THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 MARCH 2020
POSTGRADUATE
Start changing for equality
WOMEN’S participation in science,
technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM) fields is still
largely lacking compared with
their male counterparts. Despite
more female students undertaking
science-related programmes,
UNESCO Science Report: Towards
2030, states that women are
consistently under-represented,
especially in STEM industries.
According to the American
Psychological Association, nearly
40% of women who earn
engineering degrees quit the
profession or never enter the field
at all. Similarly, in Malaysia, the
Board of Engineers reveals that out
of all female engineering graduates
(who make up only 26% of the
whole picture), only 6% in this
group become professional
engineers. This implies that the
low number of women in the
industry is due to the lack of
retention rather than interest.
In order to fix the “leaky
pipeline”, more focus should be
placed on why women leave the
engineering field.
Breaking the “maternal
wall”
Engineering is a demanding
industry where it can be difficult to
achieve a healthy work-life
balance. The demands of the
profession are enormous, and
many companies expect their
employees to work at least 40 to 60
hours or more a week.
According to a 2011 study
conducted at the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee, an
uncomfortable work climate is the
top reason women decide to leave
the engineering field. Female
engineers are often discouraged by
their working conditions, including
poor work-life balance, gender-
based inequality (especially with
wages), and inflexible or non-
supportive colleagues.
Companies need to create an
atmosphere that is conducive to
the growth of all
engineers, regardless of
gender. Meetings
scheduled after child
daycare hours,
frequent travelling for
work and heavy
workloads make it
The path to
becoming an
engineer is a
hard one, but so
is remaining in
the industry,
especially for
female engineers.
With times changing and the workforce driving diversity in most areas including gender-wise, the engineering sector must start taking bold steps to retain
more women.
difficult for many women to
balance both career commitments
and caring for their families.
Today, women not only have to
break the glass ceiling, but also the
“maternal wall”.
Even in this day and age, there is
sometimes a perception among
employers that married women or
mothers are less committed to
their careers in the long term
because of family commitments. In
fact, some employers even have a
veiled practice of avoiding hiring
female employees because of the
perceived notion that they have
less resourcefulness on the job.
Manglin Pillay, former chief
executive officer of the South
African Institution of Civil
Engineering (SAICE), faced
backlash for his comments in
SAICE’s July issue of its in-house
Civil Engineering magazine in 2018.
Pillay said, “Women choose to have
the flexibility to dedicate
themselves to more important
enterprises like family and the
raising of children”. He goes on to
claim that more men occupy
high-profile executive posts
not because of gender, but
because of appetite for
workload and extreme
performance requirements
at that level. Such
preconceptions only
limit women’s future
opportunities and
promotions.
In contrast, according to a report
by a management consulting
company, International Labour
Organization (ILO) and Gallup, 70%
of women prefer to work in paid
jobs rather than caring for their
families full-time.
Women in power
As a solution to encourage more
women in engineering, female
engineers should be given
opportunities to hold leadership
positions. This creates a culture
and environment where other
women can also thrive in, making
them feel more welcomed and
valued as well as promoting a
sense of inclusiveness.
Theoretically, this can lead to
lower staff turnovers, a wider
recruitment pool, and increased
productivity.
It also ensures that the voices of
women engineers are heard in the
decision-making process. This is
the first step in reducing or
eradicating negative gender
perceptions. A 2012 report from
investment banking company
Credit Suisse points out that
companies with women on their
boards tend to produce better
business results than boards
consisting of only men, which
underlines the positive impact of
gender diversity.
Upping their game
Diversity and inclusiveness are
the responsibility of everyone in
the industry. However, it is not just
about attracting women into
engineering, but also retaining
them.
It is undeniable that engineering
is a challenging discipline and has
a higher passing standard
compared to many other courses in
college. Quick Facts 2018: Malaysia
Educational Statistics booklet
published by the Education
Ministry’s Educational Planning
and Research Division states that
engineering was among the
programmes that contributed to
the highest number of students
who did not graduate.
Engineering students work hard
to follow their passions and pursue
a career in engineering, and might
feel disheartened after witnessing
the reality of working in the field,
especially in sexist and unfair
environments. Although it might
not fall in line with expectations,
there is light at the end of the
tunnel. Times are changing, more
companies are trying to recruit and
retain female engineers.
At the corporate level,
companies have been trying to
introduce new policies to retain
more female engineers. Companies
with high female employee
retention rates tend to see a boost
in staff morale and productivity.
Google, Accenture and Intel are
among those that are taking an
active approach in recruiting and
retaining female engineers.
Companies now are beginning to
understand the value women
engineers bring to the workforce
and are thus striving to hire more
women. However, in order to do
so, firms must start looking into the
corporate structures in place and
make them favourable for women.
“Companies need to up their
game as there is a lot of
competition for female engineering
graduates, who can choose from a
good range of options outside the
profession. Women engineering
graduates are highly sought after,
so to attract them, there must be a
good range of benefits, reputation
and a track record of having a
diverse workforce,” said WISE
Campaign chief executive Helen
Wollaston in an article published
by Raconteur.
Flexitime and maternity leave
are some of the bare minimum
efforts. Forbes calls “flexitime” or
flexible working conditions a non-
negotiable term for engineers. In
addition, Working Mother states
that the top 100 companies in the
United States that offer up to 16
weeks of paid maternity leave
have higher retention rates of
female employees. Companies that
recognise this fact and develop
values and cultures that support
women participation in a once
male-dominated industry will
reap the benefits in the long run.
Changing the status quo
On an academic level,
universities can help ease female
engineering graduates into the
workforce. Female engineers in
leadership positions can be invited
as guest speakers for forums or
industry talks. Their experience
and opinions can be invaluable to
aspiring female aspiring engineers
and can even help them in their
future careers.
Field trips to engineering sites
and companies can be organised
by universities to be a part of
student’s curriculum. Students can
see first-hand the skills required
for day-to-day operations, giving
them an idea on what they need
to build and improve on. These
experiences help them better
equip themselves for their future
careers.
Higher participation by women
in engineering can only bring
positive changes to the status quo
and barriers female engineers
face at present. In the dawn of this
new decade, respecting and
honouring gender equality are
fundamentals to creating a
balanced as well as productive
workforce and society.
2 Postgraduate THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 MARCH 2020

Equipping managers
with relevant skills
EIGHT made history on Nov 2 last year as
International Medical University’s (IMU) first
cohort received the Postgraduate Certificate
of Business Administration in Healthcare
Management at a convocation ceremony.
This programme can be studied in three
levels and completing the Postgraduate
Certificate is the first step before the eight
graduands move on to the Postgraduate
Diploma and, finally, Master of Business
Administration in Healthcare Management
(MBAHM).
The programme aims to equip managers
with relevant skills to run the healthcare
industry by gaining a firm understanding on
how to critically assess health systems and
healthcare structures, apply core principles
of management in healthcare settings, and
operate within prevailing legal frameworks.
The availability of three programme levels
(Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate
Diploma and Master) allows multiple entry
and multiple exit strategies, in line with the
mission and vision of the Education Ministry
to improve access to lifelong learning.
“The first cohort of students came from
several backgrounds, including nursing,
quantitative surveyor, biochemist, doctors
and management. Eight of the inaugural
cohort have graduated with their
postgraduate certificate and will seamlessly
progress to the master’s programme.
“The programme is working-adult friendly
and offers the flexibility for those who want
to accelerate their programme and complete
the course within 15 months or stretch it out
by doing it part-time. What students like is
how they can not only attend the classes
The programme aims to
equip managers with relevant
skills to run the healthcare
industry by gaining a firm
understanding on how
to critically assess health
systems and healthcare
structures, apply core
principles of management
in healthcare settings, and
operate within prevailing
legal frameworks.
virtually, but also take part in group
presentations even if they are out-of-town or
overseas,” says Tok Puan Prof Safurah
Ja’afar, Healthcare Management programme
director at IMU.
During this 15-month programme,
students will have the opportunity to interact
with and learn from eminent guest lecturers
with vast experience from various industries
ranging from private hospitals,
pharmaceuticals, oil and gas and more.
Several industrial visits within and outside
Malaysia were also organised to enhance
knowledge and provide exposure to real
business environment.
Managers in the healthcare industry are essential personnel who, in this day and age, should
be equipped with the necessary front-end and back-end skills.
“The journey so far is full of mixed
feelings. Various visits and guest lectures
from industry leaders have given us a
practical learning perspective. Therefore,
this is a highly commendable effort from the
MBAHM team for the organisation of all
these activities,” says Tan Su Ching, an
MBAHM student.
“As a medical doctor, the intense feeling
of wanting to explore the administrative
side of healthcare began when I started
clinical work. I wanted to make a change,
create a new and encouraging environment
in the healthcare industry, and drive
healthcare to a better future. The
programme definitely pushes you to become
better, with good coaching from the
lecturers and multiple external lecturers
sharing their industry experiences,” says
Kumudhini, another student.
“It was good to learn to associate industry
experience with theory in this programme.
The basic modules of the Postgraduate
Certificate level have prepared me to
continue with the Master programme to
gain more depth of knowledge in healthcare
governance and systematic research,
readying me to be a better manager in my
organisation. Self-guided learning in this
programme is a good approach for the
working adult’s busy schedule while
continuing his studies,” says Chung Shin
Fung, a student of the programme.
Upon receiving the MBAHM, these
graduands would have not only gained an
advantage of getting into the business and
management job market, but also be
equipped with a specialty highly sought-
after by the healthcare industry. If you are
interested in this programme, apply online
via www.imu.edu.my today.
IMU offers postgraduate programmes,
including Master in Science (MSc)
programmes in public health, analytical and
pharmaceutical chemistry, molecular
medicine and acupuncture, the Master in
Pharmacy Practice, postgraduate diplomas
in diabetes management and education,
implant dentistry, endodontics and
prosthodontics, postgraduate programmes
in health professions education and
business administration in healthcare
management, as well as MSc and PhD
programmes in medical and health
sciences.
n For more information about this or other
postgraduate programmes, visit www.imu.
edu.my, email postgraduate@imu.edu.my or
call 03-2731 7272.

A degree that takes you places

AS Curtin University’s largest international Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of
campus and global campus in Asia, Curtin Philosophy (PhD) levels.
Malaysia offers different levels of MPhil programmes normally require one
postgraduate study and industry-aligned to two years of supervised individual
programmes under its Faculty of research study, and the successful
Engineering and Science, Faculty of Business completion of an MPhil indicates the
and Faculty of Humanities, in collaboration candidate’s significant contribution to his
with the Curtin Malaysia Graduate School field of study and his capability of
and relevant faculties at Curtin’s main conducting independent research. PhD
campus in Perth, Australia. programmes usually take at least three years
If prospective students have undertaken of research study and candidates are
study or work experience that match part of expected to uncover new knowledge through
their course requirements, appropriate the discovery of new facts, formulation of
credit will be given so that they can reduce new theories or innovative interpretation of
their course duration. If they cannot commit known data and established ideas.
to long-term programmes, some Study support for research students is
programmes offer graduate certificates or provided through full or partial fee waivers
diplomas, allowing them to graduate within or Curtin Malaysia Postgraduate Research
six months to a year. Studentship grants.
Jointly taught by staff of the Faculty of
Engineering and Science and Faculty of n For more information on postgraduate
Business, the Master of Engineering programmes at Curtin Malaysia, visit
Management course provides a balance courses.curtin.edu.my/courses-and-study/
between engineering and business skills. The postgrad
Faculty of Engineering and Science also
offers the Master of Petroleum Engineering.
The Faculty of Business, meanwhile, offers
the Master of International Business. The
course helps experienced managers and
entrepreneurs keep abreast with the latest
international business strategies, especially
in light of globalisation. This faculty also
offers the Master of Commerce in Marketing,
which is ranked second in Australia in the
2017 Eduniversal Best Masters Ranking.
For those keen on acquiring a foundation
in the core areas of policy analysis and
management, the Faculty of Humanities
offers the Master of Policy Sciences. Also on
offer from this faculty is the Master of
Project Management, which features
graduate certificate and diploma levels.
In addition to the coursework degrees,
Curtin Malaysia offers higher degree by
research programmes that provide an
exciting learning environment for
tomorrow’s leading researchers. The
research degrees are offered at both
THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 MARCH 2020 3
4 Postgraduate
Researching for improvement
MALAYSIA has been affected by a series of
water disruptions recently, with the
frequency of such occurrences increasing at
an alarming rate. Some of the factors behind
these are structural, which require long-term
strategies such as addressing regular
incidents of pollution at water treatment
centres and educating the public on
sustainable practices. However, there are
pressing issues that can be addressed swiftly
that will, to some extent, alleviate the water
crisis.
Non-Revenue Water (NRW) is a term that
is used to describe water that does not reach
the intended recipient. Statistics from 2017
by the Ministry of Water, Land and Natural
Resources shows Malaysia’s NRW rate at
35%. This translates to 5,929 million litres of
water per day (MLD), which is more than
enough to satisfy the water demands for
Selangor (3,316 MLD), and Johor (1,320 MLD)
respectively.
The four common materials used for pipes
are ductile iron, mild steel, High-Density
Polyethylene (HDPE), and PVC-O. The main
stakeholders here are the water authorities
and key decision-makers who advise the
former on the choice of piping.
However, for a matter so profound, little
has been done in the way of empirical
research that would help determine the
appropriate materials used for pipes in the
proper areas, for the right cost.
A team of academics at Monash University
Malaysia are researching the different
materials used in piping with respect to their
mechanical properties, transportability,
corrosion resistance and a host of other
criteria.
The team consists of Dr Lim Jen Nee Jones,
Assoc Prof Tan Boon Thong, Dr Daniel Kong
Lean Yew from the School of Engineering
and Dr Puspavathy Rassiah from the School
of Business.
From left: Dr Lim Jen
Nee Jones, Dr Daniel
Kong Lean Yew and
Dr Puspavathy Rassiah.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 MARCH 2020
Assoc Prof Tan explains that the objective
of the research is to give a systematic and
comprehensive evaluation of different
options to satisfy specific needs so that
stakeholders can make better-informed
decisions. “The feeling in the industry is that
the choice of materials used in piping is not
very objective and is just based on anecdotal,
and historical evidence,” said Assoc Prof Tan.
“Right now, once a design is out, the
tendering process then begins. The design is
essentially fixed from that point on.
Whoever gets the contract does not have any
choice but to follow the design. The decision-
makers, in this instance, are typically the
consultants hired by clients or developers
who would advise them on the design based
on general guidelines provided by water
authorities.”
The objective of this research is to guide
the decision-makers using a more systematic
and objective approach to selecting the pipe Assoc Prof Tan Boon Thong.
rather than historical or anecdotal evidence.
Assoc Prof Tan says many factors determine consultants. The hard data and subjective
the durability and longevity of pipes, based evaluations will help point to options that
on materials used. best suit the local environment.
The expertise of the research team comes As the research is in the early phase, the
to the fore in instances where all four team is still deciding the mechanisms on
materials are suitable to be used. Typically, how to weigh each criterion, as it involves
the only criteria such as cost, expertise, various aspects such as cost, the quality of
familiarity with the contractors and the water, the durability of the pipe, the
designers were considered, which could be maintenance cost, transportation costs of the
limiting. As water concessionaires vary from pipe and environmental impact.
state to state, the research team’s two- Assoc Prof Tan highlights the sanctity of
pronged approach involves firstly collecting research conducted by those in academia, as
and analysing data from all the different it is geared towards an impartial outcome:
water authorities in different states. “A university can give a more objective
The importance of feedback from approach to it, rather than a company. We
stakeholders is underlined by the want to try to be as independent as possible.
researcher’s plan to gather data from It is of maximum value to the society, and
participants of various water-related industry, if an objective evaluation is done
conferences. This includes a variety of and then decision-makers like the water
people in the industry from suppliers to authorities and consultants can see which
contractors, water authorities and options are better”.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 MARCH 2020
Get a taste of choice courses
IMAGINE you are in the cinema, waiting for
a movie to begin. The room darkens and
the screen comes alive to play trailers of
future cinematic offerings. By the start of
the movie, you have probably decided
which films to catch the next time around.
While this is nothing new for
moviegoers, what if you could also get a
preview of the courses taught at
universities? At Open University Malaysia
(OUM), now you can. Recently introduced
on Mar 15, this exciting new way of
learning known as micro-credentials lets
you experience our courses before you
decide to enrol in one.
As stated by the Malaysian Qualifications
Agency, micro-credentials are a form of
certification that “focus on much smaller
modules of learning than those covered
in conventional academic
awards, which often
allow learners to
complete the required
work over a shorter
period”.
At OUM, this approach allows you to try
out the first few topics in a course for you to
get a taste of what is available. The best
thing about this is that you do not have to
enrol or immediately pay for anything. All
you need is an Internet connection and you
can learn something new while also getting
certified in your areas of interest.
How does it work?
Academic programmes offered by OUM
comprise many courses, and every course or
module comprises 10 topics. In micro-
credentials, you can experience the first
three topics in a course for free. These
include e-content and online forums, as well
as subject-matter expert and tutor support.
Upon completing one assignment, you will
receive a Certificate of Participation.
Additionally, if you want to learn beyond
the first three topics, you can choose to sign
up for the whole course. The fees are
affordable and you can gain full access,
including the remaining seven topics,
additional features and assessments, for
which you will receive credits.
Once you have completed them all, you
will receive a digital badge that testifies to
your learning achievement. You can collect
as many badges as you like as there are no
limits to the number of courses you can take.
If you decide to take up a full programme
later on, just visit the OUM website or any
one of our learning centres to register.
You will be able to use the relevant
badges to earn credits and shorten
your study duration, thus
Postgraduate 5
By PROF
DATUK DR
MANSOR
FADZIL
increasing your employability.
At this introductory phase, 19 courses
from eight programmes are currently on
offer. These programmes are the:
l Diploma in Information Technology
l Diploma in Early Childhood Education
l Diploma in Islamic Studies
l Bachelor of Business Administration
l Bachelor of Human Resource
Management
l Bachelor of Communication
l Bachelor of Teaching (Primary
Education)
l Master of Business Administration
There are also professional courses in the
fields of culinary arts and cybersecurity.
Micro-credentials are a great way to enjoy
a personalised approach to lifelong learning
and acquire new knowledge and skills. Now
approaching 20 years as Malaysia’s premier
open and distance learning institution,
OUM’s micro-credentials approach offers you
a unique chance to take charge of your own
learning experience.
Those interested can visit www.oumonline.
edu.my to sign up. For more information,
contact the Institute of Professional
Development (IPD-OUM) at 03-4141 5952
or email ipd@oum.edu.my
n Prof Datuk Dr Mansor Fadzil is president
and vice-chancellor of OUM.
6 Postgraduate
The future
of Malaysia’s
elephants
SINCE 2012, the University of Nottingham
Malaysia (UNM) has been working with
Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) and the
Department of Wildlife and National Parks
(Perhilitan), aiming to move towards more
Dr Wong Ee Phin is the evidence-based management and the
principle investigator of conservation of wild elephants in peninsular
the MEME project. Malaysia. This research project, known as the
Management and Ecology of Malaysian
Elephants (MEME), has just entered its third
phase.
The initial funding (January 2012 to
December 2016) totalled RM3.36mil. A second
phase (January 2017 to December 2019) saw a
further investment of RM1.9mil. We are
delighted that YSD recently agreed to
continue their support (January 2020 to
December 2022) with further funding of
RM2.85mil. Throughout the 11 years (2012 to
2022), MEME will receive RM8.11mil from
YSD. We are extremely grateful to YSD for
being the main sponsor of this important
research. We recognise that it is a significant
investment and we value both YSD and
Perhilitan’s continued confidence in UNM’s
ability to make an impact in this area.
Although wild elephants need the forest to
survive, they are attracted to plants and grass
and will come out of the forest to its edge
where humans live, resulting in conflict. If
not managed, these conflicts generate
resentment against the species, which leads to
actions such as the killing of elephants.
Before MEME started, not much was
known about the ecology and behaviour of
wild Asian elephants in the rainforest.
Despite being the largest terrestrial animal in
Asia, there has been no long-term study. This
is partly because of the challenges in
observing and tracking the elephants in the
thick jungle and limited funding for
conservation and its research initiatives in
this region, which is still a persistent problem.
In the first phase of MEME, the focus was
to build the capacity of local experts and
monitor the impact of translocation on wild
elephants. With YSD’s support, MEME and
Perhilitan collared 50 elephants with GPS
satellite collars to track their movements,
producing one of the largest elephant
movement databases in this region.
MEME’s ecology studies have also revealed
Smart manufacturing
is the latest trend
that is revolutionising
the manufacturing
sector.
The future of manufacturing
IF you ask someone what he knows about
manufacturing, chances are he will say
something along the lines of automation,
assembly lines or even robots. With the
Fourth Industrial Revolution taking place in
Malaysia, along comes a new wave of
interconnected manufacturers and smart
factories. Smart manufacturing and
factories are starting to become the norm
within the manufacturing sector.
Smart manufacturing is the use of
technology and automation to transform
THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 MARCH 2020
the important role that elephants play as a
critical link in our ecosystem. They disperse
the seeds of fruit trees such as durian and
mangoes and create salt licks and paths in
the forest for other animals to use. They
also help in nutrient-cycling.
MEME has helped significantly in raising
awareness on the profile of elephants in
Malaysia to improve tolerance among
communities. However, more needs to be
done, not least to bring about a change in
behaviour (e.g. to prevent elephant killings).
The third phase of this research project
hopes to address problems such as these.
In this third phase, MEME’s leadership at
UNM will pass from Prof Ahimsa Campos-
Arceiz to Dr Wong Ee Phin. Dr Wong was
the first PhD graduate sponsored by YSD.
This is, in itself, a success story, as one of the
main objectives of MEME from the very
beginning was to build Malaysian capacity
to ensure the sustainability of the project.
This is one example of delivery towards this
goal.
The MEME project will face many
challenges as conflict management is
complex because of the many different
stakeholders and communities. It is timely
for the conservation and research
community to take up this challenge. With
the help of like-minded partners and
supporters, by setting aside differences and
seeking common ground, the third phase of
MEME has the potential to continue to make
progress in this important area.
For more information or to get involved,
visit www.meme-elephants.org
n Prof Graham Kendall is chief executive
officer, provost and pro-vice-chancellor of
the University of Nottingham Malaysia.
Twitter: @Graham_Kendall
factories from a passive assembly line to a
“smart”, self-correcting system, which uses
real-time data to make changes to itself.
Imagine this: Your boss calls you in the
middle of the night telling you to rush to the
manufacturing plant because something
went wrong. At one glance, you don’t know
what the problem is, and have to poke
around documents and files and machines
to figure out the issue.
> SEE NEXT PAGE
THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 MARCH 2020 Postgraduate 7

Upgrade your IT mastery

GOOD news for information
technology (IT) professionals:
Open University Malaysia (OUM)
is offering the Master of
Information Technology (MIT)
programme once again, with
updated and new courses. The
programme kicked off in January.
Programme director Jaspal
Kaur Naranjan Singh says, “We
have added Information Security
Management, a course that is
included in the Certified
Information Systems Security
Professional (CISSP) curriculum.
“Those interested in data
science will be happy to know
that there are new elective
courses as well, including
Artificial Intelligence, Machine
Learning and Data Analytics.
Learners will be able to apply
these key analytical tools in
strategic formulations crucial to
meet the demands of local and
international markets.”
Not only will this fresh take on
the programme benefit IT
professionals, it will also provide
opportunities to individuals who
do not have a basic IT degree but
want to contribute and meet the
demands of their organisations
with skills and knowledge in IT
management.
“Two prerequisite courses are
offered to those without prior
academic qualifications in IT
or computer science. This is
Jaspal Kaur
Naranjan Singh.
to adequately prepare them for
advanced studies. The
programme will help them
develop the right knowledge and
skills for a career that demands
the relevant qualification,” says
Jaspal.
With 12 structured courses
representing 40 credit hours, the
two-year programme is a
complete and comprehensive
master’s degree option for
learners who want to expand
their knowledge on the latest
concepts and techniques in this
exciting field.
The programme structure has
been updated to reflect current
needs of the IT industry and
adheres to the Computing
Standards outlined by the
Malaysian Qualifications Agency.
There are seven core courses, a
master project paper and three
elective courses to complete. For
the elective courses, learners can
choose between IT management
courses, networking and data
science.
Jaspal adds, “To add value
to the programme, OUM also
includes lessons related to
practical and organisational
skills.”
IT has always played a big role
in organisations, from top-level
decision-making to daily tasks of
employees. Current key drivers
to this industry include big data,
artificial intelligence and
cybersecurity, as well as security
and data management in
organisations. Hence, OUM’s
re-introduced programme aims to
produce responsible, innovative
and creative graduates with skills
in planning, organising, designing
and managing various IT-based
solutions in different
organisations.
In line with OUM’s aspirations
to provide opportunities for
anyone to achieve his or her
dreams regardless of academic
background or qualifications, the
university also provides an
alternative entry pathway
through the Accreditation of Prior
Experiential Learning (APEL)
programme.
“With APEL, individuals with
diploma, A-Levels or STPM
qualifications can apply to enrol
in the programme, provided they
have relevant work experience in
the IT industry,” Jaspal concludes.
For IT professionals, a master’s
degree in the field may prove to
be the best investment they can
make. If you are ready to take up
the challenge, the MIT
programme is perfect for you.
n For more information on the
MIT and other programmes, call
the OUM Speed Line at 03-7801
2000, email enquiries@oum.edu.
my or visit www.oum.edu.my

Creating
new solutions
> FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
With smart manufacturing,
you can pinpoint and fix the
issue right away by using your
computer, tablet, or even phone
without stepping out of your
house. In a more advanced
scenario, the issue can be fixed
by the factory itself without
human interference. With the
rising opportunities presented by
implementing smart
manufacturing, Malaysian
businesses have started to
capitalise on this opportunity
and reap the benefits.
For example, SMART Modular
Technologies Sdn Bhd (SMART),
a leading supplier of specialty
memory, and storage solutions
manufacturer, collaborated with
IBM to implement robots using
artificial intelligence in its
manufacturing process. SMART
implemented the use of
automation within its own
manufacturing processes. It later
deployed collaborative robots
(Cobots) to run its test stations,
automating the entire process
and improving its testing
capabilities.
Galactic Advance Engineering
(M) Sdn Bhd, a local industrial
automation specialist, launched
its GENiE Smart Factory Solution
in its efforts to increase smart
manufacturing practices in the
manufacturing sector. GENiE is a
cloud-based intelligent solution
that aims to empower better
decision-making on the
production floor through data
analytics. It enables
manufacturers to improve
operations financial loses and
downtime from financial
interruptions.
These improvements
empower manufacturers to have
better decision making through
data analytics. With companies
quickly adopting the use of
smart manufacturing and
factories, it better prepares them
to adapt to the ever-changing
market.

To help manufacturers remain competent and competitive in today’s

IR4.0 markets, smart manufacturing comes into play with a blend of
artificial intelligence, data analytics and automation.
8 Postgraduate
Learning
opportunities
for anyone
ACCREDITATION of Prior Experiential
Learning (APEL) returns opportunities for
an education that had been put on hold,
with flexible learning at Management and
Science University (MSU). Knowledge is the
currency of the 21st century economy and
meeting the ever-increasing need for
qualified, higher-skilled workers is APEL.
Introduced and approved by the
Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA),
APEL widens access to higher education
for adult learners who are rich in work-
experience yet lacking academic
qualifications. The Accreditation of Prior
Experiential Learning via Credit Transfer
(APEL C) pathway provides credit transfer
for entry into diploma programmes right
up to PhD.
APEL C allows assessment of credits
against matching modules in a programme
of study. Once an APEL C applicant’s
competency level is determined, those
credits can shorten his or her entire study
duration considerably, saving time and
money.
An applicant presenting only SPM for
university entrance application, for
example, would usually qualify for diploma
studies only. With APEL C, it’s possible to
pursue a bachelor’s degree directly.
MSU offers breakthrough ways for
working adults wishing to further their
studies. A wide range of programmes are
offered with the student’s convenience as
well as their educational and professional
backgrounds in mind.
Lifelong learners from all walks of life
may access MSU’s range of undergraduate
and postgraduate programmes and choose
from a variety of study modes to fit their
situation best: whether to attend classes on
the weekdays, the weekends, or in the
evenings, or to opt for virtual learning that
runs via video conference supported by
online discussion.
Applied, enterprise and technology-
driven, MSU is steeped in the cultures of
research, innovation and social
entrepreneurship. MSU comprises the
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, the
Faculty of Business Management and
Professional Studies, the Faculty of
Information Sciences and Engineering, the
International Medical School, the School of
Pharmacy, the School of Education and
Social Sciences, the School of Hospitality
and Creative Arts, the School of Graduate
Studies and the Graduate School of
Management.
Lifelong learning is vital for everybody
and not just for the insatiably curious. Make
lifelong learning a part of yourself, advance
in your professional life and gain immense
personal fulfilment.
Lifelong learners from all walks of life may access MSU’s range of undergraduate and
postgraduate programmes and choose from a variety of study modes.
As a top university in Malaysia and the
country’s best teaching and learning
university, MSU prioritises student
development to enhance graduate
employability. Its highly qualified academics
and international visiting professors support
a holistic curricular framework that delivers
compelling learning experiences.
Blending technical vocational education
and training (TVET) with traditional
academic curricula, MSU enhances
competencies with industry internship,
community and creative entrepreneurship,
as well as global exposure; empowering MSU
graduates with the well-roundedness desired
and sought after by employers.
Extensive partnerships and collaborations
with institutions in more than 40 countries
worldwide provide comprehensive mobility
opportunities for all MSU students,
enhancing their graduate employability
through global exposures by studies and
internships abroad.
A mechanical helping hand
SMART manufacturing provides businesses
with the ability to solve existing and future
problems that might occur. Its adoption can
provide manufacturers with a plethora of
benefits. Below are several benefits of
adopting smart manufacturing.
l Better decision making
Smart technologies automate data
collection and provide advanced production
analytics. It also “democratises” the data
collected. Instead of the data being available
only to executives or higher management, it
is available to the wider pool of workers.
Data collected by smart technologies is
available to anyone who needs it via real-
time dashboards. Instead of waiting for
decisions to be made higher up, it can
instead be done by those closest to the failing
process, allowing them to fix the issue on
their own.
On the same note, by delivering data
directly to those who need it, it ensures that
the data collected is used efficiently and not
abandoned. Very often, data collected is
never used, causing a loss of opportunities,
lower efficiency and less productivity.
l Reduce costs
When businesses wish to increase their
profits, it is done either by increasing
product prices or reducing production costs,
the second of which can be done via smart
manufacturing.
Smart manufacturing provides managers
with better insight into their supply chain,
such as inventory levels, delivery status and
THE STAR, TUESDAY 17 MARCH 2020
Among the best in the region, MSU’s study
programmes are meticulously crafted to
enhance graduate potential, producing
graduates that are a popular pick among
employers.
With 98.7% of its graduates successfully
securing employment within six months of
their graduation, MSU is ranked by the
Ministry of Education (MoE) as Malaysia’s
No.1 for graduate employability. MSU also
made the Top 100 Leading Graduate
Employers list and received the
GradMalaysia 2019 Award for The Most
Popular Graduate Employer in the Education
Sector.
MSU was also rated by MoE as SETARA
Tier-5 Excellent Status University and ranked
as The Most Entrepreneurial Private
University in Malaysia
n For more information, call 03-5521 6868,
email enquiry@msu.edu.my or visit www.
msu.edu.my
demand cycles. When a manufacturer’s
operations and enterprise systems are
connected, forecast accuracy can be
increased.
Instead of under- or over-producing goods,
manufacturers are able to predict the exact
demand of their customers. This prevents
any additional cost that could arise from
excessive inventory, material wastage and
potential loss of sales.
l Improved efficiency
According to Murphy’s Law, “Anything
that can go wrong will go wrong.” This
sentiment is taken to heart in manufacturing
factories. With complex production lines, an
interruption in just one process can cause
massive delays in entire production lines.
Every aspect of a smart factory generates
large amounts of data. Through continuous
analysis of this data, factories are able to
identify any performance issue, and quickly
correct and optimise it.
As organisations start to adopt new smart
manufacturing technologies, the
competencies required by graduates and the
workforce likewise change as well.
Local expertise and a skilled workforce
need to be present for Malaysia to increase
smart manufacturing practices in the sector,
and this can only happen when universities
step up to the challenge. Universities need to
be aware of current needs and ensure the
education they offer is continually updated
to remain relevant in light of change.