insights and placed me in a better position to hold managerial responsibility.

I have no regrets in pursuing this qualification as it has transformed me from a technical individual into one with business acumen.

After I graduated with my undergraduate degree and started working in the engineering field, I realised that engineering was not my cup of tea. I found myself more interested in business strategy and financial management.

Being an engineering graduate, it was difficult to search for jobs within my field of interest. However, since pursuing my MBA, I have been given an opportunity in the banking sector to pursue my interest.

Pursuing an MBA with an engineering background has provided me with a career opportunity in the finance industry, which looks for individuals with strong analytical aptitude, top-notch logical skills and good business acumen.

It is important to choose a reputable MBA programme. My main selection criterion is the accreditation and the institution ranking of where the degree is offered.

Another consideration is the type of individuals joining this programme. Having peers with working experience is essential to share knowledge and real-life experiences, which improves one another’s business knowledge and skills on top of classroom learning.

I chose part-time study as it allowed me to

test my own capabilities while continually gaining work experience. The work experience gained could be shared in my group discussions and vice versa.

Throughout the MBA programme, I enjoyed group assignments the most as they involved the exchange of knowledge and opinions from people of different backgrounds and exposures.

Furthermore, group assignments enable individuals to identify their weaknesses, areas of improvement and people management skills.

My current role at work focuses on finance management involving cost savings and project enhancement. This role requires me to analyse the feasibility of implementing projects such as ROI (return on investment) computation and cost-benefit analysis.

My engineering background has developed my analytical thinking skills while the MBA has developed my strategic thinking abilities.

Since I have just graduated from my MBA from the University of Strathclyde, my next career move will be related to business strategy planning.

For those who wish to undertake postgraduate study especially part time, my advice is to be mentally prepared as it requires determination and perseverance.

Although the journey is challenging, the experience is worthwhile as the satisfaction achieved is priceless. – By Nicholas Fong Kin Soon

Fong earned his MBA from the University of Strathclyde and is working as a manager (strategic planning).

n For more information, visit www.cdc.edu.my or call 03-7660 8950 ext 109 (Edahani).


postgraduate 9

FOR the working adult, beginning a postgraduate degree or professional qualification can be daunting.

In addition to balancing the demands of a full-time job, one has to allocate enough time and energy for the respective course requirements, which may include online assessments, periodic assignments and face-to-face classes.

For others, the decision to pursue further study may require them to juggle family responsibilities.

Here are five key steps to successfully navigate through work and study:l Study space

Studying at home can be particularly challenging as you may be distracted by your children, television or telephone.

It is important that you have a quiet space in your home such as a study room so that you can study without any interruption.

l Plan aheadAs you progress through your course, you

will be clearly informed about the topics that are covered in your semester and when you will be required to hand in assignments or sit for various assessments. Make sure you set aside additional study time during these periods.

It is also a good idea to research and start on your assignments much earlier so that you do not need to rush when the deadlines draw near.

l Take a breakIt is perfectly fine to take a break from

your studies every now and again to clear your mind. Spend some time in the playground with the children or go out on a date with your spouse.

Not only will your family enjoy having your presence but you will be fully energised and motivated for the days ahead until your next outing.

platform on which every individual can brainstorm and offer insights from their unique perspective. This encourages students to work and learn in multidisciplinary occupational groups.

Friendships and networks formed during the course of study is an invaluable resource for graduates of the programme and may assist with ongoing future business development.

Participants can expect and experience an unprecedented personal transformation in their lives, boasting better-honed cognitive and collaborative skills, judgment and decision-making abilities upon graduating from this programme.

Among the many students who enjoyed the orientation was Dr Sureshkumar V.Kumarasingam, a medical doctor with 10 years of clinical work experience.

He works in the pathology department of a government hospital in Kuala Pilah as the unit head for blood and transfusion services. His position involves managing non-clinical employees who assist in the day-to-day administration of the blood bank.

His desire to enhance his managerial knowledge drove him to pursue the MBA.


Dr Sureshkumar is pursuing Sunway University’s MBA to enhance his managerial knowledge.

Aside from work, set aside time for studies and family.

University of diversityRECENTLY, Sunway University welcomed 30 new students from eclectic backgrounds into its Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme.

Many are aspiring managers with vast working experiences in industries such as medicine, pharmacy, accountancy, banking, programming, telecommunications, quantity survey and architecture.

As Sunway University offers one of the region’s premier postgraduate programmes with provision of a solid academic base, practical knowledge and corporate networks, it is no surprise that many progressive professionals choose Sunway University’s MBA.

The university specialises in assisting large pools of aspiring business leaders from diverse industries to better understand the requirements and demands of an ever-changing business world.

The programme strengthens and develops students’ knowledge, skills and competencies while nurturing attitudes, enabling them to achieve their highest potential within their chosen professional business arena.

The two-year part-time MBA programme offers a high degree of flexibility to accommodate busy working lifestyles in any industry. This allows students to advance their career while pursuing a postgraduate degree.

Many MBA candidates would have lost touch with academic studies by the time they enrol in the programme.

With this in mind, Sunway’s MBA programme is tailored to enable students to get back on the academic learning track within a short time.

The first day includes orientation with quick updates on referencing styles, guides, tools and database.

The positive learning environment and team culture of the programme ensure that all

candidates get the most out of the programme.

Given the varied working experience each individual has already accumulated, the programme serves to enhance its candidates’ business acumen by providing a thorough knowledge of the latest management theories and tools.

It also provides a discussion

“I’ve been to numerous MBA previews offered by various institutions in addition to Sunway. I chose Sunway University due to its partnership with the United Kingdom’s Lancaster University, whose MBA is triple accredited.

“I feel that no other university in Malaysia can offer such a high-ranking MBA degree. This triple accreditation, I believe, gives an edge to the programme,” says Dr Sureshkumar.

For the father of two young boys and a girl, he will face the challenges of juggling studies, work and family.

However, Dr Sureshkumar feels that with the support and encouragement of Sunway’s faculty, who are among the best management consultants, educators and research scholars in the world, he will overcome the challenges and be in an even stronger position for a better future.

Individuals interested in the dual-award MBA programme can join a preview session on Saturdays in January from noon to 2pm at Sunway University Graduate Centre.

n For more information, call 03-7491 8701 or visit www.sunway.edu.my/university/MBA

Striking a balance

l Limit social and leisure outingsAs a working adult, you are bound to be

invited to social events after working hours or over the weekend.

Take the opportunity to do so but be disciplined enough to limit the time you spend at these outings.

Remember that these outings will take away your usual studying time and you will need to either extend your studying time on other nights or make additional study sessions in the following days.

l Be in contact with peersIf you are pursuing your course in a

tertiary institution, you are likely to meet other working professionals taking the same postgraduate course.

Staying in touch with them throughout the duration of your degree will be useful should you need any clarification or a second opinion on your coursework.

Having a group discussion with your peers will also encourage an exchange of ideas about the theories taught in each unit.

11THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 JANUARY 2015


Creating global leadersTHE Management & Science University (MSU) is one of Malaysia’s top universities.

It focuses strongly on in-demand areas of study, which encompass medicine, health sciences, pharmacy, information sciences and engineering, business management and professional studies, education, social sciences, hospitality, culinary arts, music, and fashion.

MSU has received much recognition from Malaysian and international independent bodies. It has been rated as an Excellent Status University twice by the Higher Education Ministry through a rating system for all universities in Malaysia.

MSU is also accredited by the Accreditation Services for International Colleges (ASIC), the United Kingdom, and the Alliance on Business Education and Scholarship for Tomorrow (ABEST21), Japan.

MSU’s Graduate School of Management (GSM) recognises that today’s global companies require managers with a broader outlook.

The university attracts top students through its internationalisation effort of employing faculty members with overseas experience and forming effective links with businesses.

The Master in Business Administration by MSU (MSU-MBA) offers students an experiential learning opportunity in cross-cultural communications, building

a global network and possibly creating a future international career.

In addition, students are able to develop management skills and techniques, obtain strategic orientation and implement the strategies formulated.

The MSU-MBA helps students develop skills in leadership, entrepreneurship, strategic management and decision-making

so that they become successful leaders in the most competitive markets.

The programme aims to build on the foundations of work experience and, by equipping students with new skills and knowledge, enable them to make a smooth transition to a higher level of responsibility.

The MSU-MBA provides sufficient knowledge for students

to understand the various facets of an organisation to formulate successful strategies. It also instils confidence in them.

The MSU-MBA is popular with employers as it is a recognised currency in the human resources marketplace. Employers know the value of the qualification and what they can expect from an MBA graduate.

They also recognise the commitment shown by MSU-MBA students in investing heavily in their careers. Such candidates are likely to be dynamic self-starters who will be an asset to any organisation.

Active learning exercises within the programme act as a basis for verbal analysis and discussion, allowing for a rich learning environment through the integration of classroom with real-world experiences.

These exercises broaden students’ understanding of issues by inviting them to think beyond their learning materials. New terms and concepts are defined in the margins to facilitate learning.

GSM has established collaborative educational links with a number of top overseas universities, including those in the UK, the United States, Australia,

New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Russia and China.

The Global Mobility Programme is a means to provide MSU postgraduate students with international exposure.

Through this programme, students have the opportunity to develop an awareness and appreciation of other cultures, political and economic environments, and approaches of doing business.

Professors of the MSU-MBA are accomplished teachers who have made significant contributions to the business world, both as academics and working professionals.

They have conducted research and published articles across a broad range of business and professional areas. They have also taught university-level business courses abroad, thus bringing their rich multicultural experience to Malaysia.

Professors at MSU are selected worldwide from among the best consultants and professionals in their fields.

n For more information, call 03-2718 4302/4300/4301 or e-mail [email protected] or visit www.msu.edu.my

The Master in Business Administration by MSU programme equips graduates with leadership and strategic management skills.

Avoiding common mistakes

DISCREPANCIES in taxes and financial reporting can cause a massive headache for accountants and financial officers of an organisation.

Misreporting income and stating incorrect employment figures that go undetected can cause the company to undergo external audits and face stiff penalties.

Here are five mistakes that are commonly made by companies when it comes to accounting and finance:Saving financial data on personal devices

1 Employees may have the intention of completing work

from home or while on the move. They then decide to save confidential company information on their USBs or other personal devices.

However, danger arises if unfortunate events occur such as misplacing their USBs or having their laptop stolen. In the wrong hands, this information can cause companies their hard-earned reputation.

All companies must proactively educate their employees on a strict information technology security policy, including the dangers of saving company data on personal devices.

Working on a public Wi-Fi network

2 It is not uncommon to spot people in business suits scrolling

through their mobile phones or working intensely on their laptop at cafés or transportation hubs.

Whether it is to prepare for business meetings or finish some work while commuting to a

corporate event, accessing sensitive company information via a public Wi-Fi network is extremely dangerous.

This is in addition to working on documents that are stored on the cloud. Public Wi-Fi connections are not secured and this leaves company data prone to hacking and an easy target for cyber theft.

Companies need to ensure that employees use only a virtual private or secured network when accessing company information.

Accidentally deleting Excel formulae used for corporate tax documents

3 As a result of human error such as accidentally deleting

formulae and keying in wrong numbers into the spreadsheet, miscalculating corporate tax data on Excel can create a long list of problems for companies.

Although Microsoft provides a number of ways to prevent formula problems, Excel was not made to handle extensive accounting information.

Companies must invest in an accounting or tax software that is designed to handle specific accounting needs.

Constantly overriding data in enterprise systems

4 Enterprise systems are large-scale applications software that

support business processes, information flows, reporting and data analytics in corporations.

The data on these systems are often shared between departments to ensure a smooth flow of

information between all employees.

However, manually inputting data into the enterprise system increases human error, disrupts the flow of information and leads to bigger financial errors.

Even if companies spot these errors, overriding the data in the system and recalculating the figures using different programs can lead to confusion among its users.

Inputting figures that are calculated outside a central tax or accounting program will also make it difficult for internal and external auditors as it does not leave any paper trail.

Should there be a need to revise specific figures and data, the ability to do so must be left to the heads of department or higher management.

Closing books prematurely and modifying asset information from previous years

5 Another mistake made by accountants is prematurely

closing books before all the requisite data has been collected.

The problem is further exacerbated when these errors go unnoticed and are carried over for a number of years.

In addition, reusing the previous year’s annual plan and merely changing a few numbers will not suffice for any business.

Taking into account the changes that can arise within a year such as costs, business models and industry regulations, what may have worked in the previous year may not work again for the following year.

postgraduate - 19 january 2016

Documents