MBA Edge & Postgraduate Studies

Ir Professor Dr Yow Ho Kwang | Julie Donley | Marshall Goldsmith

Postgraduate Studies

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies

MBA Edge

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TM

51 Puan Sri Dr

Susan Cheah Exclusive Interview, President of MCWEA & EXCO Member of the Sunway Group

21 Susan

UTAR, MBA in Peters Building Management

28 Professor Datin Dr

Clara Chee First Retail Cosmeceutical Grade

Skin Care, “Now Everyone Can Have Good Skin”

42 Prof. Dato’ Dr

Sabarudin Vice Chancellor, CITY

45 Dr Faris

Gorashi School of Engineering and

Technology Infrastructure, KLIUC

Ir. Professor Academician Dato’ Dr

CHUAH Hean Teik

Exclusive Interview with the President of UTAR

PP17103/10/2011 (02804) 2012 Issue 7 March/April 2012 RM7.00

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MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies

A BIG THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT! These are my lessons along the way. For more information about the book please visit www.bensonwong.com.

To contact me please email: contact@bensonwong.com

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EDITOR’S NOTE The unsung heroes Have you ever thought that engineers were boring, “a group of nerd technologists who can only think within a box and seriously lack creative ideas and innovation”?

In his argument against the notion that engineers are not creative because engineering is purportedly about learning theories, formulas and rational thinking, Ir Professor Dr Yow Ho Kwang from the Faculty of Engineering and Science at UTAR reminds us that the technology and infrastructure we may take for granted every day is a result of the creativity of engineers who choose not to bask in the limelight of transforming our lives with convenience and efficiency.

To honour these professionals who are content to stay in the back room while industriously work on solving problems and improving the quality of our lives, our seventh issue highlights the engineering profession and the many options an engineering degree provides

CORPORATE Managing Director Steven Shim Office Manager Vicky Shim Key Accounts Manager Aniki Chen Finance Manager Bonnie Bang EDITORIAL TEAM Senior Editor Janet Tay Writers Nurraihana, Mohd Amil Contributors Koh Siong Lee, Wong Lai Peng, Teoh Shen Khang, Husain Jewad Imran Bhadrui, Lim Sheu Ying, Wong Wing Tien, Yong Yun Thung, Ir. Prof Dato’ Dr Sabarudin Mohd, Dr Faris Gorashi, Mohamad Ismail bin Ibrahim, Ir Professor Dr Yow, Carl Selinger, Julie Donley, Marshall Goldsmith

for an illustrious career. Professor Dato’ Dr Sabarudin Mohd, Vice Chancellor of the City University College of Science and Technology, explains the differences between an engineer and an engineering technologist and points out some lesserknown facts about the latter as a profession and chosen career.

Our exclusive interview with the President of UTAR, Ir. Prof Academician Dato Dr Chuah Hean Teik, clarifies the many misconceptions of the engineering profession and reveals its versatility for the graduate wondering which career path to take. Even at the postgraduate level, Dr Faris Gorashi, Deputy Dean of the School of Engineering and Infrastructure at the KLIUC shows us that there are various options available to students, ranging from Engineering Geology to intra-discipline courses such as Mechatronics.

or drive a shiny new car, remember that they are also the result of the efforts of engineers who are always looking for the best solutions so you can enjoy the comforts of a well-thought out product. If you have any suggestions on what you would like to see in this magazine in relation to the MBA or postgraduate studies in general, or any comments on our current issues, please email us at: penerbitwawasan@gmail.com.

Happy reading!

Janet Tay

As you enter a pristine mall

Photographer Tang Weng Kit, Brandon Leow Graphic Designer Tony Lam PUBLISHER Penerbit Wawasan Nusa (M) Sdn Bhd (866716-P), Wisma Wawasan, 19-2 Jalan PJS 8/12, Dataran Mentari, Bandar Sunway, 46150 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia Tel: 603-56301802, Fax: 603-6301803, Email: info@pwn.com.my, penerbitwawasan@gmail.com Website: www.pwn.com.my

PRINTER Intan Spektra Sdn Bhd 12 Jalan Vivekananda, 50470 Kuala Lumpur All rights reserved by MBA EdgeTM and its publisher. While every care has been taken, the publisher, writers, and editors will not be held liable for errors, inaccuracies or commissions. Unsolicited material is submitted at sender’s risk. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of copyright owner. The scanning, uploading and distribution of this magazine via the internet or any other means without the permission of publisher is illegal by law.

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies

CONTENTS

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Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Minister of Higher Education, Malaysia 21 Interview with Susan Peters: Why a MBA in Building Management?

24 Dialogue Session on Branding 28 Exclusive interview with Professor Datin Dr Clara Chee: “Now Everyone Can Have Good Skin”

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40 Centre for Extension Education (CEE) Programmes at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) 42 Engineering Technology: Opportunities & Challenges by Prof.

Dato’ Dr Sabarudin Mohd, Vice Chancellor, City University College of Science and Technology 45 Postgraduate Options in Engineering by Dr Faris Gorashi, School of Engineering and Technology Infrastructure, Kuala Lumpur Infrastructure University College 48 The First UK-Malaysia Symposium on Innovation: Commercialisation of Science Ideas

4 YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Bin Nordin, Minister of Higher Education Malaysia, MOU Signing between Perdana University and Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

51 Exclusive Interview with Puan Sri Dr Susan Cheah, President of the Malaysia Chinese Women Entrepreuners Association (MCWEA) & EXCO Member of the Sunway Group

6 Cover Story: Exclusive interview with Ir Professor Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik, President of UTAR

55 Ir Professor Dr Yow Ho Kwang, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, UTAR on Engineering and Creativity

14 Postgraduate Programmes at UTAR 18 Official Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the New University Building at Sunway Campus

by Yang Berhormat Dato’ Seri

59 Notice the Clues and Manage Your Depression by Julie Donley 62 To Help Others Develop, Start With Yourself by Marshall Goldsmith

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YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Bin Nordin Minister of Higher Education Malaysia MOU Signing between Perdana University and Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand February 28, 2011

Assalamualaikum WBT, Salam Sejahtera, Salam 1Malaysia and a very good morning to all of you.

Firstly, please allow me to thank the organisers for inviting me to witness the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Malaysia’s Perdana University and Mahidol University of Bangkok which seeks to establish a collaboration on education and research, and in setting up the School of Tropical Medicine in Perdana University. The MoU will also include a student exchange scheme between the two universities and an exchange of teaching, research and development resources. This will enable Perdana University to offer Mahidol’s programmes to our local doctors and also to others who plan to pursue the

programmes in this country.

Through this MoU, the Ministry of Higher Education hopes that it will become a catalyst in heralding the introduction of more iconic programmes from renowned universities, those that are leaders in their chosen fields to offer their programmes, expertise and research capacity to our shores. In this way, Perdana University and its contemporaries within our higher education environment will be able to proactively and directly contribute towards enhancing the standards and quality of education in Malaysia, turning the country into a respected educational hub of the region.

THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY AS A ROBUST ECONOMIC ENGINE

In fulfilling our aspirations towards becoming a developed nation by the year 2020, the Government realises that swift action needs to be taken to rejuvenate, revitalise and develop our economy in such a way that not only the fundamentals of our economy are strong, but that the economy is able to adapt, interact and take advantage of the trends and changes within the global economy. In realising this need, the Government has launched a transformational step towards economic growth and change, through the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).

As an enabler for the transformation to take place, 12 National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs) were introduced. In this regard, one of the NKEAs’ focus on healthcare is key and of

interest, especially when we look at the transformation plan from the perspective of an institution such as Perdana University.

The healthcare industry can be a robust economic engine and one that indirectly creates significant social impact. Higher value jobs can be created, infrastructure can be upgraded and both specialist skill sets and technology can be harnessed to improve the quality of care for patients. The growth of the healthcare industry in Malaysia has been organic in nature and is primarily driven by domestic consumption of healthcare products and services. Moving forward, it is now time to reframe and position healthcare as an engine of economic growth. To ensure the right balance of breadth and depth of coverage, the Healthcare NKEA is focused on the larger sub-

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cutting edge research within the realm of medicine and medical sciences. Being able to do this would mean that the University would contribute directly to not only increasing the knowledge capacity of the nation, but also towards the nation’s aspirations of developing an ecosystem for the development of clinical and medical based research in Malaysia.

sectors within the healthcare ecosystem. These include bio-pharmaceuticals, med tech, private healthcare financing and health services.

THE CATALYST FOR THE BEST TALENT IN MEDICAL SCIENCES As a private higher education institution (HEI) specialising in medical sciences and research, Perdana University is well positioned to contribute towards these key economic areas. I firmly believe that Perdana University and its collaboration with renowned names such the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Royal College of Surgeons would enable the university to become the institution for students to seek the very best in education in the field of medical science in the region.

However, I also believe that Perdana University should not limit its aspirations to this end only, as they are in a position

to do more. The planned research activities of the two medical schools, especially Johns Hopkins, with its faculty of renowned researchers from JHUSOM, being physically present in Malaysia, would give a big boost to the research aspirations of the nation. This will help Malaysia to become a major and significant player in research regionally and hopefully worldwide. It will definitely increase the pool of talent locally which will eventually benefit the nation.

As an educational institution, Perdana University is playing its role towards championing the Malaysian brand for higher education at the regional level.

In another perspective, it is also mandated to develop a publicprivate partnership in higher education, especially within the context of medicine and medical sciences. Being associated with internationally renowned names gives the University the extra leverage of being involved in

I hope that Perdana University will continue to leverage its reputation to attract the best minds in scientific research to our country, and also to attract international funding and the latest research and knowledge development to be centred in Malaysia. This would not only contribute towards the advancement of our higher education system through ‘brain gain’ and increase in local knowledge capacity, but also contribute directly towards the strengthening and development of the nation’s knowledge and R&D framework, especially in specialised fields such as Tropical Diseases and traditional herbal-based drug discoveries or using rainforest species for derivation and synthesis of medicinal compounds, which is becoming a mainstream process, not to mention huge potential in a country such as Malaysia.

As mentioned in my New Year Address earlier this year, with its main message, Think Global, Act Local, we need to constantly explore and venture into the country’s rich amount of natural resources and to develop new local technologies,

as well as to uplift and strengthen the administration and implementation system of private HEIs in the country, and this is where I think Perdana University is heading towards.

Syabas on your bold move.

On that positive note, allow me to once again thank the organisers of today’s event for inviting me to witness this significant signing ceremony.

I would like to congratulate Tan Sri Datuk Dr Mohan Swami for the vision and foresight on embarking on this noble venture. My heartiest congratulations to Prof Dr Pratap Singhasivanon of Mahidol University as well for making this niche healthcare area a resounding success. I hope this collaboration will lead to a closer and cordial intellectual exchange between Perdana University and Mahidol University.

I believe that Perdana University aspires to put Malaysia on the map of the world’s top research universities that offer opportunities to both local and international aspiring scientists and clinicians to make meaningful contributions to the world’s populace. Today’s signing marks the first step for this institution to realise its potential and contribute positively nationally and at international level and I wish the collaboration between the two universities the very best.

Thank you.

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MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Main Feature

Ir. Professor Dato’ Dr Academician

Chuah Hean Teik

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Exclusive Interview with the President of UTAR

r. Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik graduated with a BEng (First Class Honours), MEngSc and PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Malaya, Malaysia. He was also a Fulbright Scholar at the Wave Scattering Research Centre, University of Texas at Arlington, USA and a Senior Professor at the Multimedia University, during which he held various posts as Vice President (R&D and Academic Development), Dean of Engineering, and Director of Research.

From June 2001 to January 2008, he also assumed the duty of the Penang State Government Professor of ICT in MMU and has been the President of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in Malaysia since April 2008.

Dr Chuah has received many awards, locally and internationally, including the 1990 Young Scientist Award at the 23rd General Assembly of the International Union of Radio Science (URSI) in Prague, Czechoslovakia, the 1993 Young Scientist Award at the 24th General Assembly of URSI in Kyoto, Japan, the 1999 Malaysian Toray Science Foundation Science and Technology Award for his contributions in the area of microwave remote sensing and the 2002 Sterling Award from the Sterling Group of Universities (research-

based universities in UK with engineering faculties) for his services to promotion of engineering profession.

Q1. Why study engineering?

Engineering is a very versatile discipline, in the sense that our basic training for engineering is to train students to have analytical minds, to be able to think logically based on basic fundamental principles of nature. We’re not dealing with man-made law, but the laws of nature.

As such, engineering is a good discipline because of logical thinking. With an engineering degree, you can pursue a career in the insurance or financial sector, not just engineering.

In a typical engineer’s career, the first

few years are very technical, but as you grow more and more senior, you will end up managing resources, such as human resources, actual natural resources, material and so on.

Q2. Is research and development or a focus on technical service skills more important in engineering? To put it another way, is learning theories more important than learning practical skills?

Both are important – we are not training technicians. When you train engineers, you must train them to have a grasp of certain fundamental principles. Basics don’t change.

For example, when I was a student, we were trained to write programmes using FORTRAN (Formula Translation), but

I want to stress that engineers must not only be technically competent but also be able to make good judgme nts and responsible decisions. Because we deal with many things, we have ma ny different solutions to a problem.

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies

Ir. Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik PRESIDENT OF UTAR

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now even though FORTRAN is still around, people go into object-oriented programming. But that does not mean those engineers trained in FORTRAN cannot write programmes using object-orientated programme tools. We learn basic data structure and algorithm that enable us to go into other programming languages.

We also have management subjects in Engineering, not just technical subjects. There is contract law that is useful for civil engineers and electrical engineers. We also have accounting subjects.

Q3. What are some qualities of a good engineer?

I want to stress that engineers must not only be technically competent but also be able to make good judgments and responsible decisions. Because we deal with many things, we have many different solutions to a problem. How do we choose solutions? First we must see whether the solutions can be achieved technically. Then we look at cost-effectiveness of the solution.

Negotiation skills are also important as engineers often have to negotiate the right solution, to be able to convince people to implement the right solution.

Q4. What is the typical career path of an engineer? (For example, an electrical engineer).

Very versatile. When I first graduated from UM in 1986, my friends were facing problems getting jobs because of recession.

They went into the insurance line, in teaching, etc. but when economy picked up, they became civil engineers again.

Whether you choose an SME or MNC to start your career path, there are pros and cons of doing so. If you choose an MNC, they are departmentalised and specific in their job functions. Maybe your starting pay is higher in an MNC. Whereas in an SME, you do everything from A to Z, you learn everything about the trade, then later you can set up your own company. Experience in an SME is useful if you want to become your own boss. I would encourage people to start their own businesses.

For engineers, they must register with the Board after graduation. After registration, they must aspire to become professional engineers. They should also join the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) where we have the Code of Ethics training programmes and other professional development programmes.

Q5. Transitioning from a purely technical discipline to a more senior managerial position will require a different set of

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Main Feature

Dato Sri Najib (second row, centre ) with Prof Chuah on his left and graduates taking a photo at the 13th convocation on 9 September 2011 at Dewan San Choon, Kuala Lumpur

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skills. How should the engineer adapt?

When you want to become a senior engineer, you can do an MBA, Master of Engineering by research, etc. It is useful if you are moving into management. It is about human networking, and communication skills.

Q6. “Engineers are highly skilled problem solvers. But intelligence and academic degrees are not evidence of creativity.” In another words, engineers are not creative. What is your opinion on this?

Engineers are creative and innovative.

We are supposed to design things. Like a handphone, for example. Engineers are always looking for a better solution, therefore you have to look at new material, whether it is more cost effective (it could be a perfect design but it costs a lot more). Is there a better way of doing things? Do we reuse, recycle and reduce and refuse the old technology?

Many engineers unfortunately choose to be in the back room and do not take credit for the things they do. For example, if there is a great building,

people tend to talk about architectural design but not engineering behind it.

Q7. What do you see as the role of the professional engineering bodies like the IEM in Malaysia? Is it important for engineering to be a part of it?

It is a professional body which is meant to be the voice of engineers in Malaysia.

It is important that we are a part of it so that we can raise our concerns. And IEM has a lot of training courses, many mentor schemes. PDP – professional development programme, CDP - continual development programmes, technical visits, etc.

Through this body, we network with similar bodies overseas. For example, IEM signed an agreement with Engineers Australia so we mutually recognise each others’ qualifications. Professional networking is not only for our young “I am not a fortune teller but I think there will be demand for transport engineers, civil engineers and new areas of electrical engineering such as nanotechnology, control systems for fast trains, for example.”

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was the 50th anniversary of the IEM. The IEM is a very open institution – members are bosses of their own companies.

They are all volunteers. We practise diplomacy – to manage the meeting as President, you don’t do it as the boss. Over there, they are all bosses. How to manage them so they don’t quarrel with each other? You are the binding force. You cannot take sides. You have to be a good facilitator. My proud achievement is that the EXCO meetings have never gone beyond 8pm. The Council Meeting also have not gone beyond 7:30pm. I would start at 5.00pm and finish by 6:30pm.

Q13. How many engineers are there in Malaysia today? Will Malaysia be short of engineers in 2020? Why?

engineers but also for the senior engineers.

IEM has come out with position papers, e.g. on scaffolding, landslides, transport issue, etc. We have our recommendation paper on LYNAS, for example. We do these papers on our own, we are not commissioned to do so. When we feel it is of public interest, and we need to voice our opinions, we do so.

Q8. How receptive is the government to position papers?

The government is receptive to the position papers but there are still some we have to push through. However, engineers never give up.

Q9. Who suggests these papers?

They are suggested by members, the Council of the IEM and technical divisions.

Q10. Should new engineers learn professional ethics in universities or on the job?

We have a course called Engineers in Society, where we teach the Code of Ethics, the history and development of engineers and our role in society.

Q11. How do you enforce the Code of Ethics?

If there is a complaint, there will be an investigation. If you do terrible things, we can strike you off the Board. You are peerreviewed.

Q12. What did you find most challenging leading IEM? I stepped down in April 2011 but when I took over as President, it

I can only give you official figures. As at November 2011, there are 10,704 registered engineers and 60,130 graduate engineers.

We will certainly be short of engineers in 2020 because many engineers end up moving into other disciplines, and there are more and more engineering opportunities. We should train as many as possible, especially with NKEA projects. I estimate we will require 200,000 engineers by the year 2020. Engineers can also become researchers, scientists, teachers of science, etc.

Q14. Which fields of engineering will be most in demand in Malaysia in the next five years? What is the average income level for these fields?

I am not a fortune teller but I think there will be demand for transport engineers, civil engineers and new areas of electrical engineering such as nanotechnology, control systems for fast trains, for example. Others are electronics engineers, environmental engineers, system engineers, project management people with engineering backgrounds, mechatronics, material engineering, and chemical engineering.

According to a survey by IEM, the starting salary for an engineer is RM2,000 to RM3,000 per month. Very good engineers can earn up to RM10,000 – RM50,000 per month.

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Q15. MIT president, Charles Vest, once said that engineering students should learn more from team projects and also learn communication skills. Are engineers generally lacking in effective interactions and communication skills?

by Research. If you want to just enhance your knowledge, you can do courseworkbased degrees or coursework plus a simple project. You can also do a pure research degree. If you want to be a manager, go for an MBA.

No, I don’t think so. It’s just that because of our training, people think we’re square but we’re not. For example, in China so many of their premiers and top officials are engineers. I believe that engineers must learn how to present and learn how to communicate.

Q17. What is your advice to postgraduate students in engineering entering the job market?

Q16. What is your advice to students considering postgraduate studies in engineering?

They must first know what they want in life. If they want to do R&D, go for Master

Whether it is undergraduate or postgraduate, you have to really know and think for yourself – whether you want to work in MNC or SME, you can only work near your hometown, etc. It’s up to you.

You have to know what you want.

Q18. What’s the role of UTAR in the whole scheme of training and equipping future engineers to meet the demand?

“Our strategy is to keep updating our electives.

Electives change following the forecast of the technology in the next few years so we make sure that the graduates can be absorbed into the market.”

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Our strategy is to keep updating our electives. Electives change following the forecast of the technology in the next few years so we ensure that the graduates can be absorbed into the market. All our Engineering students must attend supporting subjects like Mathematics, Engineers in Society, law, management and accounting, Sun Tzu’s art of war etc. We also have a UTAR Soft Skills Development Certificate system. This certificate is not compulsory because if you force young people to attend, they will resist. They are highly encouraged instead and students who are interested will register for it. It is a very structured kind of certificate – you spend four years with UTAR after ‘A’ Levels and collect sufficient points to graduate with the certificate, in addition to your

academic degree scroll.

Under Soft Skills training, we have several important areas where we train them – these important areas include communication and language skills, presentation skills, thinking skills, problem-solving skills. We also teach them leadership and team-building skills, emotional intelligence, entrepreneurial and innovative skills and other life skills.

Q19. Could you tell us a little about UTAR’s 10th year anniversary celebrations in relation to the Engineering Department?

The torch used to launch the year-long 10th anniversary celebrations was actually designed by the engineering staff of UTAR. It was designed using bamboo and

we actually used green technology. There are various other programmes such as the 31st Progress in Electromagnetics Research Symposium in March 2012.

It was the first time we bid to host this symposium and we succeeded in bringing it to Malaysia. So far, 500 people overseas have registered and paid. By March, it will be 800 pople.

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Postgraduate Programmes at UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN

Postgraduate Programmes at UTAR In today’s fast changing world, information and knowledge is being updated practically every second. To always keep abreast with the latest developments, we have to acquire knowledge continuously and endlessly, in other words, we have to embrace lifelong learning. In such an intensely competitive global environment, professionals have to pursue continuous professional development to constantly update and upgrade their knowledge and skills to sustain their competitiveness over not only the local peers but also those from the rest of the world.

An effective way for working professionals to update and upgrade their knowledge and skills is by pursuing further study.

In view of the need by the working professionals Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), through its Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research, is offering 11 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and 24 Master’s programmes. The postgraduate programmes include the fields of Applied Accounting, Building Management, Business Administration, Chinese Studies, Communication, Computer Science, Corporate Governance, Engineering, Finance, Green Technology, Information and Communication Technology, Information Systems, Management, Mathematical Sciences, Medical Sciences, Project Management, Science, and Social Science. While PhD programmes are all offered under Structure A (by research),

Master’s programmes are offered under three structures: Structure A (by research), Structure B (by research and coursework) and Structure C (by coursework and project).

UTAR postgraduate programmes are designed and delivered to provide the most up-to-date technical knowledge and skills to enhance the professional competency of the postgraduate students, so that they gain competitive advantage over others in the job market. All the programmes in UTAR are delivered in an environment highly conducive for learning.

Among the many reasons you should pursue your postgraduate studies in UTAR are: • UTAR employs only experienced, qualified, high-calibre academics to deliver all their programmes including postgraduate ones.

• UTAR postgraduate programmes have comprehensive syllabi comprising all relevant subjects which are covered with sufficient breadth and depth.

• Besides theoretical knowledge, UTAR postgraduate students also acquire the hands-on practical skills of solving complex problems with the application of science and technology.

• The postgraduate students’ practical skills are further enhanced through their

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UTAR postgraduate programmes aim to provide personal enrichment to students and to enhance their employment opportunities

involvement in real-life consultancy work provided by UTAR to its extensive network of clients.

• Learning by the postgraduate students is readily internalised through a series of well-structured intensive lectures and training sessions.

For postgraduate students pursuing Structure A and Structure B programmes, research work is compulsory. UTAR has established 24 research centres with numerous research areas you can choose work on. In fact, UTAR has made headways in the research, development and commercialisation on diverse areas of contemporary and emerging importance.

These areas include stem cells, cancer, traditional Chinese medicine, building construction, waste water treatment, environmental health, mobile and satellite communications, solar and renewable energy, IT security, internet TV, cloud computing, multimedia education, computer vision, social capital, globalisation, agriculture and Chinese studies, and many more.

For more information on UTAR postgraduate programmes, we invite you to visit us during UTAR Postgraduate and Professional Development Day on Saturday, 10 March 2012, 9.30am to 4.30pm. For enquiry call Justin or Nigell on 03-7625 0328.

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Feature

Postgraduate students are assured of the acquisition of advanced knowledge, competencies and expertise

UTAR is experiencing significant growth in research capacity and research grants have increased rapidly

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MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Announcement

Official Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the New University Building at Sunway Campus by Yang Berhormat Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Minister of Higher Education, Malaysia ON 20 JANUARY 2012

SPEECH BY TAN SRI DATO’ SERI DR JEFFREY CHEAH, AO, FOUNDER AND CHANCELLOR, SUNWAY UNIVERSITY AND TRUSTEE OF JEFFREY CHEAH FOUNDATION Yang Berhormat Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Minister of Higher Education, Malaysia, Fellow Members of the Board of Trustees, Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, Board of Directors, Sunway University, Vice-Chancellor, Management, Staff and Students, Members of the Media, Distinguished Guests, Ladies & Gentlemen A very good morning and thank you all for being here this morning to celebrate this Ground Breaking Ceremony in Sunway University’s continuing growth.

I would like to extend our warm welcome and special thanks to Yang Berhormat Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin for taking time out from his busy schedule to grace today’s ground-breaking ceremony for our new university building. Thank you, Yang Berhormat, it is truly an honour to have you here with us today.

When Sunway College was officially opened by the late Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alhaj ibni Almarhum Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah in 1987, it was my dream that it would one day become one of Malaysia’s most prestigious educational institutions playing a meaningful and major role in shaping the future of our nation, in support of Government Education policies

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Minister of Higher Education, Malaysia and Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah, AO, founder and chancellor of Sunway University and Trustee of the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation

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Announcement

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah, AO, giving the official speech at the ground-breaking ceremony for the new University Building at Sunway Campus.

Diplomas in Hotel Management, Events Management and Culinary Arts.

In our relentless pursuit of excellence in education, especially in the areas of teaching and learning, it was indeed gratifying whenSunway University College (as it was then) achieved the elite Tier 5 EXCELLENT rating in the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) Rating System for Institutions of Higher Learning (SETARA) for 2009. It placed Sunway University on par with the best universities in Malaysia and also on par with branch campuses of leading foreign universities in Malaysia.

In a short span of time, we have grown steadily striving to provide the best education to all youths who come to Sun-U. After achieving University College status in 2004, we have nurtured five cohorts of about 2,500 graduates from across a wide range of programmes and fields of study.

These include business and management, accounting and finance, multimedia and computing, psychology, hospitality, art and design and the performing arts.

As we grow, we have also actively sought to

establish partnerships with other prestigious foreign universities and institutions to further broaden and deepen the type of education we offer. For example, in 2004 Sunway was appointed as the approved training partner for the ICAEW ACA programme in the Asia -Pacific Region. In 2006, we made the decision to partner Lancaster University, a Top 10 UK university to validate and benchmark our degree programmes. Then in 2010 we partnered the world renowned Le Cordon Bleu to validate Sunway University

Further testament to our success and contributions to the nation includes three consecutive MATRADE Industry Excellence awards. These are the Export Excellence Award for Services in 2001 & 2005 and the Export Excellence Award (Services) Category II in 2009, from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. We also achieved the Human Resources Development Award 2010 for Large Employer Category (Services Sector) from the Ministry of Human Resources and the Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Gold Award in the Malaysian Private University Category for 2011, which further affirms our high standards.

As a crowning recognition to all our achievements, we were upgraded by the Ministry of Higher Education to a University in 2011. Thank you, Yang Berhormat, for this major recognition, which reflects the Government’s confidence in our quality.

Ladies and Gentlemen

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MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Announcement

Many of you are aware that, in order to crystallise my personal vision for education at Sunway, all the shares previously held under the Sunway Education Trust have been transferred to the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation. The Foundation is not-for-profit entity, so as to ensure that its assets, funds and operating surpluses are used to perpetuate the cause of bringing quality education to future generations of bright and deserving Malaysian students. That was in 2010. The Foundation was officially launched by YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia in the presence of the Foundation’s Royal Patron HRH the Sultan of Selangor. The Foundation allows deserving students an opportunity to attend Sunway University, Sunway College and Monash University Sunway Campus, as well as other local and international Ivy League universities, through the educational scholarships offered each year. To date, I am happy to say that the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation has awarded over 80 million Ringgit in scholarships to a total of more than 11,000 students since 1997.

Today marks a new chapter in Sunway University’s annals as we embark on the next phase in the expansion plans. With the ground breaking for the construction of the new Sunway University Building, we are concretising our plans for a modern and stateof-the-art 12-storey building. This will provide 880,000 square feet of space that can accommodate 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students. When completed, in 2014, the building will have the most up-to-date and well-equipped library, lecture theatres, labs and even a cafe as well as escalators to the main auditorium.

There will be two levels of basement car park providing 1,100 parking bays and a football field on top of car park. An underground walkway will link it to Monash University across the road. This project will involve an investment of RM350 million.

We are working with the Building and Construction Association of Singapore (BCA) to achieve Green Building Index certification, as the environmentally-friendly design of the building will have energy and water-saving features as well as natural lighting and ventilation systems, to promote a more sustainable and green environment.

I believe that there is still a lot more that we can achieve, going forward; but I am proud of what we have already accomplished since we started this journey 25 years ago.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Minister of Higher Education, my staff and colleagues in Sunway for making all these possible.

With the continued support from the Ministry of Higher Education and the Government, we will continue to contribute to Malaysia’s growth and nurture our students to be good Malaysian and global citizens. There will be young people who will contribute back to

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin performing the official ground-breaking with Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah witnessing

society with their talents and skills.

Once again, I would like to thank Yang Berhormat for being here today to share this historical occasion with all of us. We will always cherish this occasion in the history of Sunway University.

TERIMA KASIH.

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies

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Interview

Why a Master of Business Administration in Building Management?

Susan Peters Head of MBA UTAR

B

uilding managers operate in complex environments and their roles vary from handling day-to-day operations to being actively involved in long-term strategic leadership. Building managers are challenged to balance the needs of owners, tenants, contractors and government entities. Successful building managers must be astute in a variety of skills sets, that include strategising policies involving development, risk, finance, marketing, human resources and technology.

UTAR’s MBA (Building Management) programme has been developed specifically to produce candidates with this skill set, knowledge and understanding. It provides

building managers with exposure and knowledge of the various dimensions of their job that require specialised understanding, such as risk management and insurance, management for building managers, property investment appraisal, marketing management, strategic human resource management and real estate and tenancy law within which they must function.

This programme was designed after a series of active engagement with industry experts from the Building Management Association of Malaysia (BMAM) with the sole aim of producing Registered Building Managers.

Why focus on building management? Why is there

a need to offer a specialised programme in building management?

The development of real estate and property management in Malaysia has grown by leaps and bounds over the last 10 years or so. Many residential units, commercial buildings, offices and complexes continue to be constructed. As such, the industry requires many manpower to manage the existing and future buildings.

The extent to which this demand can be adequately met will help ensure the sustainable growth of the building management industry in general and the quality of building management in particular.

What is the additional coursework covered in this programme?

Apart from the general MBA subjects such as Economics, Organisational Behaviour, Marketing and Strategic Management that are part of the core subjects structure, students are also required to do Building Technology, Property Valuation, Property Investment Appraisal, Facilities Management, Real Estate and Tenancy Law, Management for Building Managers, Building Maintenance, Safety and Security and Risk Management and Insurance. As for the electives, students have a choice of Strategic Human Resource Management, Business Consulting Skills, Entrepreneurship or Taxation for Property Sectors.

Further, through Real Consultancy Projects, students are exposed to reallife consulting projects that enable them to experience first-hand a typical day on the job, giving them a realistic idea or view of the demands, challenges and difficulties that are ever present in the job as well as in the industry and to better equip them to face the challenges ahead. Plans are also currently underway to introduce International Business Consulting, a subject wherein the students apply the skills acquired in analysing the demands, challenges as well as business opportunities in an international arena.

What is unique about

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MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Interview

the UTAR’s MBA (Building Management) compared to other similar programmes?

The UTAR Master of Business Administration (Building Management) was designed after a series of active engagements with industry experts from Building Management Association of Malaysia (BMAM) with the sole intention of producing Registered Building Managers.

As such, this programme is one of a select few MBA programmes that understands and addresses the complex environment that building managers operate in. A building manager’s role varies from handling day-to-day operations to being actively involved in long-term strategic leadership and in the process are challenged to balance the needs of owners, tenants, contractors and government entities.

Therefore, this programme is designed specifically to produce candidates who are astute in a variety of skill sets, including strategic policies involving development, risk, finance, marketing, human resources and technology. This programme aims to fill this professional gap by providing building managers with exposure to and knowledge of the various dimensions of their job that require specialised understanding, such as risk management and insurance, management for building managers, property investment appraisal, marketing management, strategic human resource management and real

estate and tenancy law within which they must function.

So while most of the courses that are now being offered in the market focus on the technical aspects of building management, UTAR’s MBA (Building Management) focuses on providing knowledge in the management of buildings, properties, shopping complexes as well as condominiums.

Do students have to work on any research projects in building management?

Yes, as part of UTAR’s MBA (Building Management) programme, students are required to design and enact an individual research project at Master’s level and present it in the form of a research project report. Students will be required to do a research project, for instance in management or marketing but with a focus on building management.

The project forms part of the overall study leading to the award of Master of Business Administration (Building Management).

Is the programme accredited?

This programme has been approved by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). As for accreditation, a programme is accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) just before the first batch of students graduate. We are launching this programme in May 2012 and as such, we still have a couple more years before our programme gets accredited by the MQA. Given our track

record over the past 10 years, this should not be a problem.

Who should pursue this programme?

This programme is ideal for those who are already in the profession and would like to upgrade themselves or anyone who is interested to join this profession where opportunities for growth and development are limitless.

When is the next intake?

Generally we have three intakes in a year for all of our MBA programmes – January, May and October. Currently we are accepting applications for our May intake which starts on 28 May 2012.

Susan Peters is a lecturer at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Management from Missouri State University.

After obtaining her degree, she worked for an accounting firm in Chicago for a year and later moved to Australia where she was based for another three years working both in the private and public sectors.

She returned to Malaysia in October 2004 and began her career as a lecturer in UTAR. Currently she is the Head of the MBA/MBA (Corporate Governance)/Master of Commerce (Applied Accounting and MBA (Building Management) at UTAR.

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Announcement

MAPCU Higher Education Fair 2012 MBA Edge & Postgraduate Studies Magazine (14-15 Jan 2012)

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MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Conference

Dialogue Session on

Branding Conference Reporting

Date: Friday, 17/02/2012

•

Mr Lok Eng Hock, Managing Director of Eu Yan Sang

of brand strength, weakness, opportunity for new market and expansion, as well as competitive threats to analyse the competitor’s activities for evaluating chances of acceptance and preference by the target audiences is necessary, so that any brand benefits offered or value proposition can be precisely aligned to the needs and expectations of the target audiences. This is so that the brand can be better, if not the best, and eventually become irreplaceable.

•

Mr Eric Chong, Founder of Erican

Types of Brand Value Proposition:

•

Mr Michael Lai, CEO of P1 Communications

•

•

Ms Lenny Chiah, General Manager for Corporate Communications Event Management, Sin Chew Daily

Venue: Mandarin Court, Kuala Lumpur Platform: One of the Branding sessions Moderator: Mr KK Lai, Chief Trainer for Brand DNA Strategies Dialogue speakers:

The Dialogue touched on the branding strategy process which includes vision, mission, brand values and notably good brand positioning guidelines. Notable area guidelines covered included: Target Audiences and SWOT Analysis Whether by demographic or psychographic profiles, thorough research must first be conducted and accurate data collected for analysis to determine the target audiences. In addition, SWOT analysis

Functional proposition:

It is about solving problems and providing benefits to target customers. Some examples include Eu Yan Sang’s health and better lifestyle proposition, Erican’s enhanced self-confidence and career/business advancement with better spoken and written English language and P1 network’s speedy and wider WiMax to improve communication.

•

Symbolic proposition:

This is for the enhancement of self-image with social meaningfulness, related belongingness and association with the proposition. For instance, both Yao Ming and Jeremy Lin symbolise the NBA dream and spirit of the Chinese. The Chinese

spirit is that of being humble, undaunted in pursuing one’s dream. Both NBA stars have had their fair share of ethnic bias, jeers and humiliation in the early years of their NBA careers.

So many names have been coined for Jeremy Lin, like Linmania, Lincredible, Linvincible, Linmighty and so on. It is hard to imagine that Lin was once jeered at and called “Wanton Soup”, “Sweet and Sour Pork”, and worst of all, “Chink”, and was even shouted at and asked to “Open your eyes” and “Go

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies

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Conference

FROM LEFT: MR KK LAI, MR LOK ENG HOCK, MR ERIC CHONG, MR MICHAEL LAI, MS LENNY CHIAH

back to China”. Today, with remarkable performances and seven straight wins, Lin is now branded differently. Even ESPN had to apologise for referring to Lin as the ‘Chink in the Armor” on 17 February 2012 due to the public’s strong reaction against the offensive name. Luckily for both Yao Ming and Lin, the majority of people see them as great players without any issues of race.

However, US, Taiwan and China are all now fighting to claim Lin as American, Taiwanese and Chinese. One thing is for

sure, Lin is truly an American Chinese and like Yao Ming, he has also changed the impression of Asian NBA players.

Lin’s target audiences also include powerful people like Barack Obama, President Ma Ying-jeou, and even Xi Jinping, the designated future leader of China, who recently said that he enjoys watching NBA games in his spare time. In addition, hundreds of big stars and artistes also admire him.

It is easy to understand their craze. For

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MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Conference

someone like me who has no interest in basketball, I still follow news about Lin and the NBA. I believe there are thousands like me who is proud of another Asian person’s achievements. As a mother, I truly hope my children will be similarly inspired to face the challenges in their lives.

•

Experience proposition:

That is related to cognitive and sensory relations. For both Yao Ming and Lin, their great performances and their clean-cut, modest images of “the boys next door” on TV and their inspiring success stories which took many painful years with lots of faith and perseverance against all odds, have won hearts and minds of millions of people all over the world. A brand that captures its target audience’s hearts and minds will gain an advantage over its competitors.

Brand Differentiation and Blue Ocean Strategy Be branded and not blanded. Steve Job’s ad slogan is: Think Different. A brand cannot be made different simply for the sake of being different. According to Mr Lok Eng Hock, Managing Director of Eu Yan Sang, they have been carrying out flagship campaigns with the themes of ‘Gratitude to Parents’, ‘Gratitude to Teachers’ consistently over the years. The campaigns are continually reinforced by benevolent and charitable acts, advertising and promotional activities, word of mouth by their loyal customers, business partners, employees and other stakeholders, thus contributing to strong emotional bonds with their target audience who readily commit to Eu Yan Sang’s advocacy of ‘Gratitude’. Eu Yan Sang has a compelling story of 130 years until today with its core values of benevolence and humanity.

As the ‘Gratitude’ campaigns are relevant, inspirational and totally different from the old traditional ways of promoting Chinese medicinal and health products and coupled

Ms Lenny Chiah, General Manager for Corporate Communications & Event Management, Sin Chew Daily

with the facelift of the traditional façade as well as the interior set-up of their retails shops, a new breed of young adults with the ‘Gratitude’ attitude have become their new customers and have thus contributed to the increasing market share for Eu Yan Sang. And while increasing this new market segment share, the older generation remain faithful advocates of the ‘Gratitude’ values.

Differentiation also means what the competitors can’t offer or can’t offer better than you, or completely can’t do or copy.

For this, Eric Chong, the Founder of Erican Language Centre, quoted Air Asia with its “Lowest Fare” strategy and its inspirational slogan of “Now Every One Can Fly”. The Airline has lived up to its promise of “Lowest fare” and has gained the trust and undivided support of its target audience.

As such, the Airline’s greatest asset is its brand equity.

The dialogue ended with the advice that prospective and existing customers must be precisely defined, so that all benefits offered can be aligned to the values of the target audiences. The benefits should be different from that which is offered by competitors, but they must also be very relevant to the functional, symbolic and cognitive needs of the target audiences, thus helping to

solve their problems with different needs.

By doing so, the brand creates a long-term bond with the target audiences, which will help the business to grow from strength to strength.

Lastly, to quote Morris Chang, CEO of TSMC: “Without strategy, execution is aimless. Without execution, strategy is useless.”

Therefore, an ever-winning Brand is equal to an effective brand strategy plus superb execution!

Compiled and modified by: Lenny Chiah, Corporate Communications Event Management General Manager, Sin Chew Daily

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies

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MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Interview

“Now Everyone Can Have Good Skin” Exclusive Interview With

Professor Datin Dr Clara Chee

P

rof. Dr. Clara L. Chee is a wellknown personality in the beauty industry which she entered as a beauty therapist with a Degree in Science (Chemistry). She started her own beauty business in Petaling Jaya, Selangor in 1977. Her consummate interest in beauty led her to acquire further knowledge and she enrolled in the University of De Montfort UK (formerly known as Leicester Polytechnic) to do research studies in Medicinal and Cosmetic Products Technology.

Together with her accountant husband, Woo Ser Chai (also the CEO of Clara group of companies), she has built a company from humble beginnings to becoming the largest group of beauty companies in Southeast Asia.

How did you start Clara International?

I started my own beauty business in SS2, Petaling Jaya, Selangor in 1977. At that time, we didn’t have enough capital, so my husband and I convinced a bank manager to secure a CGC (Credit Guarantee Loan) of RM20,000. As the pioneer in

the beauty industry, I managed to attract clients from as far as Johor Bahru and Singapore, as there was a lack of services or understanding of how to treat problematic skin in those days.

My customers came from all age groups.

I realised I needed to have further improvement on my methods and advancement in case studies and scientific evidence to support the methods of treatment. So I enrolled in the University of De Montfort UK (formerly known as Leicester Polytechnic) to do research studies in Medicinal and Cosmetic Products Technology. In 1979, I set up a beauty academy, realising that more qualified aestheticians were needed for the expansion of my business. My business has mushroomed over the years and I have diversified my path into skincare manufacturing plants, R&D Facilities, beauty equipment distributionship and franchising.

Why did you choose the beauty industry?

My parents are my greatest inspiration.

My father opened a textile and sundry

Clara skincare is synergistically formulated with only the finest herbal ingredients using the latest innovative technology to enhance skin penetration and efficacy. shop, and when I was young I observed particularly how he mixed ingredients to make hair wax. He was vain, which was rare in his era, and the most handsome man in the village. And he was successful with his business. I was in awe at how detailed and meticulous he was with beauty related products and this inspired me to think about the possibilities out there. I had a lot of encouragement from my mother as well. She would say, “Don’t be a homemaker like me. Look at your successful cousins and be professionals like them”. I haven’t looked back since.

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies

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Interview

Why are Clara’s products unique?

My greatest pride is in my Clara skincare products. Western creams and remedies in those days did little to treat Asian skin.

I have spent the last 35 years on R&D in formulation adjustment and advancement of nanotechnology catering mainly for the tropical and humid climate. We were the first in the world to produce herbal skincare specifically for Asian skin. With my involvement in Chinese herbal studies and other medicinal areas, I incorporate all my herbal knowledge into the skincare products. All our products are free from alcohol and animal by-products or derivatives.

Clara skincare is synergistically formulated with only the finest herbal ingredients using the latest innovative technology to enhance skin penetration and efficacy. Each

product is specially formulated to treat different skin conditions effectively.

We use natural herbal and botanical extracts in an environmentally friendly process to manufacture our products with a lot of R&D in our GMP and ISO certified manufacturing plants. Our products are certified halal by the relevant authorities.

We were recently certified as a Bionexus Status company from Biotechcorp for our involvement in Biotechnology research and a new development of products.

rays, dietary, nutrition, genetic factors and our lifestyle affect our skin conditions. A simple example of our skin condition is explained below: For Cold Temperate Climate •

Caucasian skin types

•

Adapt to cold, dry winds

•

Skin extra thick & dry (Tight follicles)

•

Dryness, wrinkles, fast ageing

•

Too little sun. Need more exposure to sun for tanning effect and protection with thick clothing

How is Asian skin different?

It is essential to recognise physical conditions of temperate skin. We live in a tropical region that has mainly a DryCold, Dry-Hot, Humid-Hot climate. We cannot use skincare products that have been produced for a different climate. UV

For Tropical Hot Climate •

Asian skin types

•

Adapt to humid and hot environment

•

Skin has open follicles due to

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MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Interview

humidity •

Oily, congested with blackheads and open pores

•

Too much sun. Need less sun exposure to cool down the skin temperature

What are some of the harmful ingredients in beauty products to avoid?

Some of the banned ingredients that are harmful on your skin that have bleaching creams containing caustic components are: •

Retin A Acid

•

Oxybenzone

•

Caustic Soda

•

Benzoic Acid

•

Polytetrafluoroethylene

•

Hydroquinone

•

Mercury, Lead

•

Kojic acid

•

Sibutramine

•

Tretinoin

•

Antihistamine

What about plastic surgery and other intrusive techniques?

I am deeply concerned at the rate of the plastic surgeries or claims of quick fixes that is growing in this country.

Victims of botched beauty treatment have been reported regularly in the media. And there must be a public awareness of the danger and side effects of the treatment.

The treatment can be very invasive and life threatening.

I have personally lost a good friend who went for a rejuvenation treatment many years ago.

Other intrusive techniques that you hear frequently in the market are Botox, Placenta, Animal Cell Extract, Stem Cell Extract, Steroids, Hydrocortisone, Desamethesone, Collagen Injection, Vitamin C injections are hormone and foreign intervention into the dermis of your skin. The effect of a smooth, shiny and whitening effect on the skin is shown immediately but the process of ageing will begin sooner and it can also be hazardous to your health.

What were your greatest challenges during the start-up years?

My greatest challenges during my earlier days were the lack of resources or expertise to develop my R&D

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies

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Interview

manufacturing business. For example, it was very expensive and you needed to order in tonnes to purchase and source for raw materials and ingredients from other markets to develop your skincare range.

My constant travelling to meet the suppliers and visiting exhibitions opened up new pathways to share ideas, trade materials with the industry players to make our supplies more affordable and also to hold exhibitions booths within Asia as well. On a personal note, I missed spending more time with my own children as the first few years during the formation of the business were very hectic.

What are your greatest challenges now?

The greatest challenges definitely include putting Malaysia on the map in the area of beauty and wellness.

There has definitely been a huge leap from where I started in those days but we lack a regulatory body to govern the beauty industry to make the beauty procedures safer for consumers. There is still

a lot of improvement to be made and untapped potential here. I formed an Association called the Malaysian Beauty Therapy Association many years ago to gather aesthetician professionals to join and support the framework.

My other challenges definitely include looking into the sustainability of the business.

But I do have a very positive outlook on what we can achieve for the next stage. I definitely want to educate and transform the mindset of the public to see the aesthetic industry as a respectable profession. And I hope there can be more funding to improve our level of education in this field.

What are some of your greatest achievements?

My greatest achievement is definitely enjoying the success of our company that was built from scratch. I am honoured to have received so many awards throughout the years. My greatest sense of achievement came when I was conferred an Honorary PhD from the Pacific Western University,

USA in Cosmetic Science & Technology in recognition of my dedication to and achievements in the aesthetic profession, and awarded the Medaille du Merite (CIDESCO Professional Standard and Status Award), the world renowned asthetician body in Zurich, Switzerland.

My greatest joy is definitely my children, especially when they had enjoyed their professional careers elsewhere but then decided to join my company to help me build my company to greater success. My whole life is about education. Without it, it is impossible to win the hearts of others. Clara’s tagline is “the trusted name in beauty”. I hope it sums up what I have achieved in my work.

•

Lifetime Achievement Award: JCI Social Responsibility Award United Nations 2011

•

HuaShan Award (Guru Sword Award) China 2011

•

Lifetime Achievement Award: Social Responsibility Award, Biro Tatanegara Jabatan

Perdana Menteri 2012, coming up on 3rd March 2012 Having reached this level of achievement, what are your plans next?

I do plan to focus on our market growth overseas. I plan to invest more in our R&D division to develop more innovative products for our future expansion. I definitely embrace the globalised market and hope that in the near future we can stand strong as one of the international key players in the beauty industry.

What is your advice to young people entering the beauty industry, whether as beauticians or otherwise?

My only key words are passion, and never lose faith in yourself.

I started with nothing and there is no end to knowledge and education. With that in your heart, you will be able to find your true calling and make a success of it. Sharing is caring. Commit yourself 100% to everything you do and eventually you will see results.

32

Celebrating

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies

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MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies

35th Anniversary

“Now Everyone Can Have Good Skin” Clarifying Purifying Deep Skin Cleansing Prevent Lipidic Peroxidation Rehydrates Revitalise

First Cosmeceutical Grade Skin Care Products in Retail

Natural

Herbal

Cosmeceutical Grade

Halal

Pure

Coming Soon

Nano Technology

“For the past 35 years, my passion is for the whole world to use this special formulation (LD Clear Cream). This unique product is of a standard I believe no other products have achieved even until today.”

Professor Datin Dr Clara Chee, Founder of the Clara International Beauty Group

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies

35

Professionals with Postgraduate Masters

Koh

Siong Lee Name Koh Siong Lee

Brief description of job scope: Leading and supervising a team of mechanical and electrical engineers in discharging the responsibilities of an engineering consultant firm, which include system design, project management, supervision, and authority submissions for construction projects.

However, for my postgraduate study by research, I was required to venture into a new area no one had tried before. The research required me to develop new knowledge in the uncharted area. There was no standard solution or formula to refer to. Therefore, the result would appear to be unattainable at the beginning of the research as there was no beaten path to follow. I had to depend purely on determination and perseverance to find my way through the sea of information to complete my research. Through this experience, I gained the confidence to take up challenges no one else had tried before.

This positive attitude and confidence has transformed my life and opened up doors in my career that were not previously accessible to me. Of course, my research in renewable energy which is highly relevant in the industry today also helps.

What do you consider the best take away value from your postgraduate programme? Perseverance. Having been

What is your advice to prospective postgraduate students to prepare them for this programme? To persevere.

Email siongleek@gmail.com Name of postgraduate programme Master in Engineering (By Research)

Studied at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman

Year graduated 2010 Current occupation Associate in an Engineering Consulting Firm

trained to be an engineer, I have always been proud of my problem-solving skills.

I would be able to apply a pre-defined methodology or a proven formula to arrive at a solution for any problem at hand.

Unlike undergraduate study where one will be guided and taught on the subject matter, a postgraduate research student is expected to learn and excel in the chosen subject matter. Guidance from the supervisor

will be on the research methodology and research direction, but not on the subject matter itself. Therefore, one may feel lost and the results may seem unattainable at the beginning. One has to persevere and work hard to improve one’s knowledge in the chosen area until one masters the subject matter.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I don’t know. However, I do know that I want to keep on challenging myself in the new area. When I am working hard to overcome a challenge, my life will be transformed and improved to a new level beyond my imagination. This has been proven time and again. For this reason, I do not want to predict my progress in life and limit my own potential. By taking up new challenges and working hard to overcome them, I want my life to lead me to the new frontiers. By doing this, I am confident that I will be able to achieve a lot more in five years than what I dare to dream today.

What is your motto in life? Keep learning and keep applying what I have learnt

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MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Professionals with Postgraduate Degrees

Wong Lai Peng

Name Wong Lai Peng Email wonglp@utar.edu.my Name of postgraduate programme Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering)

University Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman

Year graduated Expected in

from your postgraduate programme? Technical paper writing skills learnt from a professional and good supervisor.

What is your advice to prospective postgraduate students to prepare them for this programme? Good

Teoh Shen Khang

Name Teoh Shen Khang Email johnwow86@gmail.com Name of postgraduate programme Master of Engineering Science

University UTAR Year graduated Expected in

time management.

2012

Current occupation Lecturer

Where do you see yourself in five years? Graduated from

Current occupation Tutor

Brief description of job scope I am currently a full-

this programme with a few high impact papers published.

year 2014

time lecturer teaching in the Department of Environmental Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman.

What do you consider the best take away value

What is your motto in life?

Work hard and work smart.

Brief description of job scope: Assist the lead lecturer with practicals and tutorials.

Establish good coordination with the lead lecturer to ensure that all practical and tutorial classes are conducted smoothly and effectively. Involved actively in postgraduate study and research.

What do you consider

the best take away value from your postgraduate programme? Allowing me to pursue a higher qualification – PhD – because I feel comfortable in academia.

What is your advice to prospective postgraduate students to prepare them for this programme? Prepare for fun, actually. There are many new things that can be explored in this programme.

But you need continuous hard work and a strong interest in your course. No sacrifice, no victory.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Being in academia with a PhD.

Q. What is your motto in life? Study hard, play hard.

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies

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Interview

March / June / Sep / Oct Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (By Research) KP/JPS(KA9781)7/14

Master in Civil Engineering (By Research) KP/JPS(KA7604)6/12

Master in Electronics Engineering (By Research) KP/JPS(KA9659)7/14

Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Hons) KP/JPS(KR9926)3/14

Bachelor of Electronics Engineering (Hons) KP/JPS(KA7544)2/12

Bachelor of Technology (Hons) in Applied Automotive KP/JPS(KA8381)1/13

Bachelor of Technology (Hons) in Construction Management KP/JPS(KA6035)2/14

Bachelor of Technology (Hons) in Water and Wastewater KP/JPS(KA9046)9/13

Diploma in Civil Engineering KP/JPS(KR9925)4/14

Diploma in Mechanical Engineering KP/JPS(KR5270)2/15

Diploma in Automotive Engineering KP/JPS(KR9331)8/13

Diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering KP/JPS(KR10870)11/19

Diploma in Electronics and Communication Engineering

KPT/JPS/DFT/US/B11

KP/JPS(KR11483)5/15

KP/JPS.IPTS(Dft/Aku)I

KUALA LUMPUR INFRASTRUCTURE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE IKRAM EDUCATION SDN BHD(402343-M) Corporate Block, Unipark Suria, Jalan Ikram-Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor DE, Malaysia.

Programme Counselling : (Local) +603-8926 6993 (International) +603-8738 3339 Fax: +603-8925 9846 E-mail: inquiry@kliuc.edu.my twitter.com/KLIUC_Education

facebook.com/KLIUC.Education

youtube.com/user/TheKLIUC

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MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Professionals with Postgraduate Degrees

Husain Jewad

Imran Bhaduri

Name Husain Jewad Imran Bhaduri (Imran)

Email imran_bhaduri@yahoo.com Occupation Corporate Banker University Lewis & Clark College, Portland Oregon, USA, and currently enrolled in the MBA Program offered by Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia (Malaysia campus)

Brief Job Description Working with HSBC Bank in Qatar, in particular, the Global Banking team. This team is responsible for looking after government and large global multinationals (some of which are Fortune 500 companies) widely covering their investment banking to personal banking needs. I am focused on the real estate and infrastructure investment and development companies and also petrochemical, steel, aluminum and other energy intensive industries.

Why made you want to study for an MBA? The interesting aspect of an MBA is that it is an evolving study designed to suit the current and foreseeable business environment. I see value in pursuing an MBA whether you are at the outset of your career or at a later point. The interdependency of global business makes it imperative that we keep up to date with the wider world and their business. I have come across people from varied backgrounds who have enriched different aspects of their lives – for each of them, the MBA was something different. I see it as an important tool to better understand and relate to the business world we operate in. The fresh perspective that we lack sometimes in our day-to-day work is somehow rejuvenated in a group-study environment. I see that it allows us to appreciate the commonalities in our businesses across different sectors, and help create the bridge and enforce better

communication.

What inspires you? A well-written thought, put together in a few lines, somehow stays and keeps on kindling the fire of inspiration. Stories of the great people in business, politics or any other field and their determination and success in overcoming obstacles. People who see the simplicity of it all despite the apparent complexity.

Favourite Quote This is a difficult one to narrow down as a quote is more relevant to the current context of affairs and therefore the significance of it changes. President Abraham Lincoln's letter to the Headmaster of his son's school resonates strongly: "Treat him gently; but do not cuddle him because only the test of fire makes fine steel."

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies

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40

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Professionals with Postgraduate Degrees

Lim Sheu

Ying Name Lim Sheu Ying Email limsheuying@yahoo.com

Occupation Senior Marketing & Sales Executive (Specialty Chemicals)

University Victoria University Brief Job description To ensure timely delivery of projects by acting as the account manager responsible for customer relationship management, product promotion, credit, forecasting, reporting activities, and technical service.

To grow the business by developing and implementing strategies from the business unit, including identification of target customers, product and price offering.

To ensure adequate support for business by coordinating with the global/regional industry manager and the marketing manager to develop marketing intelligence by researching and using industry contacts to identify new business opportunities and segments.

Why I study for the MBA? After working as a chemist for eight years, I came to a point where I wished to experience greater job satisfaction. I wanted to make a career switch from a technical role to a sales and marketing role. With limited sales experience and business acumen, I know I have to back up my goal with substance. The MBA is an ideal course for me to acquire the well-rounded knowledge applicable to the workplace.

In addition, I believe that the driven culture of a business school would serve as a good platform to boost my personal development. By fully engaging, both intellectually and socially, with lecturers and fellow students of various professions, the MBA experience has undoubtedly cultivated business professional qualities and stimulated my personal development.

One of the most valuable gains from the study are the networks and friendships built.

What inspires me? Positive-thinking people who have a passion for life and strong determination, including my parents. Soul-searching books, movies and music.

Favourite quote Learn to not take a single moment for granted; live life as you want to as things may be taken away just as fast as they are given.

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Professionals with Postgraduate Degrees

Wong

Wing Tien

Name Wong Wing Tien Email wingtienwong@gmail.com Occupation Full-time husband, father and MBA student.

I was previously the General Manager (Finance) and Chief Financial Officer of public-listed companies, Associate Director of an investment bank and General Manager (Corporate Services) of an IT company.

University Sunway University, Victoria University

Brief Job Description I managed the day-to-day operations of the finance department, looking after financial and reporting matters of the organisation and managing the requirements and expectations of public-listed companies.

What made you want to study an MBA? I joined an international audit firm as an articled student immediately after

my STPM in the 1980s, to pursue the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) professional qualification. Having decided to take a direct route to a professional qualification, I had often wondered what it was like to obtain a tertiary education. Back then the choices were very limited. After I obtained the CPA qualification with MICPA and thereafter the CA(M) designation with the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA), career and family matters took over. I left the audit profession thereafter and joined the commercial sector. It was a rewarding experience as it gave me the opportunity to work with businessmen and managers, manage business enterprises and being in leadership positions that could influence decisions and policies.

After working for more than 25 years, I felt that the timing was right to pursue an MBA to unlearn and to relearn. The business environment is continuously evolving and it is important that one is updated and equipped with new thinking,

development and ideas for personal and career development.

It is also a challenge I took to show my children that one is never too old to study and learn something new.

What inspires you? I am inspired by two groups of people.

Firstly, the characters in the Bible that were shaped and used by God to serve His purpose of bringing hope, peace and joy to mankind.

Secondly, my family who stood by me through good and difficult times and who have never fail to amaze me with their determination to succeed.

Favourite Quote There is something new that we can learn each day just by observing the people around us.

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MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Continuous Learning

Centre for Extension Education (CEE) Programmes at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)

I

f you are planning to upgrade your skills for career advancement, UTAR’s Centre for Extension Educationhas courses which are specially planned for working adults which include Professional Qualification Programmes such as ACCA, CIMA, ICSA, MIA QEand SFFLA and these classes are conducted on weekends.

Part-time degree programmes which can be completed within the maximum duration of seven and a half years are also conducted on weekends. There are 6 parttime degree programmes available: •

Bachelor of Computer Science (Hons)

•

Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Chinese Studies

•

Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) Accounting

•

Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons)

•

Bachelor of Science (Hons) Construction Management

•

Bachelor of Chinese Medicine (Hons).

Besides part-time and professional qualification programmes, CEE offers numerous innovative, professional and personal development public programmes to help participants develop their knowledge and skills . Public programmes such as Project Management, Mind Mapping, Writing for the Media, Writing Creatively, Mandarin for Business and Emotional Excellence help enhance participants’ management, communication, creative and interpersonal skills.

To facilitate mobility in today’s globalised society, CEE offers various foreign language courses such as Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Spanish, German, French and Thai. For those interested in developing life

Training for SFFLA

Talks for students long learning, English for Business, English for Tertiary Study, Chinese Brush Painting, Chinese Calligraphy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, 3-D Clay Handicrafts and other short courses are conducted for various sectors of the community.

Complimentary talks by successful entrepreneurs, industry practitioners, academics and experts in their respective fields are presented to the public throughout the year.

In conjunction with UTAR’s 10th anniversary, CEE will be organising the

Lifelong Learning Festival from 6 to 10 April 2012 in UTAR PJ Campus. The Lifelong Learning Festival will feature talks, seminar, workshop, demonstration and exhibition.

To find out more about CEE’s programmes and events, please contact Mr Sia/Ms Yong/Irene/Joleena at Tel: 603-7957 2818, H/P: 016-223 3563, Fax: 603-7957 3818 or Email: ceetalkpj@utar.edu.my.

Visit CEE’s website at: www.utar.edu.my/ cee, facebook.com/UTARCEE, twitter.com/ UTARCEE

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Professionals with Postgraduate Degrees

Yong Yun Thung,

Daniel

Name Yong Yun Thung@Daniel

3. To obtain research funding.

Email yongyt@utar.edu.my

4. To contribute to departmental, faculty, or University working groups or committees as requested.

Name of postgraduate programme Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering

University UTAR Year graduated In Progress Current occupation Lecturer Brief description of job scope

What do you consider the best take away value from your postgraduate programme? Training myself in experiments to perform my research work and picking up new knowledge to solve the problems faced during research.

1. To teach at the undergraduate level in units assigned by the Head of Department.

What is your advice to prospective postgraduate students to prepare them for this programme? Equip

2. To carry out research and produce publications for local and international conferences and journal papers.

yourself with patience and always search for the answers until you can answer five Whys.

“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good�

Where do you see yourself in five years? Completing my PhD and continuing my research in fibre optic sensors for new applications in various fields.

What is your motto in life?

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

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MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Article

Engineering Technology

Opportunities & Challenges

By Prof. Dato’ Dr Sabarudin Mohd Vice Chancellor, City University College of Science and Technology

“The Engineering Technologists are highly skilled professionals and highly competitive�

Introduction The recent statement by YAB Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in his speech at the launch of the 10th Malaysia Plan clearly indicated that the government is focusing on attaining a high-income and developed nation by the year 2020, led by the services and manufacturing sectors, in addition to revitalising the agriculture sectors and achieving higher value added as well as the adaptation of ICT, bio-technology and other related technologies.

To support these initiatives, the government has allocated RM230 billion for the development and 52 highimpact projects worth RM63 billion have been identified.

Among others are seven highways projects, two coal electricity generation plants and the Sungai Buloh Development.

These projects are expected to stimulate and sustain the growth of the construction industry as well as other spinoff industries and contribute to the improvement of the economy in general.

The former YAB Perdana Menteri, Tun Abdullah Hj. Ahmad Badawi, emphasised the modernisation and industrialisation of agriculture, plantation and fisheries, which has led to the formation of Wilayah Iskandar in Johor and two economic corridors namely ECER and NCER. In this regard, to effectively realise this vision, the need

for a world-class network of infrastructures is inevitable.

Through initiatives by the government, huge infrastructure and building projects are expected to be built. This in turn requires competent, highly skilled professionals and semiprofessionals in the areas of infrastructure development and maintenance.

Background Traditionally, engineering graduates, in particular the ones who graduated from infrastructure engineering related programmes, were bound to be lacking in workrelated practical experience.

During their three to four years at the university, 80% of their time spent in the classrooms,

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Article

only about 20% were exposed to practical experience.

Although they were required to do industrial training as part of the graduation requirement, the eight to 10 weeks of training was insufficient. To some employers, engaging students for practical experience for eight to 10 weeks is more of a nuisance to the organisation and does not benefit either party.

Engineering technologists, on the other hand, go through the same subjects in the same field of study, but 50 to 60 per cent of their time is spent in the laboratory and on site to gain their work-related practical experience. Generally speaking, engineers focus on theory while the engineering technologists focus on method and application.

Opportunity A recent study (2010) carried out by a group of lecturers at Universiti Malaysia Pahang has concluded that the industry in Malaysia prefers engineering graduates with a balanced theoretical and practical knowledge. This study support the earlier finding by Lembaga Jurutera Malaysia through their survey in 2003 which indicates that 60 per cent of the industry in Malaysia requires practical engineers or floor engineers.

Another study, ‘Study on the Status and Future Direction of Engineering Technology in Malaysia’ (Abang Abdullah et. al, 2009) has found that 80 per cent of the engineers are doing the engineering technologist’s

job (floor engineer). Only 20 per cent are engaged with planning and development through innovation. These studies indicate the preference to employ graduates from practical oriented or skilled based curricula.

Differences Between Engineering and Engineering Technology Generally speaking, the work of engineering technologists focuses on the applied and practical application of engineering principles, whereas the work of engineers emphasises the theoretical aspects of mathematical, scientific and engineering principles. The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), a professional engineering organisation in the United States, describes the difference between engineering and engineering technology: “The distinction between engineering and engineering technology emanates primarily from differences in their educational programs.

Engineering programs are geared toward development of conceptual skills, and consist of a sequence of engineering fundamentals and design courses, built on a foundation of complex mathematics and science courses. Engineering technology programs are oriented toward application, and provide their students with introductory mathematics and science courses, and only a qualitative introduction to engineering fundamentals.

Thus, engineering programs provide their graduates a breadth and depth of knowledge that allows them to function as designers.

Engineering technology programs prepare their graduates to apply others’ designs”.

The differences between engineer and engineering technologist can be summarised in Table A. Engineer Innovator Concept-oriented

Table A

Engineering Technologist

Implementer Application-oriented Focuses on methods and application Often focuses on theory (80/20) (60/40) Emphasises the theoretical study of Emphasises the practical application of the same mathematical, scientific and mathematical, scientific and engineering engineering principles principles Develops new process Applies new process Open-ended and futuristic Specific and current Plans Executes plans Requires extra modules to register as Can register as P.E. in Malaysia, P.E. in Malaysia Fresh graduates often require training due Usually ready to work due to emphasis on to emphasis on fundamentals and theory practice in industry

Government Initiatives Between 2000 and 2001, four technical universities (MTUN) were established, namely Universiti Tun Hussain Onn (UTHM), Universiti Teknikal Melaka (UTEM), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UNIMAP) and Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP). These are universities where engineering and engineering technology programmes were developed.

In 2010, the government announced the upgrading of three polytechnics to the status of Premier Polytechnic.

These premier polytechnics are required to offer skillbased degree courses. The

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MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Article

premier polytechnics also offer an articulation pathway for candidates who passed diploma (Level 5) and advanced diploma (Level 6) levels of the Malaysian Skills Certificates offered by Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia to further their study to degree level. Currently, some of the public universities are taking these students to do degree courses in various programmes, including engineering. In 2011, the Ministry of Education announced the introduction of vocational education at school level. This initiative will, sooner or later, increase the number of candidates for practical-based programmes, both at diploma as well as degree levels. The other initiative by the government is to form a Board of Technologists Malaysia, to give recognition to the technologist profession and to accredit technology-based curricula.

With these initiatives in place, the future of engineering technologists in Malaysia is clear and optimistic. In my opinion, any new academic degree as well as diploma programmes focusing on engineering should aim at producing graduates who are ready for work and are highly ethical and professional.

Challenges Infrastructure Engineering is one of the key areas to support the country’s mission to become a developed industrialised nation and

also one of the important elements to realise the country’s desire to modernise and industrialise agriculture, plantations and fisheries. Any higher learning provider such as City University College should proactively initiate new academic degrees as well as diploma programmes focusing on infrastructure engineering. We should aim at producing graduates who are ready for work. The curriculum should emphasise competencies rather than academic work alone. The teaching and learning methodology must focus more on the application of engineering principles. In the United Kingdom, they have been producing engineering technologists through the apprenticeship system where a structured competency-based set of skills are measured. In Germany, finding employment without having completed an apprenticeship is almost impossible. The students normally spend 50 to 70 per cent of their time undergoing practical training at the licensed companies, and the rest in the university. We could do the same apprenticeship programmes by collaborating with relevant industries. At the City University College, for example, the Selia Group of Companies, one of the leading engineering and construction companies in Malaysia that owns the university, will be the anchor industrial training place, while its associated company and agencies will be the

collaborators. The company and the university should work together to identify the set of skills needed, method of measuring these skills and assessing those measurements.

The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) has developed sets of competencies for various trades, including Civil and Structures Engineering through their National Occupational Skills Standard (NOSS). These standards can be the good starting documents for both sides to work on.

To do this effectively, part of the laboratory work should be done at the appropriate workplace or sites. Students will be exposed to real work environments. Besides practical training, students are also given the choice to collect as many professional certificates as they want, offered alongside the regular academic courses. CIDB, Microsoft, NIOSH are a few professional agencies that can offer such professional certificates. To further strengthen their practical competency, students should attend their industrial training during the final semester.

Accreditation Engineering technologists are recognised worldwide. For example, in the United States, the engineering technology programmes are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering Technology (ABET) and in Australia by

the Sydney Accord. At the international level, the Sydney Accord and the Engineering Technologist Mobility Forum (ETMF) are the two international efforts for cross border recognition for technologists.

Closing Remarks Engineering Technologists are highly skilled professionals and semi-professionals with strong technical knowledge, highly competitive and adaptable to changes through a balanced and dynamic academic background to fulfil the needs of the industry.

They are not only capable in designing forms and appearance, but are also able to ensure that the system works.

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Article

POSTGRADUATE options in ENGINEERING

By Dr Faris Gorashi School of Engineering and Technology Infrastructure, Kuala Lumpur Infrastructure University College

“The new, emerging courses are the outcome of global competition and the new restitution of priorities among monitoring agencies.”

E

instein once said: “Scientists investigate that which already is; Engineers create that which has never been”. Engineering is one of the oldest professions in history that has spanned thousands of years. It comprises a smart fusion of basic and natural sciences such as Math, Physics, Biology and Chemistry and harnesses these sciences in order to come out with a useful product.

This allows humans to create, design and construct different products and infrastructure.

Engineering covers a range of subjects including (but not limited to) automotive, civil, mechanical, software, electronic, biotechnology and structural engineering.

The needs of a dynamic society and market demands have pushed conventional engineering to evolve rapidly

during the last three decades.

This has pushed conventional engineering to the micro level. The industry sector has concluded that an engineer has the capacity to mould the theory at an early stage and tailor it to suit the end user.

courses, you should first consider the quality of a programme and the cost of taking that course. Other important factors that should be considered before deciding the suitable postgraduate engineering course are:

In tandem with the basic knowledge one receives at the bachelor degree level, a postgraduate degree will foster an intelligent use of resources and design sustainable solutions through the enhancement of the individual’s critical thinking capabilities at the micro level instead of the macro level of composition and assembling.

The world today is more interested in technological singularity and molecular nanotechnology than ever.

Ability: Some engineering fields are more challenging than others, and require extra strength and knowledge in a particular area, e.g., Master of Chemical Engineering – Chemistry.

In order to choose the best postgraduate engineering

Relevancy: Despite the fact that today’s world encourages a continuous education system where you can cross over from one discipline to another, the industry sector still prefers the micro professionalism and specialisations.

Career Pathway: Every engineering field will lead you to a different pathway in your

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MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Article

career. Market demand plays a great deal in determining which field has the highest demand.

Engineering is an incredibly broad field and the varieties of engineering postgraduate courses are just as broad. In this article, a few options will be reviewed.

One of the most popular postgraduate degrees is the Master of Civil Engineering.

Civil engineering is undoubtedly the mother of all engineering. It is mainly concerned with infrastructure and development. It is also one of the most interlinked disciplines as it allows swinging between different fields of engineering. The conventional postgraduate courses are Masters in Concrete Structures, Engineering Geology, Environmental Engineering, General Structural Engineering, Hydrology and Water Resources Management, Soil Mechanics, Structural Steel Design and transport.

Most aspiring professionals, however, choose to specialise in one area prior to enrolling in postgraduate engineering courses. With the conventional engineering you cannot go astray; on the other hand, there is a big demand for new, emerging courses due to their niche. Postgraduate engineering courses like BioInformatics and application of Nano-Technology in civil engineering research areas focusing on the behaviour and trends of matter and organisms have been greatly accepted in academia as well as the

industry’s sector R&D. In my view, the new, emerging courses are the outcome of global competition and the new restitution of priorities among monitoring agencies.

The need to create and design the tallest, slimmest, smallest and highest quality products is also governed and judged by moral and economic aspects such as sustainability and waste reduction.

Intra-discipline postgraduate courses such as Mechatronics (a combination of Mechanical Engineering and Electronics) and avionics (a combination of aviation and electronics) are currently very well received by the industry and there is a high market demand for their graduates.

Despite the demanding working environment, the oil and gas industry remains one of the industries with the highest paid jobs.

Postgraduate petroleum engineering programmes have also matured and based on the industry’s demands, more focused programmes have been designed, such as reservoir engineering, geoscience engineering, pipeline engineering, offshore engineering and well engineering.

A postgraduate degree in engineering will surely instil knowledge and inculcate confidence in aspiring engineers for them to pursue a robust career path.

Dr Faris Gorashi has over 14 years of experience as a water resources engineer and hydrologist. His expertise includes water network design and simulation, water quality modelling, waste water reclamation and reuse, and environmental impact assessment and general management. He has worked with multinational companies and organisations, holding various technical, research, general management and consultancy posts.

Dr Faris holds a PhD in Built Environment from the International Islamic University Malaysia (2009), a Master of Engineering in Hydrology (2002) and a BSc Honours in Civil Engineering from Omdurman Islamic University.

He has published a number of journal papers and developed the LA-WQI model. He has also held several lecturer and administrative posts at a number of institutions of education.

Currently he is the Deputy Dean of School of Engineering and Technology Infrastructure at KLIUC. He is also Senior Lecturer and Head of Post-Graduate Studies in the Department of Civil Engineering at KLIUC as well as the head of Water and Wastewater Bachelor of Technology programme at the same department.

School of Engineering and Technology Infrastructure, Kuala Lumpur Infrastructure University College, Unipark Suria, Jalan Ikram-Uniten, Kajang 43000, Selangor. E-mail: faris@kliuc.edu. my

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Professionals with Postgraduate Degrees

Mohamad Ismail Bin Ibrahim

Name Mohamad Ismail Bin Ibrahim

Email mohd.ismail.i@gmail. com

Occupation Regional Manager University Universiti Putra Malaysia, Open University Malaysia (MBA)

Brief Job Description I started my career in the banking industry in 2004, and in December 2009, I joined RHB Bank where I am presently Regional Manager.

My job function requires me to oversee more than 20

branches/kiosks under one of the divisions of the Bank.

Here, I need dedicated and experienced managers to assist me in managing the branches in the Klang Valley area.

To ensure these branches are always in top form, I prioritise aspects such as operational excellence, sales performance, profit and loss, attrition, staff development and reward and recognition.

To be part of an organisation that introduces such an innovative banking experience, it is always part of my job satisfaction to see staff who

have been groomed well to be leaders of the future.

What made you want to study for an MBA? We are currently living in a fast-paced environment, facing many tough challenges, and these conditions eventually result in many people becoming successful leaders in the market. I believe an MBA will help me to enhance the skills needed for effective leadership and to apply the rule of management in the organisation.

What inspires you? People who strive to be different in

“Thinking and acting fast will make a big difference” society. I actually admire their commitment to achieving success in any condition.

When obstacles come, they always create opportunities and become leaders of the market.

Favourite Quote “Thinking and acting fast will make a big difference”

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MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Announcement

The First UK-Malaysia Symposium on Innovation Commercialisation of Science Ideas 28 February 2012

Message from His Excellency Simon Featherstone CMG, British High Commission to Malaysia

and many innovative UK companies are now leaders in sectors such as biotechnology, advanced materials and renewable energy.

You will hear Malaysia and British experts from both the academia and industry share their insights and perspectives on this important process of translating innovation from the research-bench to industry. I am confident that through this symposium, we can learn from each other and form collaborative links to build on this exchange of ideas.

I hope that you will have an enjoyable, thought-provoking and above all productive day.

Simon Featherstone

It is my great pleasure to welcome all of the speakers and participants who are sharing their views on a topic that is extremely important in today’s world: Innovation.

Innovation - the successful exploitation of new ideas - is key for businesses to compete effectively in the increasing competitive global environment.

Only countries and companies that constantly seek to improve and apply knowledge will be in a position to grasp the major opportunities that globalisation offers.

Speaker’s Profile

• Adlan Ahmad, Agensi Innovasi Malaysia • Dr Chris Hemingway, Marks & Clerk UK • Terry Pollard, ISIS Innovation The British Government is convinced that science and innovation are Ltd crucial to its future prosperity and I know that the Malaysian Government • Rushdi Abdul Rahim, National has a similar view. UK investment in science and innovation of GBP4.6 Science Research Council billion per annum has been protected for the current three-year spending • Kalim Rahim, Royal Society review period to ensure that this investment continues to produce Entreprise Fund London, UK impressive results.

• Dr Cyrille Schwob, Aerospace Malaysian Innovation Centre UK universities - several of which are represented at this symposium - are • Professor Sayed Azam-Ali, recognised as world-class research centres. They play a vital and extensiv Crops for the Future Research role in driving innovation in the UK. They offer a vast knowledge base; the Centre ability to teach and develop a skilled workforce and to cultivate inventors, • Professor Graham Kendall, innovators and leaders of tomorrow; the ability to convene disparate University of Nottingham, expertisel and a deep commitment to contribute towards societal and Malaysia Campus economic development. Through collaboration, industries have benefited

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Announcement

• Ir Professor Dr Lee Sze Wei, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman • Dr Khairul Idzwan Baharin, Cell Tissue Technology Sdn Bhd • Professor JW McBride, University of Southampton, Malaysia Campus • Professor Dr Nor Aieni Hj Mokhtar, National Oceanography Directorate (MOSTI) • Professor Dr Halimaton Hamdan, National Nanotechnology Directorate (MOSTI) • Professor Michael Whitaker, Newcastle University, UK

Professor Sayed Asam-Ali CEO, Crops for the Future Research Centre and Chair in Global Food Security, University of Nottingham

Dr Cyrille Schwob Chief Technology Officer Aerospace Malaysia Innovation Centre

Prof Graham Kendall Vice-Provost (Research & Knowledge Transfer), University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus

Professor JW McBride Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, CEO of University of Southampton Malaysia Campus

Ir Professor Dr Lee Sze Wei Vice President (R&D and Commercialisation), UTAR

BREMONTspecial 52

Live Ejection testing of the Bremont MB watch prototype

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies

Professionals with MBA

About Bremont: Bremont is the creation of brothers Nicholas and Giles English, who have a shared passion for aviation. The English brothers passion for aviation began at an early age through their father who would take them into their workshop where he would build everything from aircraft, to musical instruments, to clocks. Their father was an RAF aerobatic champion and a world known display pilot of WWII aircrafts. Sadly he tragically died in a plane crash in 1995 whilst practising for an air display in North America. Nick English was in the plane at the time and was lucky to survive.

MARTIN BAKER II This is the only watch ever to have been subjected to a live ejection testing program.Tested and designed in conjunction with the iconic British aviation company ‘Martin-Baker’, who are responsible for supplying 70% of the world’s air-forces with fighter ejection seat technology. Bremont’s unique rubberised anti-vibration mount absorbs extreme shocks and the Faraday cage protects the movement against magnetic forces.

A year after the death of their father, while flying to meet friends in France, the brothers had to make a forced landing in their 60-year old plane, due to bad weather.

They landed in a pea-field in the Champagne region of France. The landing was an exciting one, and the man who came to their help that evening was an old farmer, and - as it unfolded – a WWII pilot and a man with a passion for flying and timepieces.

His house was full of clocks, most of them restored by him personally. The old man still wore his father’s Swiss watch. Nicholas and Giles still wore their father’s. The man’s name? BREMONT. His name, Antoine Bremont, was therefore chosen because his passions in life exactly matched those of the brothers and also as a tribute to their father Euan.

Each watch is manufactured and assembled by hand in the Bremont workshop in Switzerland, with several parts being finished in the UK. Every watch released from the Bremont atelier is chronometer tested. Bremont had the honour of being awarded the Walpole Award for Best Emerging British Luxury Brand at the 2008 Walpole award for British excellence.

The initial Bremont watch family comprises three models: The ALT1-C, ALT1-Z and the ALT1-P. As would be expected, each should be regarded as a professional quality timepiece which is sufficiently accurate and durable to be used for activities ranging from flying to yachting to mountaineering. In addition to laboratory testing, each model has been tried and quantified 'in the field' by professional adventurers, including mountaineer Bear Grylls, round-the-world yachtsman Mike Golding, Everest climber Jake Meyer, Sara Campbell, world champion free diver, and, of course, aviators Nick and Giles English and their fellow, professional pilots, such as the elite at the Empire Test Pilot’s School.

The ALT1-C contains a specially Soprod modified Valjoux 7750 self-winding movement inside a 43 mm case. It has a classic chronograph layout with sub-dials at the three and nine o'clock positions and has been designed to have exceptional visual clarity with all data available at a glance.

SUPERMARINE 500 This is the first marine watch – the Supermarine 500 from Bremont, still classical in design and aviation roots but very effective diving watch. The design of the Supermarine has been built using Bremont’s unique Trip-Tick three piece case construction which gives it a water resistance depth of 500m or 1660ft, For clarity the bezel is being made of sapphire which covers the Superluminova C5 numbers.

TM

Bremont watches are crafted on three principles: Individuality, Precision and Durability.

Bremont is available exclusively at Swiss Watch Gallery Boutiques in Malaysia and Singapore Tel: +603 2142 9977 Email: swg.pavilion@valiramgroup.com www.valiramgroup.com

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies

53

Exclusive Interview

Puan Sri Dr Susan Cheah

President of the Malaysia Chinese Women Entrepreuners Association (MCWEA) & EXCO Member of the Sunway Group

Did you come from a big family? me to find out what I wanted to do to further my education. As What did your parents do? my dad was an adopted child My parents have six children, three boys and three girls and I in the old days in China, he didn’t have much education, so am the eldest of the girls. he self-studied. It was through his sheer determination in Where did you go to school? building his career that he was Were you a good student?

I studied in a few places when I able to support our education. was young, in Butterworth, then He wanted us to do well and be in Sungei Patani Chinese School. university graduates.

For my secondary education I studied at the Dato Keramat Convent and Light Street Convent in Penang. Being an obedient student, as my parents taught me, I was disciplined, participated in activities and gave my best in examinations.

Who or what influenced your career choices? Why were these factors so important to you?

My father has always been my mentor and always checked with

He was always someone we could all look up to. Dad passed away on 1st May some 10 years ago and we all miss him dearly.

registration IT support and eventually moved up to Director and EXCO of the Group.

How would you define a leader?

Would you say you are one?

A leader is someone who sets goals and vision and to ensure that people down the line understand the whole structure and synergies in implementing the missions. My husband is one When Dad first came over from who aspires to inspire and turns China, he was driving a taxi. visions into reality and I have a He felt the lack of parental love lot to learn from that, especially and as such was very loving when he is interacting with the Have you had a mentor who has EXCO and senior management towards his children. Boys or helped guide you through your who work for him. I admire his girls, he wanted to give us the best of education. I observed his career? passionate leadership in turning mannerisms when he was young, Having joined my husband’s the whole Sunway township company, I had to look to how he taught us to be polite, into a world-class resort and my husband and support friendly, honest and truthful. corporate centre. his initiative in building the When he became manager of the United Transport Company, Sunway Group. I was then the Did you plan to be where you are he was a popular leader and had administration, the company today, doing what you do now? many good and sincere friends. secretarial support, the shares Helping someone to materialise Dad said that for a lady, t is good to be a teacher. However, after my graduation from Victoria University in Melbourne, I ended up working as executive in a timber company for about five years before joining my husband Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah to form the Sunway Group of Companies.

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his dream has been my ambition and when that someone happens to be your husband, it is very rewarding. When he succeeds, the reward is also my success. Because I ride on his dream, when he thinks big, I also get to feel great when I see the materialisation of great things.

Can you please tell us about ASLI and your involvement in it?

ASLI is a subsidiary company of Sunway Group with its core business as Malaysia’s leading independent think tank and foremost conference organiser that brings together senior government, business and thought leaders in interactive, high-level discussions. Dato’ Dr Michael Yeoh is the founder CEO of ASLI and I am a board member who supports most of the events of ASLI from time to time.

Can you help chart your career growth for us? Can you share with us the lessons learnt along the way, at the different stages or phases?

At the EXCO level is about the highest position anyone can reach. At Sunway, I view a person’s ability as how best we can contribute to the growth of the whole Group. I may not be directly involved in a certain company, but if I see an opportunity to extend business networks and contacts which will synergise with our business, I would be more than happy to contribute my fair share of support.

When the group was small, we could reach out to employees easily, now that we have expanded regionally and globally, understanding of various sectors of operations and the placement of capable leaders to head the divisions is crucial. We also have to upgrade our IT coverage and network across the borders to facilitate instant updates. Learning languages of foreign countries, their legislative policies, business incentive and culture etc. are also important elements for coverage.

We should focus on synergy to promote

our home-grown products like education, hotels, shopping malls, theme parks, hospital, construction, building materials, trading and manufacturing, information technology and development of townships.

But more than a well-diversified business entity, steadfast in delivering stakeholder value, Sunway is a socially responsible conglomerate with an unwavering commitment for community building. Our people who come from around the world with a wide diversity of educational and professional backgrounds, specialising in different industries, have a single unifying value: Passion.

Describe a few projects that you particularly enjoyed and the ones that gave you true satisfaction and why.

Also tell us about the latest projects that you’ve undertaken or currently are busy with.

At Sunway Berhad, we are committed to unyielding integrity and high standards of business conduct in all that we do. All these years, we at Sunway have created an asset of incalculable value – Trust – by building a worldwide reputation for integrity and high standards of business conduct. That reputation, built by so many people over so many years, is upheld in every business transaction we make. At the community level, Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah has embarked on a setting up The Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, which was formed with the aim of firmly establishing a vehicle that would better serve the cause of bringing good and quality education to the nation.

Towards this, it was important that the shares of the Sunway Education Trust were transferred into this Foundation where they will be held for perpetuity and can never be sold.

Aside from the community within Sunway, I have also participated in various community projects under the various NGOs that I serve. Together with

the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, as Deputy President of the Chinese Women Leaders Causus, we have undertaken many nationbuilding projects under the guidance of Deputy Minister, YB Senator Heng Seai Kie as Advisor.

How do you unwind? Do you make time for yourself? If so, how often and what do you do?

I enjoy reading preparing articles for my coffee table book entitled 1Caring Heart Malaysian, meeting with friends and associates from the community with whom I have a lot of common interests.

What books are you reading currently?

Name three books that have made the most impact on your life?

Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The Secret. These books are motivational in nature, teaching us to know the difference between the behaviour of men and women, the seven habits we should have to be successful and key positive mental attitudes to adopt in the pursuance of our goals.

What are some of the sacrifices/ compromises that you have had to make, in a personal and professional capacity, in order to be in the position you are in today?

When the children were young, I had to balance my time to cope with work and the family. Now that they are all grown up, things are much easier. These days, being involved with community work can be time consuming but satisfying as there is so much we can learn from the society and networking has always been an asset to synergise with work. We must understand what our organisation can do to assist in building the “1 Malaysian Concept” for a united and harmonious nation.

While the Sunway Group brings business sustainability for the country, the nation

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Women in Leadership

“I am a great believer in giving my best in anything I attempt to do” When working with people, we should have mutual respect and communication.

Dealing with difficult people depends on the situation. If there’s something I can do to make things easier, I do it. But if someone is too unreasonable, I would find a way to put a stop to that politely. First, we must understand why the person is difficult.

(Right) Puan Sri Dr Susan Cheah with YB Senator Datuk Heng Seai Kie (Deputy Minister of Women, Family & Community Development)

must also ensure the oneness of mind, heart, actions and goals reflecting integrity and contribution.

What was the most difficult time in your life? How did you cope with that?

The most difficult time has to be around the period of the global financial crisis –where everybody had to re-strategise and cope with hardship. But with consolidation and concerted effort, luckily we all managed to pull through.

Can you tell us about your support in women at the workplace? How have you supported women in the past?

What about now?

Women are wonderful people to work with, they are very dedicated and caring. They also have great ideas and are very supportive. In the workplace, women are equally important in their contribution. As a leader, we have to be seen to be fair to all, always constantly lending them a listening ear to their ideas and suggestions.

Are there any women you look up to or have utmost respect for? Why? Working with me on the Chinese

Women Leaders Caucus is YB Senator Heng Seai Kie, Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development. She is our advisor, and I have great admiration and respect for the way she guides and leads us. She is intelligent, knowledgeable, caring and always extends her help whenever she can.

What do you think are your strengths and weaknesses? Your best qualities?

Habits you might want to change or do away with? Tell us about Puan Sri Dr Susan Cheah, please.

I am a great believer in giving my best in anything I attempt to do. I suppose at times, I should also learn not to undertake too many projects at the same time.

What is your management style? How does your staff see you/how do you want your staff to see you? How do you deal with difficult people?

I hope I can portray a personality that is helpful and committed in the things I contribute. I would encourage teamwork for success. I do not mind coaching others in areas I can assist.

What is the one character trait you hate most/despise in a person?

Conceited and self-centred people. People who are too talkative and like to interfere in other people’s projects. Narrow minded and untrustworthy people.

What are the qualities in a person that would make you like him/her instantly?

Intelligent, smart, caring, kind and friendly people who have the interests of other people at heart.

Looking back, what so far has been the most memorable moment in your life? Why? The day my first child was born. It was a great joy in my life and for my family.

Who today do you regard as your role model and why?

In the immediate family, my husband would be my role model as he shows me great passion of his work, his dedication, commitment, entrepreneurialspirit and perseverance in ensuring the success of the projects.

Looking forward, where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Enjoying and celebrating the fruits of our achievement.

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Lecture

2012 International Women’s Day Gala Dinner

Guest of Honor: YABhg Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor The wife of the Right Honorable Prime Minister Date: 16th March 2012 (Friday) Time: 7.00pm Venue: Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre EVENT HIGHLIGHTS (1) Batik 1Malaysia Fashion Show There will be a Batik 1 Malaysia Fashion show presented by famous designers from Yayasan Budi Penyayang Malaysia (2) Batik Best Dress Contest The Dress Code Theme for the dinner is Batik 1 Malaysia Fashion, all guests are requested to wear traditional batik fashions in order to take part in the Batik Best Dress Contest for 5 winning categories (3 prizes for each category): 1. Batik Cheongsam 4. Batik Islamic Fashion 2. Batik Baju Kebaya 5. Men’s Batik 3. Batik Sari Fashion

Supported by:

Organised by:

Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development In collaboration with: Malaysian Chinese Women Leader Caucus

MCWEA

Malaysia Chinese Women Entrepreneurs Association

Official Venue Sponsor: Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre

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Engineering and Innovation

Engineering is about learning theories, formulas and rational thinking. As such engineers are not creative. . . Do you agree?

Ir Professor Dr Yow Ho Kwang, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, UTAR

By Ir Professor Dr Yow

I

actually do not agree with the common perception that engineers are a group of nerd technologists who can only think within a box and seriously lack of creative ideas and innovation. For me, this is a myth. In fact, I believe it is the exact opposite for the majority of engineering professionals.

It is true that studying and practising engineering requires intensive training in learning theories, hypotheses and formulas, which from the layman perspective is tedious and also involve many mentally challenging tasks.

Nevertheless, we have to recognise that engineering knowledge, like science, follows a set of learnt theories, and principles which define the logical boundaries and allow an easier transformation of these principles and knowledge for real world applications. It is essential that these theories are learnt in the most logical and rational ways. It is important to know that these types of training form the basic learning process for building solid and long lasting foundations of knowledge required that serve as the

platforms for innovative design and creation in the physical world.

The construction of a physical or virtual model of any technology products that we utilise is completed after many trial designs, calculation or simulation and testing based on a set of design principles and guiding formulas. In our world today, the technology of convenience and health informatics we enjoy and easily taken for granted is the natural testimony for the creativity and innovation of engineers, albeit working in collaboration with other technologists, scientists and even artists. In particular, the widespread use of internet technology, the advancement of computing and communications technology, the powerful automotive, aerospace, petrochemical and energy industry are only bits and pieces of the many faces of ingenious and groundbreaking engineering innovation that has transformed the way we live our life today.

At UTAR, we recognise the importance of learning the core knowledge and skills required for our graduates to excel, not

only as technically competent engineers, but also to be successful and creative leaders in their careers. The best approach for effective learning is through the combination of theories and practice.

Our engineering curriculum provides the opportunity for students to do case studies and design assignments related to some of their core subjects, as well as a final year project that involve intense considerations in data analysis, critical thinking, presentation and communication skills, report writing, practical skills of literature review and research methodology, coupled with sustainability and cost consciousness. The students can also learnt from experience sharing sessions through regular seminars and professional talks conducted by invited speakers from professional engineers and industry experts.

In addition, students are required to go for a few months of internship programmes as planned within their course curriculum where the student is attached to one company in the industry and works

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through the daily business operations of the company, observing and applying the theories learnt.

In addition, students are always encouraged to take part in business and innovative design challenges or competitions such as those organised by Schneider Electric, MDeC, Intel, Agilent, Altera, National Instrument, Bosch, and Huawei, to name a few. The students normally form a team and work together with a common objective under the tutelage from one of the faculty staff as mentor to provide the relevant guidance.

Equipped with what they have learnt inside and outside the classroom, the students would compete with their peers nationally and internationally, as part of the training for creativity and critical thinking.

Such initiatives have won our students many awards from the competitions and recognitions from industry and professional societies in recent years.

For example, UTAR students won the MOSTI award in Innovate Malaysia Design Competition 2011, MSC-Huawei Scholastic awards 2011, the Best Robot Idea award in Malaysia Robot Contest (ROBOCON) 2011, were the champions in the Bosch Power Tools Asia Cordless Race 2011, were the champions at the Nehemiah Design

Competition 2010, won second prize in Machine Design Competition 2010 organised by the Mechanical Engineering Technical Division (METD) of the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM), and were first runner-up in the Schneider Electric University Challenge 2010.

The university recognises that creative and innovative talent does not come easy and needs a systematic way of cultivation to be nurtured and flourish. Hence, the university has the Department of Soft Skills and Competency which offers a series of short programmes on a regular and continuous basis that can provide and train the student with other skills to enhance their ability to interact, communicate and exchange ideas with people as well as to develop the mindfulness of leadership and teamwork, the thinking skills, innovative skills and entrepreneurial skills. These soft skills based short programmes involve experiential learning, interaction sessions and outside classroom activities which students can take part in beginning from the early days and spanning over the four years during their academic study at the university.

In conjunction with this programme, the university has a certification system, the UTAR Soft Skills Development

MBA EdgeTM & Postgraduate Studies Interview

Certification (USSDC), to recognise these students’ accomplishment and hard work to improve their soft skills.

Examples of the short programmes include Increasing Personal Creativity, The Effective Leader, Thinking-out-of-the-box, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Decision Making, Youth Entrepreneurship, Leadership Skills for Engineers and Technical Professionals.

With all these measures and initiatives spearheaded by the university, we sincerely hope that we can contribute to the training of competent and creative engineers as well as leaders for the years to come since engineers are very much involved in and contributing significantly to the creative development of our daily life.

“Learning the fundamentals of science and engineering builds a solid foundation upon which innovative design and creation in the physical world is possible”

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Stuff You Don’t Learn in Engineering School world. Step by step, you'll learn important skills like: * Setting priorities * Working in a team * Being more effective at meetings * Speaking in front of a group * Negotiating personal or business issues * Dealing with stress * And just having more fun in the process!

Stuff You Don't Learn in Engineering School: Skills for Success in the Real World by Carl Selinger ISBN: 978-0-471-65576-3, Paperback, 192 pages, Wiley-IEEE Press An engineer's road map to professional and personal success Congratulations! You're an engineer, and now you're ready to take the corporate world by storm. But in order to succeed in your career, you'll need more than just great technical skills. You'll need to be able to promote your ideas, share them with others, and work with a wide variety of people. Stuff You Don't Learn in Engineering School: Skills for Success in the Real World is designed to give engineers entering the corporate world the "soft" skills they'll need to succeed--in business, and in life. Based on the author's popular leadership seminars, this easy-to-digest guide to success will help even the most inhibited engineer to comfortably deal with the difficult people, processes, and meetings of today's competitive business

Filled with insightful, practical advice addressing dozens of vital skill areas and helpful tips you can apply immediately to any situation, Stuff You Don't Learn in Engineering School will help you take charge of your career and achieve the success for which you've worked so hard.

CARL SELINGER is an independent consultant in aviation, transportation planning, and strategic business planning.

During his thirty-one-year career at The Port Authority of NY & NJ, Mr. Selinger rose to Manager of Aviation Business Development. He spent twenty-seven years teaching at such respected institutions as The Cooper Union, SUNY Maritime, Pace University, NJIT, and City College of New York. Mr. Selinger is currently an active member of the Airports Council International, Business Information Technologies Committee, American Society of Civil Engineers, Institute of Transportation Engineers, American Society for Engineering Education, and the Women's Transportation Seminar, which honored him as its Greater NY Chapter's 1998 Member of the Year. "…whether the reader is an enterprising

young striver or a highly seasoned professional who has 'been around the block,' one may find some tidbits of real-world wisdom within these pages."

(Software Quality Professional, June 2005) "…is designed to teach these skills and thereby help its readers become effective and proficient in the corporate world."

(Electronic Design Online, June 14, 2005) "…do consider adding this title to your engineering collection…I have mentioned the book in every information resources session I teach in mechanical, chemical, and materials engineering." (Blogcritics. org) "Pragmatic and thorough, this title seems likely to appeal to its target audience."

(E-STREAMS, May 2005) "...imparts important skills: setting priorities, working in a team, being more effective at meetings, speaking in front of a group, negotiating personal or business issues, dealing with stress, and having more fun in the process." (Mechanical Engineering, February 2005) "This useful book is a primer-or perhaps a survival guide…imparts useful knowledge in a fairly painless way. Selinger isn't just teaching business skills; he's teaching life skills." (Civil Engineering, February 2005) "It is terrific....very valuable for engineers.....well thought out and right on the money." - Neil Senturia, Blackbird Ventures "What a nice surprise to receive it. I've told several people about the book. It's such a great topic, one which you know I especially appreciate. - Susan de la Vergne, www.susandelavergne.com

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Article

Notice the Clues and Manage Your Depression

By Julie Donley There were several cues to my depression. I was becoming increasingly moody. I was having trouble making even little decisions, like what to wear on any given day. I was sleeping a lot. The day seemed to get away from me. I found myself seeking out motivational materials, things I know all too well. Yes, I read other motivational people’s work but lately, I felt a need for it rather than a curiosity about it.

I have come to a turning point in my life. Is it a mid-life thing?

Maybe. My 46th birthday is fast approaching.

Part of it is that I have too much time on my hands and my mind was drifting into negative territory. The hospital I work at as a psych nurse has been closed for renovations for the past three months. With the added space in time and no distractions, I have the ability to look more closely at my life.

And sometimes I just think too much!

So I am in this funk. It is what it is. It will pass. But as an upbeat, positive person on any given day, I’m not used to feeling this way. I work with depressed individuals all of the time, however, and am all too familiar with its subtle and destructive nature. So I thought I would share about it today.

Depression is a funny thing.

Everyone experiences depression at some point in life.

It is important to recognize it and identify what you need in order to take care of yourself.

There are a few things you can do to ensure you come through it quickly and remain healthy.

Depression can become ‘clinical depression’, where medical treatment is needed. You need catch it quickly and manage it responsibly. Here are some tips to get you through.

1. Gather support Let your family and close friends know what you are going through. Don’t assume they know what you are thinking or feeling.

People are not mind readers!

Inform them AND ask for what

you need. If you need them to check in on you daily or every few days, ask them to do that.

You have to reach out for help.

Many people find prayer helps.

Returning to a place of worship provides the supportive community that adds some security and positive emotional energy.

If you do not have positive people in your life, hire a therapist or locate a free support group. Most workplaces offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Do not use the excuse that you have no one. If you are reading this, then you have me! If you truly love yourself and want help, help will be provided you only need to look for it and ask.

The one thing you hear me say often is ‘don’t go upstairs without adult supervision’.

What that means is that we can easily get stuck our head trapped in our thoughts. Don’t get lost up there! You need to have others who can help you sort through what thoughts are real and what is imagined.

2. Observe yourself Notice the negative thoughts.

They are not truth but if given enough attention they run your life. Become a master observer.

Self-awareness is an essential life skill.

Depression shows up in the present and affects your mood but the thoughts that produce the depression are often about the past or a negative outlook on the future. Observe the thoughts behind the sadness.

The best way to do this is using a journal.

Negative thoughts build on themselves often creating a negative spiral. You have to find ways to question and challenge these thoughts. But first, you have to notice them.

3. Envision success Envision how you want to be.

How do you normally behave?

What is your normal mood?

Remember this. Keep it in the forefront of your mind. This is what you are working to regain.

Knowing how you want to feel is essential to not get stuck. Find moments of positive emotional states either by thinking about it or by embracing the moment. Revel in those moments. Remember that emotion is brought on by thoughts; you can conjure positive emotions by thinking about positive emotions and then feeling them.

4. Practice good self-care Be gentle with yourself. Be

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careful what you feed your mind and who you spend time with, especially during this time. Read success books and articles. Read positive and motivational materials.

Commiserating with others will only add fuel to the fire.

Exercise. Yes, even though your energy may be low, push yourself to care for your body.

This releases endorphins that are necessary for recovery.

Take a bath. Read a novel. Get a message. Listen to music.

Go dancing. Have sex (safely).

Watch a funny television show or movie. Do something to shift your energy and allow positive energy to flow in.

5. Look for what is good This is often difficult during a depressive episode however, noticing what is good about your life will help you challenge the negative thoughts and balance them with more positive and realistic perspectives.

Your observations during this time should include the good in your life: What are you grateful for? What do you enjoy?

What is positive and healthy about you and the things you have done in life? What are you looking forward to in the future?

Seek balance in your thinking.

Trying to be overly positive won’t help because your brain cannot process it while you are in a depressive episode.

But small doses of realistic assessments about life and

love and happiness - or at least what is NOT bad - will help to temper the negative thoughts.

6. Get out of your own head Depression causes us to become self-absorbed. We retreat into ourselves. Not a bad thing necessarily; but be careful not to get lost there.

Sometimes, shifting the focus of your thoughts and actions on how you can contribute to others can help you.

Other times, people fall into depression because they have not been giving themselves enough attention. In order to know how to best care for yourself, you must identify the message the depression is sending you.

Depression is like any other emotion. It’s a message. It lets you know that something in your life is not working the way you like or that something needs attention. Honor this.

What is the message? Is there some way you are living - or not living - that you need to correct or change?

Talk to your supports do you get out of your own head and gain new perspectives and ideas. Don’t trust that your current thinking is ‘right’.

You do not want to become consumed by negativity; this is why we seek support, journal, get a therapist/counselor or even a coach to put you in action. You have to remain vigilant and use your coping skills to pull you out of the funk.

And remember, This Too Shall Pass. Change is inevitable.

Whatever you are going through will pass. It will change. You will find your way.

As a nurse, I can tell you there are times when medication is helpful. If you cannot seem to shake the emotional state, if you are crying too often, if the mood or depression becomes overwhelming that it interferes with your ability to conduct your daily affairs, then reach out to your doctor. Your primary care physician may not be as skilled at dealing with depression as a psychiatrist. If you feel it is necessary, then ask for a referral to a specialist.

Whatever you do, don’t just let it go. Depression can take on a life of its own. Be with it.

Acknowledge your emotions.

Get support. Trust that answers will come and that it will pass - because it will - but you will still need to work through it.

As Buddha said, “You, above all, deserve your love and affection.”

Julie Donley, RN BSN MBA is a psychiatric nurse, success expert and author of several empowering and motivating books including Does Change have to be so H.A.R.D.? and The Journey Called YOU: A Roadmap to Self-Discovery and Acceptance. She is dedicated to inspiring you to be your personal best and feel good about yourself as you navigate through life. Visit her website www.JulieDonley.com for selfhelp resources, to purchase her books and to subscribe to her inspiring and informative blog and be your best today!

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To Help Others Develop, Start With Yourself Great leaders encourage leadership development by openly developing themselves.

by Marshall Goldsmith Listen to what General Mills CEO Steve Sanger recently told 90 of his colleagues: “As you all know, last year my team told me that I needed to do a better job of coaching my direct reports. I just reviewed my 360-degree feedback. I have been working on becoming a better coach for the past year or so. I’m still not doing quite as well as I want, but I’m getting a lot better. My coworkers have been helping me improve.

Another thing that I feel good about is the fact that my scores on ‘effectively responds to feedback’ are so high this year.”

While listening to Steve speak so openly to coworkers about his efforts to develop himself as a leader, I realized how much the world has changed. Twenty years ago, few CEOs received feedback from their colleagues. Even fewer candidly discussed that feedback and their personal developmental plans. Today, many of the world’s most respected chief executives are setting a positive example by opening up, striving continually to develop themselves

as leaders. In fact, organizations that do the best job of cranking out leaders tend to have CEOs like Steve Sanger who are directly and actively involved in leadership development. That has certainly been my experience. This has also been confirmed by a recently completed research project led by Marc Effron at Hewitt Associates, one of the largest HR consulting firms.

Hewitt and Chief Executive magazine put General Mills on their latest list of the top-20 companies for leaders, among such familiar names as IBM and General Electric.

Hewitt found that these organizations tend to more actively manage their talent.

They put lots of focus on identifying high-potential people, better differentiate compensation, serve up the right kinds of development opportunities, and closely watch turnover. But crucial to all these efforts were CEO support and involvement.

No question, one of the best ways top executives can get their leaders to improve

Steve Sanger, CEO of General Mills

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the CEO about his business challenges and developmental needs makes it a lot easier for employees to discuss their own business challenges and developmental needs.

Michael Dell, founder of DELL

is to work on improving themselves.

Leading by example can mean a lot more than leading by public-relations hype.

Michael Dell, whose company made the Hewitt list, is a perfect example. As one of the most successful leaders in business history, he could easily have an attitude that says, “I am Michael Dell and you aren’t! I don’t really need to work on developing myself.” Michael, however, has the opposite approach. He has done an amazing job of sincerely discussing his personal challenges with leaders across the company. He is a living case study from whom everyone at Dell is learning. His leadership example makes it hard for any leader to act arrogant or to communicate that he or she has nothing to improve upon.

Johnson & Johnson, tied for first on the top-20 list, has successfully involved its executives in leadership development. Its CEOs, formerly Ralph Larsen and now Bill Weldon, and top executive team regularly participate in a variety of leadershipbuilding activities. Having a dialogue with

Executive candor can even help turn around a troubled company. Consider Northrop Grumman, the aerospace defense contractor. CEO Kent Kresa inherited a company that had a poor reputation for integrity, a battered stock price, and an unfortunate reputation as one of the least-admired companies in its industry. His leadership team reversed the company’s poor image and engineered an amazing turnaround - ultimately becoming the Forbes’ most-admired company.

From the beginning of the process, Kent led by example. He communicated clear expectations for ethics, values, and behavior. He made sure that he was evaluated by the same standards that he set for everyone else. He consistently reached out to coworkers. He didn’t just work to develop his leaders--he created an environment in which the company’s leaders were working to develop him.

Unfortunately, in the same way that CEO support and involvement can help companies nurture leaders, CEO arrogance can have the opposite effect. When the boss acts like a little god and tells everyone else they need to improve, that behavior can be copied at every level of management. Every level then points out how the level below it needs to change. The end result: No one gets much better.

The principle of leadership development by personal example doesn’t apply just to CEOs. It applies to all levels of management. All good leaders want their people to grow and develop on the job.

Who knows? If we work hard to improve ourselves, we might even encourage the people around us to do the same thing.

Marshall Goldsmith

Dr. Marshall Goldsmith was recently named winner of the Thinkers50 Leadership Award (sponsored by Harvard Business Review) as the world’s most influential leadership thinker. Along with being recognized as the #1 leadership thinker, Marshall was listed as the #7 greatest business thinker in the world. What Got You Here Won’t Get You There was the #2 bestseller on the INC Magazine / CEO Read list of business bestsellers for 2011. This is the fifth year in a row that What Got You Here Won’t Get You There was in the top ten. MOJO was listed at #19. This is the second year in a row that it has been in the top twenty.

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