Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Towards
a bright future
Research at the tertiary level is the bridge that
leads nations to development and progress.
2 Postgraduate THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 APRIL 2018
Growth through
knowledge and
innovation
RESEARCH plays a vital role in the applicants
development of any country. The backbone as well.
of knowledge is research, and knowledge Every applicant
opens pathways to progress. The more a wants access to the
country invests in research, the better it can top-of-the-line
work towards progress in areas such as facilities major
science, history, art and philosophy. research
However, a country needs researchers universities
who place higher value on learning than provide.
earning. The field of research is not without Having a first-
its perks. One benefit is that you are class bachelor’s
contributing to the country’s growth, but in degree in a relevant
the early days of your career, an impressive major along with
salary may not be something you see in your research experience
grants. can make it more likely
The five research universities in Malaysia for you to earn a spot in
have been pioneering significant a research university.
advancements in the field of research and Prof Dr Mohd Jamil
development despite being allocated only Maah, senior professor at
1.1% of the nation’s gross domestic product. Universiti Malaya, says, “At least
The ideal figure is around 2%, according to 80% of candidates applying for a
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister postgraduate degree in research have a international branch campuses. However, “I learnt endocrinology techniques
Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau. cumulative grade-point average (CGPA) of students can apply for scholarships and (a fundamental part of my elephant
A workaround to this situation involves 3.0 and above, but the CGPA is just a guide. grants from these institutions or other stress research) at the zoo laboratories.
local researchers collaborating with private Students should not obsess over it.” private corporations. Upon returning to Malaysia, the university
and international organisations that award According to him, if students are not Dr Wong Ee Phin, who did her research helped me set up a laboratory here so I
grants. accepted into a public research university, on non-invasive monitoring of stress could continue with my research,” says
research positions in private universities or among wild Asian elephants, completed Dr Wong.
Becoming a researcher in Malaysia international branch campuses in Malaysia
are available.
her doctorate under the University of
Nottingham Malaysia.
According to her, the laboratory was not as
well equipped as the one in Chester Zoo, but
The competition among graduate students Lack of affordability is an obstacle one “In my first year, I received a grant from she took it in stride.
to enrol in research universities is fierce may face when applying to postgraduate Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom and
since spots are open to international research positions in private universities or started working there. > TURN TO PAGE 4
An emerging
educational hub
MALAYSIA is leaving no stone unturned total patent applications in a year was
in becoming the region’s educational hub. 2,661 in 2014.
Below is evidence of Malaysia’s
tremendous progress in research and l Six professors from USM, UM and
development since the inception of public UKM were recognised by Clarivate
research universities in 2008. Analytics as the most influential scientific
l There are five public research minds in 2014 and 2015. This recognition
universities in Malaysia, namely comes from them being in the top 1%
Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti most cited researchers in their fields.
Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Universiti
Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Putra l Malaysian researchers performed
Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti well in the Clarivate Analytics’ Highly
Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Cited Papers ranking (the most highly
UM was ranked 114th in the QS World cited 1% of all papers published
University Rankings 2018. The four worldwide), topping the charts with 149
other public research universities made papers in 2016 compared to only 18
it into the QS Top 50 Under 50 and papers in 2006.
were ranked 15th, 16th, 21st and 23rd Malaysian researchers have
respectively. participated in large collaborative groups
to produce research papers on particle
l UPM, UKM, UTM and USM were each physics and clinical medicine studies that
rated five stars in the QS Stars University are among the most highly cited globally.
Rating, which evaluates universities’ Other highly cited papers from
excellence indicators across at least eight Malaysians include those focused on
categories including quality of facilities, nanomaterials, biofuels and agricultural
programme strength and graduate waste.
employability.
l Since 2015, the Higher Education
l The number of Malaysian research Ministry has collaborated with Clarivate
publications grew by a whopping 251% Analytics on Malaysia’s Research Star
between 2008 and 2014 to a rate of 331 Award last year and Malaysia’s Rising
scientific articles per million inhabitants, Star Award in 2015 and 2016 to
which is three times the average in Asia. encourage and reward local research
Between 2013 and 2015, Malaysian talent.
research authors collaborated with
researchers from 179 countries to l The 20 public universities in
produce 27,891 publications in various Malaysia have generated a 28.5% return
indexed journals. on research investment from 2007 to
2015, which amounts to RM7.17bil in
l According to the World Intellectual revenue against the Government’s
Property Organisation, Malaysia’s highest RM5.58bil investment in research.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 APRIL 2018 3
4 Postgraduate THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 APRIL 2018
A world of
opportunities
FROM May 2 to 4, Malaysia will be
welcoming delegates to the annual Going
Global conference. Themed “Global
Connections, Local Impact”, the conference
will welcome education leaders from around
the world.
In preparation for this prestigious event,
the education sector in Malaysia has rallied
to ensure that this conference reinforces the
country’s reputation as an educational hub.
It has been almost 20 years since the a campaign that aims to raise our profile. It
University of Nottingham became the first will showcase the unique experience we
British university to establish an overseas provide, from the world-class British
campus. We deliver a world-class British education to the research work that
education to 5,000 students every year and transforms lives and strives to find solutions
recently celebrated our 10,000th graduate. to today’s societal challenges.
Recognised globally for our pioneering Invited guests, colleagues, friends and
spirit and excellent student experience, we keynote speakers will join our president and
are pushing the boundaries of global higher vice-chancellor Prof Shearer West in
education with new initiatives and witnessing a live Malaysia-themed
partnerships that allow us to extend our experiment by Prof Sir Martyn Poliakoff as
reach to South-East Asia and beyond. part of his Periodic Table of Videos series,
We try and demonstrate how our global which has attracted over 175 million hits on
activities benefit the different communities YouTube.
we engage with, as many other universities Prof Poliakoff will also be participating in
do. As such, we have planned a few events guest lectures at Petrosains for
in London and Nottingham in the run-up schoolchildren and science communicators
to Going Global that will celebrate our from across Malaysia.
contributions in Malaysia and our Our evening event during Going Global
connection to South-East Asia. will feature inspirational presentations from
We will be hosting several events in some of our leading researchers on elephant
London on April 24 in collaboration with conservation, mathematics, cancer research
Asia House, The British Malaysian Society, and the future of food, which all have the
UK-ASEAN Business Council, British Council, potential to impact and transform the lives
the United Kingdom government and of many Malaysians.
UK-based embassies and high commissions Hosting Going Global presents an
of Asean countries. These events will explore opportunity to showcase Malaysian
the role of education, research and people in education and promote the country. The
building relations between the UK, Malaysia British Council team, led by its director
and other nations. Sarah Deverall, should be congratulated on
If you are an alumnus and will be in bringing this conference to Malaysia.
London on that day, e-mail vc-events@ As the event draws closer, I wish them
nottingham.ac.uk. every success. The Higher Education
April 25 is Nottingham and Malaysia Day, Ministry also deserves special mention for its
which celebrates the connection between support in realising the event.
Nottingham and Malaysia with several As provost of the University of Nottingham
events for our staff (many of which have Malaysia, I think this activity affords us an
worked in Malaysia), current students opportunity to further develop our global
(44,000 in total) and alumni (270,000 connections, showcase that we offer the very
worldwide). We hope to provide them best of British education and demonstrate
with more information about studying and the impact of our research on the societies
working in the UK, Malaysia and at our and economies of Malaysia.
other campus in Ningbo, China. For more information on the conference,
After the UK events, our team will be visit www.britishcouncil.org/going-global.
back in Kuala Lumpur for Going Global.
The University of Nottingham will be a n Prof Graham Kendall is the chief executive
significant presence at the conference. officer, provost and pro-vice-chancellor of
Coinciding with the conference is the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus.
launch of “Discover our world” on May 3 – Twitter: @Graham_Kendall
6 Postgraduate THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 APRIL 2018
The postgraduate
programmes in the areas of members on projects of key
business, management, medicine, interest, with an industrial and
health sciences, information
sciences, engineering, education
scientific focus.
With advanced facilities and
programmes at
and hospitality. technical support, MSU provides an MSU are carefully
crafted to cultivate
MSU prioritises quality excellent academic climate for
education, incorporating 21st postgraduate engagement with
century learning in its teaching
delivery to produce holistic
faculty members.
MSU faculty members are highly leadership and
graduates.
The incorporation of global
active in top-level research in a meaningful research
contributions.
wide range of areas and interests,
mobility programmes and requiring innovative approaches
extensive industrial training that push the boundaries of
components into students’ learning interdisciplinary research.
experiences ensures the highest MSU’s advanced degrees at MBA,
standards of impactful innovation, MSc and PhD levels cover wide MSU has been rated twice
employability and industrial areas, including management, as an Excellent-status university
relevancy of MSU graduates. business, accounting, finance, in the Rating for Higher Education
Real-world scenarios are educational management and Institutions in Malaysia (Setara)
included in the classroom learning leadership, education (Teaching and was recognised as the most
experience. Strategic thinking and MSU offers a wide range of specialised programmes taught by professors English as Second Language), entrepreneurial university of
thought-provoking case studies who actively engage in top-level research. computer science, information and 2016 by the Higher Education
equip students with a higher level communication technology, food Ministry.
of practical problem-solving and taught at all levels of top management must adapt service technology, biomedicine, MSU’s most recent recognitions
abilities. professional and industrial rapidly to stay competitive, engineering, applied science, include the Putra Brand Awards
All modules are rigorously platforms. relevant and strategically biomedical sciences, information 2017 and the Best Brand in
designed with industrial and Their contributions have made positioned to tackle global trends technology, pharmacy and clinical Education for Leadership and
corporate input as well as an meaningful and concrete impact in by possessing the relevant pharmacy. Human Capital Development 2017.
opening vignette to major events the global community at home and postgraduate qualifications. These programmes are offered In the QS Stars rating system, the
and real-world issues around the abroad. MSU offers Doctor of Philosophy under the School of Graduate university received five stars for its
globe. They have also taught university- (PhD), Master in Business Studies and Graduate School of teaching, facilities, graduate
MSU professors come from level business courses in diverse Administration (MBA) and other Management. employability, social responsibility
diverse cultural backgrounds, countries, bringing their rich master’s programmes that The award-winning study and inclusiveness.
engage in cutting-edge research, multicultural heritage to Malaysia. emphasise and recognise programmes of the university meet MSU is placed 217th in the QS
and relentlessly pursue The postgraduate programmes at innovative research, scientific stringent standards set by local and World Universities Rankings and
unparalleled academic excellence MSU are carefully crafted to knowledge and industrial international bodies. among the top 1.8% of the best
and scientific innovation. cultivate leadership and application on both domestic and Accreditors include the universities in the QS Asia
They have conducted high- meaningful research contributions international platforms. Malaysian Qualifications Agency, University Rankings 2018.
impact research and published that address industrial challenges A PhD is the highest degree the United Kingdom’s Accreditation
thought-provoking academic at the highest management level. awarded by MSU. It signifies the Services for International Schools, n For more information,
papers across a broad range of Due to the tremendous state of pinnacle of academic and Colleges & Universities, and Japan’s call 03-5521 6868, e-mail
business, industry and professional flux within business and professional standing. Doctoral Alliance on Business Education & enquiry@msu.edu.my or visit
areas. They have also worked in management communities, training involves close working Scholarship for Tomorrow. www.msu.edu.my
8 Postgraduate THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 APRIL 2018
Insightful
Dr Loh looks at
his experience as
a good chance
internship
for him to gain
industry
exposure.