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THE STAR Tuesday 16 September 2014

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2 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 16 September 2014
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> TURN TO PAGE 12
Pushing
through the
murky clouds
BY TINA CARMILLIA
T
HE eld of computing and
information communication
technology (ICT) continues to
grow despite the instability of the
global economy, maybe because
it is the new frontier, to use a very
old term.
A graduate in this eld has
the opportunity to specialise and
work in any industry that uses
a computer and the Internet for
its day-to-day operations and
that is every conceivable industry
today. For the graduate, the sky
(and the cloud), is not the limit.
More importantly, the roles of
professionals in the computer and
ICT eld are placed in the forefront
whenever a new technology or
device is unveiled to the market
and the world revels in its
splendour. The same is true when
such technology or device makes
scandalous headlines.
When compromising photos of
celebrities were recently leaked,
new questions and concerns about
online personal data storage began
to emerge.
The leak puts a spotlight on the
security of the cloud as the FBI
and technology giant Apple look
into how what were supposedly
private images of Jennifer
Lawrence and other celebrities
that were stored online some
even deleted long ago were
hacked and posted on the online
forum 4Chan.
The hackers are suspected
of downloading the pictures
from cloud storage service that
automatically uploads and stores
les from smartphones and other
electronic devices. By exploiting
security weaknesses in the
electronic device service, the
hackers were able to access the
users personal accounts.
Even though it is not conrmed
that the photos came from Apples
iCloud accounts, a cloud solutions
architect, AZ Muhammad (not
his full name), explains that
it is possible for data thieves
to repeatedly try different
combinations of passwords or
answers to a users security
questions on Apples Find my
iPhone service using a tool called
iBrute.
Once the service is breached,
it provides the hackers with the
password for the users iCloud
account that gives them access
to the data stored in that cloud
system.
Whether it has anything to do
with the recent breach of security,
Apple, which previously allowed
unlimited number of password
attempts on the Find my iPhone
service has now limited it to just
ve attempts in order to make
iBrute ineffective in any further
security attacks, he says.
Nonetheless, he adds, this
security update raises even more
questions.
What are the other security
aws in the present data
storage system that people are
subscribing to? How do we know
if our data is secure? Do we have
to wait until the next security
breach before service providers
make further improvements to
their security structure?
Apple spokesperson Nat Kerris
said in a media statement, We
take user privacy very seriously
and are actively investigating
this report, and in a later update,
she added, None of the cases we
have investigated has resulted
from any breach in any of Apples
systems, including iCloud or Find
my iPhone.
After more than 40 hours of
investigation, we have discovered
that certain celebrity accounts
were compromised by a very
targeted attack on usernames,
passwords and security questions,
a practice that has become all too
common on the Internet.
Shaping the cloud
The cloud is simply a service
that allows software and data that
are run and stored on the Internet
instead of on a hard disk. The
cloud is a network of servers that
provide an online service or allows
you to store and access data.
Popular cloud services are
public cloud models such as
Apples iCloud, Dropbox, Evernote
and Google Drive.
Cloud computing is dened by
having software and information
grouped by sharing basis via
the Internet and effectively
maximising the shared resources.
It depends on two powerful
technologies: virtualisation and
abstraction. Virtualisation enables
different operating systems and
application to run on the same
server while abstraction hides
technology complexity from users.
It makes cloud a powerful tool,
explains Tay Thian Hing, senior IT
manager of Exitra Sdn Bhd.
The cloud infrastructure has
evolved over time. The most
commonly used cloud service
is public cloud that is used
extensively for private individuals
who are less likely to need the
level of infrastructure and security
offered by private clouds.
On the other hand, private
cloud is used solely for an
organisation within a rewall. A
combination of public and private
cloud, the hybrid cloud ensures
inter-operability with private
cloud under the control of IT
personnel.
There are many advantages to
using the cloud. Data and software
that are stored in the cloud are
available on any device, anywhere
as long as it is connected to
the Internet which makes
information instant and mobile.
Besides its shareability, the
clouds advantages include the
scalability of its resources so that
users can access information
without worrying about
computing capacity, bandwidth,
storage size or having to upgrade
or install new hardware or
software.
Instead, users are storing,
accessing and exchanging
information without using up any
of their devices internal data.
StarSpecial, Tuesday 16 September 2014 POSTGRADUATE 3
VC COLUMN
By PROF
CHRISTINE
ENNEW
Technology transforming
the education landscape
I
T is a little over 25 years since
Tim Berners-Lee wrote a project
proposal for what was soon to
become known as the World Wide
Web.
At the time, I was already
a regular e-mail user (to keep
in contact with research and
teaching collaborators) and I had
dabbled in the development of
computer-aided learning (CAL) for
my students.
So the emergence of the
web was something that really
captured my interest. But I had no
idea how truly transformational it
would be.
When the concept of the web
was disseminated to the academic
community, it quickly became
clear that it was a resource that
would be of real value in so many
different ways.
Most of these focused on
sharing and disseminating
information whether between
groups of researchers, between
learners and teachers or between
universities and prospective
students.
Very few of us appreciated
how transformational it would
become. Now, we operate in an
environment in which computers,
tablets and smartphones are a
normal feature of the learning
environment, university
communities expect fast Wi-Fi
to be available anywhere and
everywhere, and online learning
is increasingly typical.
Multinational academic
teams collaborate in online
environments, new research
ndings are disseminated by
Facebook and Twitter and a library
is less of a place to store books and
more a location for interactive and
collaborative learning.
The World Wide Web has
transformed not only the teaching
and research process, it has
also transformed the university
environment.
Alongside dramatic changes in
the delivery of higher education,
ICT has also revolutionised
the way in which education is
marketed. Initially, the changes
were quite simple and based on
the ability of technology-based
solutions to process more data
and to do so more quickly than
before.
Prospective students can gather
information more rapidly and
make more complex comparisons
than hitherto possible. But the
real revolution came with the
development and diffusion of Web
2.0 and particularly social media.
In combination with
smartphones and tablets, these
developments have enabled
prospective students to engage
with institutions and their
existing students in ways that had
not previously been possible
through video, audio, images and
chat.
The result was not just more
information, it was qualitatively
different information.
Prospective students no longer
relied on just what institutions
would tell them, they could
actually share the experiences of
existing students.
But the changes have not
stopped there. These new
technologies also have major
implications for the student
experience and for the ways in
which students, their teachers and
their institutions interact.
The sharing of information
has become easier, feedback has
become quicker and there is much
greater scope for students to
express themselves.
Students who may be reluctant
to speak up in a classroom setting
may be more willing to engage in
an online discussion and debate.
And institutional managers can
more easily understand the issues
that may be causing concern for
their students.
I can very easily nd out about
the issues that excite or worry
students at our university by
looking at the discussions taking
place on Facebook.
And I can easily participate in
those discussions, by offering my
views, providing explanations or
correcting misperceptions.
In managing the student
experience, such interactions can
be invaluable.
As always, there is a dark
side; the very features of social
media that make it so valuable
in facilitating interactions and
information sharing also present
opportunities for individuals to
mislead, to misrepresent and even
to become abusive. Recent press
discussions about the position of
Facebook have highlighted such
concerns.
Bullying and harassment in
online spaces are fortunately
rare, but not unknown.
Misrepresentation is more
widespread and inevitably gives
cause for concern.
But, it is important that we
remind ourselves that this
dark side is not the fault of
the technology but rather of the
individuals who use it.
And so those of us working
in the education sector must
increasingly think not just
about how we use the latest
ICT technologies effectively but
also about how we encourage
our own students to use those
same technologies sensibly and
responsibly.
n Prof Christine Ennew is the
chief executive ocer and provost
of The University of Nottingham
Malaysia Campus.
When the concept
of the web was
disseminated
to the academic
community, it
quickly became
clear that it was
a resource that
would be of real
value in so many
different ways.
4 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 16 September 2014
Successful graduates ready for next step
T
HE 16th Convocation
ceremony for Open
University Malaysia (OUM)
saw approximately 2,700
graduates receive their scrolls at
the Merdeka Hall, Putra World
Trade Centre (PWTC).
There were three sessions
two sessions on Aug 23 for
graduates of OUM and one
session on Aug 24 for graduates
of the Institute of Professional
Development (IPD-OUM) and the
International Open College (IOC).
The rst day saw a total of
1,865 students from six faculties
receiving their degree from Tun
Jeanne Abdullah, chancellor of
OUM, and Tan Sri Azman Hashim,
pro-chancellor of OUM.
The second day saw 929
students receiving their degree
for completing the executive
programmes with IPD-OUM
and IOC, presented by Meteor
Learning Sdn Bhd chairman Tan
Sri Mohamed Noordin Hassan.
The highlight of the event was
three inmates who graduated in
various elds.
They were the fruit of a
collaborative effort between
OUM and the Prisons
Department Malaysia.
This project is being
implemented in
prisons to provide
opportunities for
inmates who
wish to further
their studies while
serving their time.
The inmates
were clothed in full
graduation robes and
attended the graduation
ceremony under strict
supervision and tight
security.
This was the rst time
prisoners were allowed out of
prison to receive their scrolls.
One of them was awarded for
completing the Bachelor in
Business Administration and
the other two for the Diploma of
Management.
The Director of Prisons
Department of Malaysia,
Jamaluddin Saad said, The
management and inmates are
grateful to Tan Sri Azman and
Tan Sri Anuwar Ali (OUMs vice-
chancellor) for their efforts and
initiative to educate our inmates.
Although they are serving their
time, they deserve to be given a
second chance in life. Knowledge
is a requirement for them to
survive and make good, educated
decisions.
There are four inmates in Kota
Kinabalu who will be enrolling
in programmes next year. This
project will be implemented across
Malaysia.
Anuwar said, We have been
sending our tutors to prisons with
study supplies to educate prisoners
who have enrolled in OUM
courses. Such is our dedication to
the initiative.
One prisoner commented, We
are very thankful for the supplies,
books, materials and stationery.
Sometimes, we playfully argue
over mere stationery just because
these things are so precious to us.
IPD-OUM, however, is dedicated
to supporting the learning and
development needs of working
adults by providing a variety of
industry-centred professional
programmes.
Managing director of Mydin
Mohamed Holdings Berhad Datuk
Wira Dr Ameer Ali Mydin also
spoke about their cooperation with
IPD-OUM.
We have a lot of staff who are
experienced. We send them to
IPD-OUM to learn and enhance
their working condence through
exposure to the challenges in the
retail line.
We also give incentives and
motivation for them to further
their studies, he says.
OUMs sister company IOC was
established as an entity under
the Meteor Learning Sdn Bhd to
provide full-time educational
opportunities for school leavers,
especially new ones.
Tan Sri Azman
Hashim, pro-
chancellor of
OUM.
Graduates were proud to receive their scrools after all their hard work.
What OUM graduates say:
OUM provides a great
exible programme. In
fact, it is not easy for a
mother with a career to
juggle studies and a family
as well. This is why OUMs
exible mode of learning and
facilities were the best choice
for me. My goal now is to
grow my career, especially
in the eld of safety and
health.
Hilma Ahmad Fadzil
Bachelor of Occupational
Health and Safety
Management
I chose to study because
I felt that I was ready for the
next phase in my life. The open
and distance learning (ODL)
concept at OUM coupled with
its blended learning approach
was a standout. My classmates
were like-minded working
people and it was refreshing to
meet those who share the same
values. Also, with the ODL
concept, studying was a whole
new experience altogether.
Ooi Tse Zher
Master of Business
Administration
I work in the fast-paced
hotel industry. The exible
learning system in IPD-OUM
was an important part for
of my studies. Without it, I
wouldnt have been able to
graduate. I wish to thank my
parents, wife and children
who never gave up on
me and who gave me the
encouragement I needed.
Kumaresan Vengadeson
Executive Master of
Business Administration in
Human Capital
Management
I believe that I chose
the right place to further
my studies. IOC provided
the right facilities and
an excellent learning
environment for students.
Receiving my diploma scroll
proved that my and my
familys sacrices did not go
to waste. Moreover, I have
so many precious memories
that were created during my
course.
Lee Kwan Yee
Diploma in Mass
Communication
OUMs recent
convocation saw
approximately 2,700
graduates receive their
scrools.
StarSpecial 5
Tuesday 16 September 2014
6 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 16 September 2014
Creating
networks
and driving
innovation
IN the education arena, a new
practice, process, structure or
technique may be created to
achieve the desired learning
outcomes.
Innovation may also come
about from reconnecting old ideas
that arise from a network
of people.
Likewise, the boundary of an
MBA grows as we explore the
potential values that it brings.
By connecting an existing MBA
to other ideas, a new course is
created.
Ideas can be conceived in
various ways such as through
student and alumni feedback.
Combining
ideas and skills
The Victoria University MBA
(VUMBA) programme exemplies
several of these innovation
patterns.
VUMBA is the twinning
programme offered at Sunway
College Kuala Lumpur. It has more
than 110 active students and more
than 400 alumni.
VUMBA Connections is
a networking platform that
connects students, alumni,
business coaches, entrepreneurs
and venture capitalists.
Participants benet from peer
group support, business issues
processing, social interactions and
business coaching.
Since students come from a
diversity of backgrounds, an MBA
becomes a social and professional
space where ideas and skills are
inevitably diffused.
The Bringing Industry into
Class seminars and workshops
are organised to accelerate the
learning of students.
There should be a clear link
between core knowledge and
experience.
Industry experts are regularly
invited to share their work
experience, which adds to the
theories and concepts taught.
This will hopefully encourage
greater participation in class and
a desire to read textbooks and
notes.
Group assignments are means
to generate ideas by not only
combining various specialisations,
but also by making it easy to use
existing resources such as the
skills and knowledge of students.
Through meetings and
collaborative technology, group
members from different elds of
expertise may contribute to the
quality of group assignments.
VUMBA provides an
environment where innovations
can thrive.
It is an education innovation
that promotes more connections
of innovative ideas.
n For more information,
e-mail hendryng@sunway.edu.my
or visit sunway.edu.my
Branching out to stay ahead
U
NIVERSITI Utara Malaysia,
in its ve-year strategic
plan (2011-2015), has set a
clear direction for the Othman
Yeop Abdullah Graduate School of
Business (OYA) to become the top
business school in the country.
For that reason, the school is
given some degree of autonomy
by the university with regard to
the management of academic and
administrative affairs towards
meeting this objective.
OYA is given the freedom to
select and appoint its own faculty
members and advisory panel
members to advice the school in
terms of curriculum development,
strategy direction and other
matters deemed relevant to move
the school forward.
In terms of funding, the
school is allocated a considerable
proportion of the annual budget
by the university based on an
annual plan.
In addition, the school
has substantial income from
endowment, research, consultancy
services and executive education,
which can be spent at the
discretion of the dean of the
school.
A signicant amount of
the annual fund is spent on
subscriptions for Harvard Business
Cases, mainly for teaching
postgraduate programmes at OYA.
At present, OYA has access to
almost 13,000 cases from the
Harvard Business School and cases
from other reputable business
schools published by Harvard
Business School Publishing.
In addition, the school also
subscribes to the Stanford
management CD collections for
use in class. Students read almost
250 cases in the two years of their
MBA programme.
In addition to Western
cases, the school is aggressively
developing local cases in
collaboration with its industry
partners.
As action-based research
and industry-based case studies
become the focus of business
schools worldwide, OYA has also
realigned its research strategy to
encourage the faculty to conduct
research.
The business and management
programmes at OYA, especially
By
PROF DATUK
WIRA DR
MOHAMED
MUSTAFA
ISHAK
VC COLUMN
the MBA and DBA programmes,
which make up the schools
agship programmes, are degrees
designed for, and appeal to,
working professionals seeking
to improve their skills and
performance.
This is why most of our
students are part-time, with most
holding a full-time professional
position in local and multinational
companies. Our graduates are
nurtured to become business
leaders with signicant impact
at the national and international
settings.
For the record, 15% of our
graduates last year became
entrepreneurs within six months
of their graduation. Many have set
up their own businesses in elds
that include consulting, nance,
training and e-marketing.
Since our graduate business
school specialises in business
and management education, we
felt that we should have a branch
campus in a big city such as Kuala
Lumpur to take advantage of its
wider access to a larger population
and opportunities for industrial
and business networking.
In following through with this
idea, a branch campus in Kuala
Lumpur, also known as Universiti
Utara Malaysia Kuala Lumpur
(UUMKL) or City Campus, was
established in 2004.
The main reason for opening a
branch campus in KL was to get
closer to major population centres
and industrial areas, which are
concentrated mainly in the Klang
Valley.
This decision was also based on
UUMs strategic plan to generate
income for the university a bold
move towards becoming a self-
nancing institution in the future.
Since 2004, enrolments
in UUMKL have increased
dramatically each year, an
indicator of strong demand for our
quality business and education
programmes.
As a pioneer in business and
management education in the
country, we need to ensure
we keep abreast of the latest
developments in business and
industry.
Our presence in KL provides us
access to diverse industries and
businesses, which also enables
collaboration in various areas such
as research, training, consultation
and executive education.
As a strategic business unit
(SBU), UUMKL is given substantial
autonomy to chart its own
business strategy with the quality
of education remaining a matter
of utmost importance.
Augmenting the strength of
OYA with the inception of UUMKL
is an important step forward for
UUM, especially as our emphasis
lies in establishing ourselves as
the leading graduate school of
business.
We are also proud and
honoured that OYA is the only
graduate school in Malaysia to
be selected by the Malaysian
Institute of Management (MIM),
the powerhouse of management
in the country, to be its academic
partner.
The signing of a memorandum
of understanding between
the school and MIM covers
the areas of research, training
and consultation, and more
specically, the area of case
writing.
Our strong network with
industry and diverse faculty
members and students provides
experiential learning and global
perspectives in teaching and
learning.
The extensive use of case
studies also encourages debates
and discussions among students,
and between students and faculty
members.
Our faculty members are
academically qualied with wide
practical experience. Only those
with vast industrial experience
and doctorate qualications are
assigned to teach postgraduate
programmes. Many of them are
international visiting professors
from various countries.
At OYA, we have 14
international faculty members
from eight different countries
covering both the east and the
west.
The school is also unique
in its approach as it places a
strong emphasis on ethics and
sustainability issues.
With the tag line Transforming
Leaders for Sustainable Business
and Society, it provides relevant
curricula that nurture not only
responsive but also responsible
business leaders.
The transformation process,
alluded to in our tag line, is always
our priority and we ensure that
our students are transformed
as business leaders when they
graduate from our graduate school
of business.
n Prof Datuk Wira Dr Mohamed
Mustafa Ishak is the vice-
chancellor of Universiti Utara
Malaysia.
The business and
management
programmes at
OYA, especially
the MBA and DBA
programmes,
which make up the
schools flagship
programmes, are
degrees designed
for, and appeal
to, working
professionals
seeking to improve
their skills and
performance.
This is why most
of our students
are part-time,
with most
holding a full-
time professional
position in local
and multinational
companies.
StarSpecial 7
Tuesday 16 September 2014
8 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 16 September 2014
The curriculum at NGS cultivates and emphasises cross-disciplinary thinking and skills.
A call for talented researchers
N
ATIONAL University of
Singapore (NUS) enjoys a
global standing as one of
Asias top universities and among
the worlds top 30.
The multi-campus university,
with distinctive strengths in
education and research, features
strong entrepreneurial and global
dimensions in its multifaceted
initiatives.
An NUS education optimises
students potential, broadens
intellectual horizons and shapes
global outlooks. It leverages on its
multi-disciplinary strengths to
deliver a comprehensive broad-
based education.
In addition, a vibrant
residential life and exciting
cultural and sporting pursuits
add to the learning and living
experience.
The NUS Graduate School
for Integrative Sciences
and Engineering (NGS) was
established to spearhead
integrative research PhD
programmes that transcend and
bridge traditional disciplinary
boundaries.
NGS multi-disciplinary
infrastructure and environment
affords gifted and motivated
students tremendous exibility.
Students conduct their PhD
research under the supervision of
distinguished research scientists
from multiple disciplines.
The curriculum cultivates and
emphasises cross-disciplinary
thinking and skills. It is tailor-
made by each student according
to his needs and interests.
Such totality in research and
education effectively sharpens a
students critical-thinking skills
and encourages creative designs
in his PhD project.
NGS has close links with
world-leading research institutes
such as the Agency for Science,
Technology and Research
(A*STAR), Singapores lead agency
in research in the elds of science
and technology.
NGS also taps into the
universitys web of synergistic,
complementary partnerships with
a select number of world-leading
overseas research institutes and
knowledge organisations across
Continental Europe, the United
States, the United Kingdom, Japan,
China, Australia and South Korea.
NGS is therefore, able to offer
gifted students opportunities to
engage in globally progressive
research in outstanding research
facilities both within Singapore
and across various domains.
NGS integrative mission is
best exemplied by its unique
programmes in neuroscience,
computational and systems
biology, interactive and digital
media, carbon science and
technology, bio-imaging and
environmental life sciences
engineering.
Each is a highly specialised
networked group that brings
together world-renowned
research scientists and academics
from various domains across NUS,
Nanyang Technological University
and other research institutes to
collaboratively tackle research
problems and pioneer discoveries
that continuously re-draw
the boundaries of science and
technology.
One distinguished research
supervisor in NGS whose research
exhibits integrative thrust and
characteristics is Prof Lim Chwee
Teck, a professor in both NUS
Department of Bio-engineering
and Department of Mechanical
Engineering.
Prof Lim is also principal
investigator at NUS
Mechanobiology Institute and a
faculty fellow of the Singapore-
MIT Alliance for Research and
Technology.
He heads the nano-
biomechanics lab, which conducts
basic and applied research on the
biomechanics and biophysics of
human diseases such as malaria
and cancer.
Prof Lims articles are
constantly published in
international top-tier journals
and he has also received a number
of top accolades for his research
achievements.
Many NGS PhD students across
NGS graduates
who have moved
on to successful
careers in
diverse vocations
and locations
across the globe
invariably cite
NGS collaborative
and integrative
research
infrastructure,
culture and
freedom to
be immensely
beneficial to their
PhD research
pursuits and now,
their career.
Students conduct their PhD research under the supervision of distinguished research scientists from multiple disciplines.
various research disciplines have
received international honours.
They have produced
publications in top-tier prestigious
journals, such as Science,
ChemComm, Nature, and the
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers) series,
on top of receiving recognition
for their research ndings
in international forums and
conferences.
Two recent breakthroughs by
NGS students have been published
in Nature Communications and the
New England Journal of Medicine
one is a discovery in graphene
research, while the other in cancer
therapy.
The worlds rst discovery
on Mesenchymal stem cells
research by an NGS graduate
has already been translated
into clinical applications and is
currently undergoing pre-clinical
trials. It carries great potential in
enhancing health care practices.
NGS graduates who have
moved on to successful careers in
diverse vocations and locations
across the globe invariably cite
NGS collaborative and integrative
research infrastructure, culture
and freedom to be immensely
benecial to their PhD research
pursuits and now, their career.
NGS fully-funded PhD-cum-
Scholarship programme is open
worldwide to those who have a
bachelors degree qualication and
above.
NGS embraces students who
envision true innovation without
boundaries and invites talented
graduates who have the passion
and aptitude for research to
embark on cross-disciplinary
research at the forefront of science,
engineering, computing and
related aspects of medicine.
n For more information, visit
www.nus.edu.sg/ngs
StarSpecial 9
Tuesday 16 September 2014
10 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 16 September 2014
Tania Wee graduated from Monash
University Malaysia with a Masters
in Communications and found
the course helpful in building her
knowledge of and skills in digital
media.
Designed to
create success
D
ESIGNED to address
the needs of those who
work or aspire to work in
industries such as advertising,
marketing, media and public
relations, the Master of
Communications and Media
Studies at Monash University
Malaysia covers the diverse
areas of humanities and social
sciences.
Tania Wee Tien Ning, a recent
graduate who is currently
the editorial and social media
executive for Rantau PR, shares
her study experience at Monash
University Malaysia:
As the editorial and social
media executive for Rantau PR,
my job includes writing client
press and news releases as well
as overseeing and managing
companies social media
channels.
I was looking for a reputable
university and Monash Malaysia
met all my criteria.
The campus facilities were
also impressive, especially the
library, which boasts a large
online database of research
journals.
The lecturers are well-versed
in the theoretical aspects of the
communication eld. In class,
this translates into enjoyable
debates and illuminating
discussions. Course materials
were sourced from Monash
University Australia, which
made interesting case studies.
Although these were dicult
to relate to, I am grateful for the
lecturers who brought fresh
perspectives and case studies
for us to discuss.
I gained a wider
understanding of the inuence
of social media and how it can
affect and inuence societys
perceptions. I learned about
the magnitude of the role
that digital media plays in
communicating messages to
the public.
There were also many
memorable moments that I
experienced with my fellow
students and the Monash
community.
One of my favourite events
was when I was invited to
cover the Monash University
International Students Society
welcome-back party for the
Monash website. The theme
was Holi, an Indian festival,
which involved throwing
coloured water and powder at
each other.
It was at this event that I
witnessed how international
students from different cultural
and societal backgrounds can
leave their differences at the
door and simply have fun.
For those aspiring to pursue
a postgraduate degree, work
experience in the related eld is
a bonus.
This will help as you will
be able to see things from a
practical point-of-view and
relate it to the theoretical
aspect of the course.
About the School
The School of Arts and Social
Sciences at Monash University
Malaysia equips graduates to
make sense of the rapid and
profound changes that occur in
the communications industry.
Students develop the
knowledge, gain analytical tools
and the key to understanding
globalisation and the intricacies
of human interaction while
learning to take a leading role to
improve quality of life.
The Master of
Communications and Media
Studies examines media
content, forms, technology and
policy from historical, political
and theoretical perspectives
while focusing on changes in
content delivery and the global
reception of traditional and new
media.
It is further enhanced by
internationally experienced
academics at the School who
are advisors and consultants
within the industry.
n For more information,
visit www.sass.monash.edu.my
StarSpecial, Tuesday 16 September 2014 POSTGRADUATE 11
Developing excellent educators
T
HE education industry is
responsible for moulding
the minds of the future
generation. Hence, the
government has introduced
the Malaysian Education
Blueprint 2013-2025 to revamp
the education landscape with
an education system that will
prepare learners for the 21st
century.
A crucial component to its
success will involve the teachers
in preschool, primary school,
secondary school and higher
education.
Most teachers in public schools
have a teaching qualication and
nearly all teachers in secondary
school and about 40% of teachers
in primary school have a
bachelors degree.
The School of Education
and Cognitive Science (SECS),
Asia e University (AeU) has been
accorded the task by the Ministry
of Education to upgrade about
3,000 primary school teachers to
the bachelors degree level.
In its third convocation on
September 21, the rst cohort
consisting of about 80 teachers
will graduate with the B.Ed (TESL).
The goal of the SECS is
to provide educators with a
qualication from kindergarten to
higher education.
For example, in countries such
as Australia and New Zealand,
early childhood educators need to
possess an undergraduate degree.
In Malaysia, only about 10%
of kindergarten teachers have
teaching qualication approved
by the Malaysian Qualications
Agency (MQA).
It is of concern that the young
minds of our country may be
taught by teachers who only
have minimal training in early
childhood education.
Being a parent does not
qualify that person to be an early
childhood educator, says Prof
Dr John Arul Phillips, dean of the
SECS.
To ll the gap, SECS offers
the Graduate Diploma in
Early Childhood Education
(GDipECE) that admits practising
kindergarten teachers with an
SPM qualication.
The programme is conducted
part-time through distance
learning with face-to-face
tutorials during weekends.
Teachers do not have to leave
their jobs to obtain an MQA-
approved teaching qualication.
With the rapid development of
private and international schools,
teachers with an approved
teaching qualication are in
demand. SECS offers the Graduate
Diploma in Teaching (GDipTchg)
for both primary and secondary
school teachers.
This diploma is a teaching
qualication for both degree
and non-degree holders and is
approved by MQA.
Another trend identied
by Prof Phillips is the growing
tendency for lecturers in colleges
and universities to possess a
teaching qualication, which
is a requirement in several
international universities.
For example, a person with
a masters degree in marketing
may have the content knowledge
but may not have the pedagogical
knowledge and skills to impart
content effectively, says
Prof Phillips.
SECS offers the 12-month
Postgraduate Diploma in Higher
Education Teaching (PGDipHET),
aimed at tertiary education
teachers to equip them with the
knowledge and skills in higher
education teaching.
The 18-month programme is
open to degree and non-degree
holders from any background
with experience in teaching or
education-related experience.
According to Prof Phillips, AeU
is unique in that all its students
are working adults who are
seeking an upgrade.
The delivery system is exible
adopting e-learning based
on a blended-approach that
combines online and face-to-face
interaction.
Students are provided with
the learning materials online and
classes are held once a month on
weekends.
Students access the materials
and discuss on an online platform
and attend classes in more than
25 learning centres spread all over
Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and
Sarawak.
SECS hopes to provide
opportunities for educators and
others who wish to upgrade
themselves to be involved in the
education industry.
It is the vision of the school to
equip the education workforce
with the knowledge, skills and
values required to engage in
activities that will enhance the
performance of young learners.
We wish to attract educators
who have the passion to teach and
professionalise themselves with
appropriate qualications, says
Prof Phillips.
Prof Dr John Arul
Phillips, dean of
the SECS.
The goal of the SECS is
to provide educators
with a qualification
from kindergarten to
higher education.
For example, in
countries such as
Australia and New
Zealand, early
childhood educators
need to possess
an undergraduate
degree.
12 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 16 September 2014
Online storage - friend or foe?
LAST year, computer software giant Adobe
has moved its creative services to the cloud.
Now, consumers are no longer able to
buy the Adobe Creative Suite that consists
of various groups of applications such as
Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, InDesign
and Dreamweaver in a box set.
The creative services have been renamed
Adobe Creative Cloud and users pay a
monthly subscription fee for each individual
service instead.
You can also, for instance, watch half a
movie on your laptop at home and nish the
other half on your tablet the next morning
while riding the train to work.
It also allows you to purchase songs on
your smartphone and have them synced
with your computer so that you can listen
to them at work. These are just some of
the ways we have become accustomed to
data that is instantly connected and widely
accessible.
In fact, it is quite likely that many people
do not even realise that they are using the
cloud services and therefore, do not realise
how much stuff they have in the cloud.
For example, photos taken with your
smartphone will automatically be backed
up on the phone makers cloud service.
So even if it is deleted from the phones
internal drive, the backup for the photos are
still available in the cloud.
Additionally, your personal data may
be uploaded into the cloud without your
knowledge.
If you use services in industries like
health care and banking, it is very likely that
your personal information is in the private
clouds of the companies.
With the cloud making such information
instantly available to just about anyone
with the accessibility permission, it is
natural for consumers to feel vulnerable.
Unsurprisingly, consumers are more wary
as their privacy is at risk every time their
data is being computed into commercial
systems.
That is why the Personal Data Protection
Act (PDPA) 2010, which was gazetted in
November last year, was well-received by
> FROM PAGE 2
the public. The law requires businesses
to comply to several principles, including
getting consent to acquire a customers
personal data.
Once the personal data is received, the
business must provide a written notication
to make sure it is safe and only given to
relevant parties.
Clear skies ahead?
With the cloud, users expect reliability,
exibility and security.
Reliability means that users demand
constant connectivity to their data so that it
is available to them whenever they want it.
Data centres and hosting providers have
to ensure that they have 100% network
uptime and 99% cloud uptime guarantees.
Virtualisation or cloud storage adds a
layer of complexity to data management
particularly to an organisation. But
information should still be easily accessed.
Therefore, users expect exibility in the
usage procedure such as pay-per-use.
Instead of paying for a monthly fee for
a xed amount of storage space that may
or may not be used, users pay for only the
amount of space that is used.
Users also demand impeccable data
protection and security. Data security is a
constantly evolving eld.
The reality is that for every new data
security technology that is being developed,
sooner or later, there will be a counter-
technology that will be able to penetrate it.
Ethical hackers are certied
professionals who are employed by an
organisation to attempt to hack into
networks and computer systems much like
an unauthorised hacker.
However, their role is authorised by the
organisation to nd and then x security
vulnerability. That is the only way we can
stay one step ahead, explains AZ.
Telling people and businesses to avoid
using the cloud is not benecial. The cloud
is here to stay.
Device mobility and wireless
connectivity have spurred the growth of the
cloud as we become reliant on quick and
always-available data accessibility.
Beyond violation of personal data
privacy, the security concern is greater for
businesses and organisations that rely on
the location-independent nature of the
cloud to store, share and access information
THE United Nations International
Telecommunication Union published
the ICT Development Index (IDI) based
on 11 information and communication
technologies (ICT) indicators.
The indicators are grouped into three
categories: access, use and skills.
Access sub-index captures ICT readiness
and includes the following infrastructure
and access indicators: xed-telephone,
mobile telephone, international Internet
bandwidth, households with computer and
households with Internet.
Use sub-index captures ICT intensity
and includes the following usage indicators:
Internet users, xed wired-broadband and
mobile broadband.
Skills sub-index captures ICT
capabilities and includes the following input
indicators: adult literacy, gross secondary
enrolment and gross tertiary enrolment.
In last years report, Malaysia has
dropped two rungs from 57th to 59th place
behind the likes of neighbours Singapore
(13th) and Brunei Darussalam (58th) out of
157 countries.
Meanwhile, the Top 10 countries are:
South Korea, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark,
Finland, Norway, Netherlands, United
Kingdom, Luxembourg and Hong Kong.
regardless of time and place.
The sensitivity and condentiality of
trade information is at risk every time it is
documented in physical or digital format.
Business decisions to migrate to the
cloud are nancially motivated.
Hardware, which depreciates over time,
used to have to be replaced from time to
time. With the cloud, businesses only pay
for what they use.
For this reason, the bring-your-own-
device (BYOD) trend becomes a common
workplace policy that permits employees to
bring their own devices to access privileged
company information and applications.
This practice may encourage productivity,
morale and convenience, but risks of data
breach is greater.
Additionally, e-commerce and mobile
commerce transactions over computer and
smartphones, especially within the mobile
banking sector are growing in popularity
particularly due to its convenience and
promptness.
Today, everyone is moving towards
cloud applications. As a service provider
in this eld, we cannot wait for calamity
to strike but must be prepared for all
eventualities, says Tay.
Because of the massive volume personal
data and trade information especially
in the cloud systems, which makes it
even more likely for security breaches to
happen, developing defence mechanisms to
combat cyber-attacks that can potentially
compromise the security of the businesses
as well as their clients are the priorities of
ICT service providers.
Over the last ve years, the demand for
cyber-security professionals grew 3.5 times
faster than the demand for other ICT roles
worldwide.
This emerging trend in the ICT and
computing job market is a result of a
society that is constantly connected to the
World Wide Web a society that expects
reliable access to data and transactions in
real-time from any and all of their devices.
Clearly, with this expectation comes a great
demand for such information to be securely
accessed and exchanged.
With the recent headlines reporting
outrageous data breaches and hacks, cloud
service providers are boosting security
and rolling out new measures to keep its
users and to keep them celebrities or the
average Joes and Janes safe.
Measuring the information society
StarSpecial, Tuesday 16 September 2014 POSTGRADUATE 13
Creating
business leaders
A
S technology becomes
increasingly important in
our lives, more business
opportunities become available
for those with technical
education and skills.
These skills may involve
a combination of specialist
or technical skills such as
information technology,
engineering, nance and
business management.
The doors are open for them
to head a business division or
establish their own business.
A masters in business
administration (MBA) will
provide a working professional
the opportunity to gain a
competitive edge. It serves
to bridge the gap between
technical expertise and
managerial competencies.
Because having knowledge
about technology and
management skills are integral
to the success of businesses,
many who possess a technical
degree recognise the need
to gain further education on
business and management.
The MBA programme will
enable tech-savvy people
to develop skills in nance,
human resources management,
strategic management and
leadership, preparing them
to be professionals who are
capable of leading the business
world in the 21st century.
To climb the corporate ladder
and reach a C-suite position,
one needs to have excellent
business, management and
leadership skills.
According to an article in the
Harvard Business Review (HBR),
once a person reaches a C-suite
position, having a rm grasp of
business fundamentals becomes
more important than having
technical or functional skills.
The skills that help a person
climb to the top are not
sucient to continue thriving
there. This means that people
with a technical background
who wish to lead a company
must know how to create
business models, handle risk
management and motivate
employees more than they
need to understand the latest
technical bells and whistles.
KBU International College
offers a time-tested, rigorous
and prestigious MBA
programme in collaboration
with the Lord Ashcroft
International Business School of
Anglia Ruskin University in the
United Kingdom.
KBUs MBA is the ideal
choice for many reasons. It is
internationally recognised and
accredited by the Association
of Business Schools, a body
that represents the leading
business schools in the UK and
represents an authoritative
voice of business and
management education there.
Besides being tutored by
a highly qualied teaching
team comprising PhD holders
with industry experience,
students also benet from
lectures taught by visiting
UK academics, live lectures
via video conferencing by UK
professors and lectures by
industry specialists.
Flexibility is another strong
point of the programme.
Students are able to organise
their schedule with full- or
part-time classes. The part-
time classes are held on
Saturdays and Sundays while
full-time classes cater mainly to
international students.
The programme stretches
over four semesters and focuses
on producing well-rounded
graduates.
The academic calendar
consists of two semesters
in a year (January-April and
September-December) to allow
optimal balance of a students
professional, personal and
university life.
Students also do not have to
prepare for exams as the course
is fully assignment-based. They
also have access to the Emerald
database and ARUs extensive
e-library, which will make
research much easier.
ACCA and CIMA members
can also look forward to
four exemptions out of 11
modules organisational
behaviour, decision making and
problem solving, marketing
management, and strategic
nancial analysis.
n For more information,
call 03-7727 3200 or
e-mail enquiry@kbu.edu.my or
visit ww.kbu.edu.my
KBUs masters degree is designed for executives who want to progress from
their specialist position to a more senior role in their organisation.
14 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 16 September 2014
Ready for the workforce
M
ANY working professionals
choose to enrol in an MBA
programme as it provides a
platform for career growth.
According to the GMAC Global
Management Education Graduate
Survey, 85% of the surveyed
graduates reported that graduate
management education gave
them a competitive advantage in
the job market and 77% felt their
MBA introduced them to new
career opportunities.
It was also reported that
students with more than six
years of work experience
expected to see a 57% increase in
earnings upon obtaining an MBA
qualication.
While many traditional MBA
programmes consist of a set
of unrelated single discipline
classes, Taylors Business School
recognises that the job of an
executive involves making
decisions across a range of
functions.
Therefore, Taylors MBA
has adopted a holistic and
integrated approach to
management education, which
aims to develop the executive
potential that is essential to
creating future corporate
leaders.
The Taylors MBA modules
were designed with input from
top industry leaders to give
students a global education
experience.
The curriculum is taught
by highly qualied academic
experts and business
practitioners such as the
industry advisory panel that
comprises members from CIMB,
DIGI, LOreal, IBM, Tokio Marine,
IBM, Deloitte, PwC, Ernst &
Young, KPMG and Maxis.
The learning experience is
unique as it allows students to
work on actual cases presented
by industry partners.
Working on real-life cases
gives them the opportunity to
learn how to apply techniques
and use information and it
is invaluable that they learn
from past experience, says
Vinitha Guptan, dean of Taylors
Business School.
Students will also have the
opportunity to participate in
the Business Circle gathering
where industry and corporate
leaders share their thoughts
and experience with students.
This session gives
opportunities for face-to-face
interactions and idea exchanges
between students and guest
speakers who work with the
top industry players.
Another unique feature of
the Taylors MBA is its global
rotation programme Taylors
Oxford Entrepreneurship
Leadership Programme.
In this programme, students
spend seven to nine days from
May to September at Oxford
University in the United
Kingdom.
This will give the students
access to professors and
students on campus and
the chance to network with
industry leaders in the UK.
The Taylors MBA is
conducted by the Taylors
Business School, one of the
largest and most reputable
business schools in private
higher education in Malaysia.
Its industry-relevant
curriculum provides a balance
between theoretical and
practical education based
on the latest professional
standards, practices and
requirements of the global
business community.
The Taylors MBA is offered
on full-time basis for one year
or part-time for a minimum of
two years and maximum of ve
years.
n For more information,
call 03-5629 5000 or e-mail to
postgraduate@taylors.edu.my
or visit www.taylors.edu.my/
mba
The Taylors MBA is designed together with top industry leaders to give students a global education experience.
Get certified
CONTINUING professional
development programmes are
an excellent way to brush up
ones skills and knowledge and
as technology advances at a
rapid pace.
Certified Counter
Hacking Practitioner
This class is about immersing
yourself in an interactive
environment where you will be
shown how to scan, test, hack
and secure your own systems.
Working in an intensive
environment gives you practical
experience essential to security
systems and standards.
You will start with perimeter
defences and then be led to
scanning and attacking your
own network. You learn how
intruders escalate privileges
and what steps can be taken to
secure a system among other
things.
This ve-day class will give
you a thorough understanding
in counter hacking.
For more information,
go to www.taylors.edu.my/
en/university/schools/cpe/
programmes/
CSI Computer
Systems Investigation
This introduction to
wireless security provides
an overview of the evolving
technology, identies common
vulnerabilities in device settings
and conguration and discusses
practical ways in which wireless
security can be improved.
This course will provide
participants with an
understanding of how the
technology works, security
implications and methods in
which implementations can
be best secured with existing
protocols.
The course is suitable for
a variety of people including
security ocers, managers,
law enforcement, computer
forensic executives as well as IT
directors.
StarSpecial, Tuesday 16 September 2014 POSTGRADUATE 15
Leading the way in
postgraduate research
M
ALAYSIAN researcher
and UCSI University vice-
chancellor Senior Prof
Datuk Dr Khalid Yusoff played
a vital role in a global research
project that studied health
outcomes of certain diets.
Senior Prof Khalid is a
member of the Prospective
Urban Rural Epidemiological
(PURE) studys global steering
committee and oversaw
the running of the study in
Malaysia, which involved
15,000 people about 15% of the
global sample size.
The PURE study is the largest
international study on sodium
intake and health outcomes
to date and adds considerable
strength to the contention that
a moderate sodium intake is
optimal.
Its ndings have been
published in the New England
Journal of Medicine, the worlds
leading medical journal.
The study, which tested
101,945 people from 18
countries for almost four
years, showed that while a low
sodium diet does indeed reduce
blood pressure moderately, it
does present some side effects.
This includes an adverse
elevation of certain hormones
like the renin-angiotensin-
aldosterone system, which
regulates the bodys water and
salt balance, increasing the
risk of strokes, heart attacks
and other cardiovascular
complications.
The PURE study also
revealed that a diet that is
high in potassium such as sh,
fruits, beans and vegetables,
is essential to the regular
functioning of the body,
including the function of the
nerves, heart and the kidney.
On his involvement with the
PURE study, Senior Prof Khalid
says that Malaysian academics
are able to play key roles in
international research and more
should seek to advance the
pursuit of knowledge.
For the past few years,
emphasis has been given to
research. This in general, is
great but let us not do research
for the sake of it.
Regardless of the eld,
research should focus on
pertinent matters that
ultimately benet humanity,
he adds.
A legacy
Sharing Senior Prof Khalids
passion for research, UCSIs
deputy vice-chancellor
(Research and Postgraduate
Studies) Prof Datuk Dr Nizam
Isa does a lot to bolster
the universitys research
credentials.
Prof Nizam is a specialist in
genomic medicine and human
genetics and a pioneer in the
eld. He was also the founding
director of the rst Human
Genome Centre in Malaysia
back in 1993. His work has
paved the way for the future of
genomic medicine in Malaysia.
Prof Nizam points out that
UCSI is already making an
impact in research that matters.
Many of its staff members
are experienced researchers
with notable projects and
respected publications that
have been funded by local and
international research grants.
For example, Senior Prof
Khalids PURE study was
funded by international grants,
including the Hamilton Health
Science.
Other active researchers
from the university have
secured research grants
from the Ministry of Science,
Technology and Innovation and
Ministry of Education, such
as the eScienceFund and the
Fundamental Research Grant
Scheme.
Research within the
university is carried out in
various elds, including applied
sciences, medicine, pharmacy,
business, information
science, engineering and
nanotechnology.
In line with the countrys
aim of becoming a high income
and innovative nation by
2020, UCSI is ramping up its
efforts to boost the quality and
global competitiveness of its
postgraduate programmes.
As a tertiary education
institution that grooms
the minds of the next
generation, UCSI realises it
has a responsibility to further
its research and innovation
initiatives through its
postgraduate programmes
to enhance human capital
development.
UCSI has 20 postgraduate
programmes to date, with
several more in the pipeline. To
meet the needs of its students,
the postgraduate programmes
are available in research,
coursework and mix-mode
structures.
The university maintains
high-quality and innovative
teaching and student-centred
learning.
Great efforts have been made
to ensure that the teaching
and learning environment is
conducive for both local and
international students.
UCSI offers postgraduate
programmes that
incorporate elements
of management,
entrepreneurship and
business.
Based on feedback from
its industry partners and
students, these elements
are necessary for those who
intend to climb up the career
ladder to the management
level.
To ensure that its
postgraduate programmes
are accessible, the university
has also allocated funds
under the UCSI University
Trust Graduate Fellowship,
which offers both local
and international qualied
postgraduate students full or
partial tuition fee waivers.
Additionally, Prof Nizam
and his team are constantly
looking at possible means
to help students secure
postgraduate sponsorship
from local, governmental or
international sources.
n For more information,
call 03-9102 4739 or visit
www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my/
onlineenquiry
UCSIs deputy
vice-chancellor
(Research and
Postgraduate
Studies) Prof
Datuk Dr Nizam
Isa.
UCSIs postgraduate programmes are developed to groom the next generation
of scientists.
16 POSTGRADUATE StarSpecial, Tuesday 16 September 2014
USIMs Faculty of Syariah Laws
mission is to be a reputable hub for
syariah and law education.
Paving the way forward
U
NIVERSITI Sains Islam
Malaysia (USIM) provides a
unique education centred on
the integration of revelation (ilmu
Naqli) and rational knowledge
(ilmu Aqli).
USIM has eight faculties and
offers more than 60 academic
programmes in the elds of
Islamic studies, science, nance,
Islamic banking, medicine,
dentistry, food biotechnology, law,
Arabic language, counselling and
communication. The courses are
taught in both English and Arabic.
One of the earliest faculties
in USIM is the Faculty of Syariah
and Law (FSU) that has more than
1,000 students and 66 academic
staff.
The main programmes offered
are the Bachelor of Syariah and
Law with honours (SMSU) and the
Bachelor of Fiqh and Fatwa with
honours (SMFF).
FSU also offers the Diploma in
Judicial and Legal Syariah Practice
(DIJAP) as a postgraduate diploma
programme besides Masters
in Syariah, Masters in Law and
Masters in Comparative Law
as well as a PhD programme in
Syariah and Judiciary.
The faculty is in the process of
offering more programmes in the
elds of Islamic nance and halal
industry to meet the needs of the
industry.
FSUs mission is to be the
reputable hub for syariah and
law education that contributes
to the sustainability of the global
community.
The faculty aims to produce
successful graduates and world-
class research in the eld of
syariah and law that is recognised
nationally and internationally.
FSU practises high-quality
teaching and learning activities
based on current research,
which are driven by moral values
and professional ethics. FSUs
objectives are:
l To produce graduates who excel
in the eld of syariah and law
l To produce scholars and experts
who are capable of solving
community problems related to
syariah and law
l To equip graduates with Islamic
studies knowledge and to produce
noble characters
l To produce professional
workforce in the eld of syariah
and law
l To develop world-class research
that can solve national and social
problems related to syariah and
law
There has also been prominent
student achievement such as
winning the Chief Justice Debating
Cup and the overall Best Memorial
in the International Humanitarian
Law Mooting Competition.
In addition, the published
works of FSUs academics have
won the Malaysian Consultative
Council of Islamic Organisations
(MAPIM) Best Book award in
the social science category, Best
Original Work (Book) and Best
Original Work (Paper) in the
English social science cluster, as
well as the National Level Best
Editing prize.
The graduates from FSU have
a broad choice of career in the
market.
There is no limitation for
syariah graduates. They are
in-demand not only in Malaysia
but worldwide, says Dr Yasmin
Hanani Mohd Saan, the dean of
FSU.
Unlike the older days, the
careers of syariah graduates
are not limited to religious
teachers, clerics or religious
ocers. Syariah graduates can
enter the industrial markets as
syariah ocers in areas such as
the corporate sector and banking
industry.
This is a challenge and an
opportunity that should be taken
by the FSU students to improve
their credibility, marketability,
integrity and accountability, says
Dr Yasmin.
FSU students are expected to
be concerned and be updated of
the current issues in their working
environment, which is becoming
more global and challenging.
FSU aspires to be involved
with established players and
practitioners of law and syariah in
the industry.
FSUs management is also
committed to making the faculty
become a renowned school of law
and syariah in the future.
Dean of FSU
Dr Yasmin
Hanani Mohd
Safian.

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