ukm

Workshops encourage creativity

Sunday March 13, 2005
 NUSAJAYA: Some secondary schools students here were given an opportunity to share creative and innovative ICT ideas in a Microchip Controller Project held recently. Dr Hafizah Husain who led the project, said the workshop was a joint initiative by UEM Land Holdings Berhad and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
“The workshop was held for 40 secondary school students from Taman Nusa Jaya and SMK Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar to gauge their creativity and innovative thoughts,” she said.
Hafizah said throughout the workshop, it was apparent many of these students had an abundance of ideas to simplify their daily chores.
“Some of the ingenious inventions that were installed and showcased included an automated duck feeding system, a portable BMI system and a smart clothes line system,” she said.
The programme was designed to encourage secondary school kids to come up with unorthodox ideas and inventions.
“After watching the students’ creative inventions, UKM has decided to showcase these designs and present the inventors with awards early next year,” she said.
Hafizah hoped to conduct more programmes, as she believed it had taught children important values including responsibility, teamwork and confidence.
UEM Land corporate communications chief Karimah Tan Abdullah said the project was a part of their strategic efforts to develop innovative minds in technology.
“It is also aimed at promoting a sustainable ICT community to benefit the Malaysian community and industry at large,” she said.
All 40 students selected for the programme were required to travel and attend several workshops held at UKM to learn, develop and finally complete their prototype using the microchips provided by UKM.

National university with international reach

BY KAREN CHAPMAN

  UNIVERSITI Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) has many reasons to celebrate its 35th anniversary in a big way this year. Established in 1970 with just three faculties, 192 students and 78 academic staff, UKM now boasts 12 faculties offering close to 300 programmes; 25,418 students and 1,624 academic staff – an indication of how the university has grown.
Established in 1970 as the first national university to use Bahasa Melaysia as a medium of instruction, UKM has now established a private limited holding company called UKM Holdings to handle its commercial activities.
UKM offers programmes in both the Sciences and Arts and, all its Science and Maths-based subjects are offered in English, in line with the country’s move to teach the two subjects in the language in schools.
UKM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Salleh Mohd Yasin says the university has produced 90,544 graduates in various disciplines to date.

PROF MOHD SALLEH: “Our niche areas are in engineering, medicine, the sciences and social science”.

He advises prospective students to know what is offered at universities so they can choose wisely when filling up the UPU application form. “Although medicine is a popular option with students annually, we want them to know about the programmes under the Allied Health Sciences Faculty too such as Audiology, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy and Speech Therapy.
“These specialists work hand-in-hand with the doctors,” he says, adding that the university has been participating in several Higher Education Ministry roadshows nationwide informing students as well as school counsellors about new programmes.
“Entry into medicine is now very competitive and the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of those who got into the programme was 4.0 last year. Even then 128 couldn’t get in due to a lack of places,” he says.
Last year, 128 top STPM scorers with CGPA of 4.0 were denied a place to do Medicine due to limited seats. As a result, the Ministry has imposed more stringent pre-requisites for selection.
“So if students obtain a CGPA of between 3.95 and 3.98, they must fill in the UPU wisely as, if they list medicine for all their choices, and do not get it because of the competition they will be ‘auctioned’ off and the same problem which occurred last year will recur with students getting courses like Wood Technology.
“There is nothing wrong with the subject if you are interested in it but if you’re not, it can be very complicated to apply for a change to something else as other courses like pharmacy or dentistry might have been filled already,” he says.
Courses are reviewed every three years to ensure relevance. The Science-based faculties have also been restructured to offer more multi-disciplinary programmes.
What does UKM have to offer students?
Undergraduates can choose from 103 programmes such as Islamic Studies in Dakwah and Leadership Studies, Psychology or English Language, Plant Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Oleochemistry or Environmental Science, Medicine, Resource and Environmental Economics or Development and Human Resource Economics, Audiology, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy, Information Technology in Industrial Computing or Multimedia.
We also have an undergraduate degree in Nursing which many are not aware of.
For postgraduate studies, students can choose from more than 170 programmes. They can opt for Advanced Diploma or Advanced Masters, Masters or Doctor of Philosophy.
Students in some of the Engineering programmes have the opportunity of spending up to 18 months in Germany for an internship, which is a part of their programme. We are also thinking of expanding this to the IT programmes.
We also encourage our students to go on exchange programmes. As an example, medical students could spend six weeks at another university overseas such as in Papua New Guinea or Madagascar studying diseases.
What are the strengths of the university?
Our university offers a wide variety of academic programmes covering both the arts and sciences.
Currently, UKM has embarked on its restructuring programme by successfully establishing the new streamlined Faculty of Science and Technology and Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.
These two newly restructured faculties offer programmes that are multidisciplinary, transcending previously different departments.
Our staff have obtained research grants in various areas such as Agro-Industry, Social Sciences and the Environment. They have also won many awards.
Our staff also do consultancy work such as preparing environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports before a particular project.
What are the current popular courses?
The most popular courses are those in Engineering and Medicine. Pharmacy is also becoming increasingly popular. The others are Biotechnology, Actuarial Science, Law, Psychology, Accounting, Business and Economics.
What are the university’s niche areas?
Our niche areas are in engineering, medicine, the sciences and social science. We are very committed to research because if you don’t publish, you perish. Our staff must conduct research in order to be promoted.
UKM constantly seeks to enhance the quality of its research and boost its research strength and excellence.
We believe that excellence in research contributes to excellence in teaching and are conscious of the intense competition for research grants from the various governmental and non-governmental sources.
Within the institutional framework of UKM, research centres of excellence such as the Institute of the Malay World and Civilization (ATMA), Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS), and the Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN) were specially set up to complement research initiatives within the 12 faculties in UKM.
A number of special centres within faculties such as the Centre for Gene Analysis and Technology (CGAT) from the Faculty of Science and Technology, and Centre for Advancement Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering were set up on a smart partnership basis to focus on strategic areas of research for the country.
The Interim Laboratory of the National Institute for Genomic and Molecular Biology as well as the Malaysian Institute of Environment are located within the vicinity of the main campus, thus enhancing research collaboration between these institutes and UKM.
What areas of study would you like to introduce at your university?
Presently, we offer most subjects except Fine Arts, Music and Veterinary Science.
Where do you see your university going in the next 10 years?
We want to benchmark with the best in the world.
We are hoping to increase the number of staff with PhD qualifications – from 57% to at least 75%. The problem is that staff in Law and Business are not very keen to go for their PhD although we are trying to encourage them to do so.
We are also looking forward to the rating and ranking exercise which the Higher Education Ministry is conducting. The rating part is a good idea as it looks into the strengths and weaknesses of the various programmes and helps universities improve on quality.
(Last Sept, Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh had said the ministry’s Quality Assurance Division had started rating information and communications technology (ICT) and medical programmes offered by public universities based on nine indicators.
He had said the rating exercise – which would eventually cover private universities and colleges –would allow public institutions to become centres of excellence based on their areas of expertise.)

Assessing the best talent

Sunday September 5, 2010 

Stories and photos by TAN SHIOW CHIN

educate@thestar.com.my

A group of graduates are all ready to face the challenges in the tele-communications industry after gaining some practical training and a trip to China.

FOR a company that has as many fingers in the telecommunications pie as Huawei Technologies Sdn Bhd does, it has a surprisingly low public profile.

While the Chinese multinational company is involved in everything from setting up telecommunications base stations and optical transmission networks to producing mobile phones and operator software applications, it has remained more a behind-the-scenes player in the industry, particularly in Malaysia.

Although public visibility may not be necessary for success if a company’s reputation in the industry is solid, it can be a problem when the company is competing to recruit the best fresh graduates, who may not know of its presence.

The group of graduates listening to their guide (back to camera on right, and also seen on the right screen) explaining the latest features in video conferencing technology at Huawei’s Product Exhibition Hall at the Shenzhen campus

Hence, Huawei’s decision to initiate the MSC Malaysia-Huawei Scholastic Awards this year killed several birds with one stone.

Hands-on training

Firstly, the programme provided its 87 participants with both theoretical and hands-on training in Huawei products through a 23-day Job Camp conducted by technical training company Dreamcatcher and funded by the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC).

The camp was held at Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Universiti Tekno-logi Mara (UiTM) and at the Multimedia University (MMU).

Said UM graduate Sherene Meetha Pillai: “The Job Camp training, I found, was very useful. I have used the notes and knowledge given to us for the job interviews I went to.

“It also gave us hands-on knowledge of the current technology being used.”

Her coursemate, Alan Tham Mau Luen, agreed, adding that the feeling of being able to apply theoretical knowledge on real equipment — like when they learnt how to configure a router — was “incredible”.

“The trainers were very professional and experienced in the telecommunications industry, and gave us an overview of what the industry is like in the real world,” he said.

As the programme was targeted at not just telecommunications engineering students, but also those from the electrical and electronic (E & E) engineering, information and communications technology (ICT), and computer science courses, the training provided was not too specialised.

Said Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) E & E engineering graduate Nur Aliff Md Sahibudin: “The training provided basic information about telecommunications, which made it easier for us to understand, even though we are not from the same background.

“It was very useful to me, as it really increased my knowledge of the field.”

Some of the participants posing for a photo at Shanghai’s historic Bund area.

With such training, the then-graduands not only gained an advantage in the job market, but were also ripe for recruitment into Huawei.

Around 42% of the participants were offered jobs with the company after the end of the programme, with 27 of them eventually signing up with Huawei.

And according to Dreamcatcher principal consultant and partner Alvin Yee, those not recruited will have an edge when applying for jobs with Huawei subcontractors and clients, like Telekom Malaysia, Digi and Maxis.

CSR initiative

The awards scheme also provided an opportunity for the company to do something slightly different for its corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda.

Instead of going the usual scholarships route — which was the original idea — Huawei decided to not only assist graduands in obtaining hands-on practical knowledge in the telecommunications industry, but also reward them for their academic efforts.

Some of the graduates trying out the mobile phones exhibited at Huawei’s Product Exhibition Hall at the Shenzhen campu

The selected graduands, who were nominated by their lecturers based on their academic and extra-curricular performance, came from six local universities — UM, UKM, UTM, UiTM, MMU and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar).

The participants were divided into three categories according to their CGPAs (cumulative grade point averages) from their degree programmes, with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 required.

Those in the Silver category received an award of RM1,000 each, while Gold category awardees were given RM2,000, and those in the Platinum category received RM5,000.

In addition, 22 of the participants were selected to go on an educational trip to China, based on their extra-curricular and leadership activities in university, and participation and attitude throughout the Job Camp.

The group in front of the Malaysia Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo

The five-day trip was originally planned to cover Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

However, the company decided that the graduates should not miss the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit the Shanghai World Expo, and revised the itinerary to replace Hong Kong with Shanghai.

Visiting Shenzhen

The first part of the trip was spent in Shenzhen, where the graduates had the chance to tour Huawei’s headquarters there.

The complex, which is the size of a small town, contains seven centres plus the employees’ apartment complex.

The visit covered the Product Exhibition Hall, where the graduates were familiarised with Huawei’s many different products and services; the Data Center, also known as the “brain” of the company; the Automatic Logistics Center, where products are sorted out and prepared for transportation; the Global Training Centre, where all training activities for Huawei staff and clients are held; and the Baicao Garden Staff Apartments, which offers subsidised accommodation to the company’s employees and families.

Said Nur Aliff: “Visiting the Shenzhen campus was good because we got to visit various centres like logistics, training and so on, as well as observe their equipment.

“I also gained a clear view of the ‘end to end solutions’ provided by Huawei to their clients.”

Likewise, Sherene was impressed by the technology employed by the company, as well as the facilities on the campus.

“The technology impressed me the most. When we visited the Shenzhen campus, the conveyor belt was not just constrained within a building, but was connected from the warehouse, where the goods were stored, to another building, where the goods were to be assembled,” she said.

“What also impressed me was the fact that they had a hospital, small supermarket and a beautiful hotel within the campus itself.

“One does not really need to go out to the city. Everything that one needs is basically there,” she added.

Also on the itinerary were visits to the Window of the World, which features small-scale models of the world’s most famous landmarks, and the China Folk Culture Village, which showcases the various folk cultures of China.

The students also managed to squeeze in some shopping at Luohu Market during one of the nights.

UTM graduate Nur Hanis Ahmad shared: “The tour guide told us that the sellers are very good with tricks to persuade us to buy their products.

“It was so hard to bargain with them, and some of my friends were cheated — they got fake products — when they managed to bargain the price from RMB 800 (RM369) to RMB 200 (RM92).

“It was a good experience, and will definitely be a bittersweet memory for them!”

Red carpet treatment

After that, it was off to Shanghai.

Due to a flight delay, it was straight from the airport to Huawei’s brand-new research and development (R&D) centre, where the group was greeted by the company’s South Pacific Public Relations director David Wang and MDeC chief operating officer Ng Wan Peng.

Huawei literally rolled out the red carpet for the graduates and VIPs.

Said Nur Hanis with a smile: “Both Huawei Shenzhen and Shanghai have their own unique features. But I prefer Huawei Shanghai because of its modern design, and the red carpet greeting!”

The graduates were given a tour of the facility’s Product Exhibition Hall, where they received an overview of the various technologies the centre has produced.

UiTM graduate Mohamad Fauzi Ahmad Tajuddin said: “The building is huge and just built for the purpose of R&D.

“This shows how very committed Huawei is to enhancing and upholding the quality of the technologies they produce.”

That evening, the graduates had dinner with Wang and Ng, then visited the historic Bund.

The next day was a full day at the Shanghai World Expo.

First, everyone gathered together for a group photo at the Malaysia Pavilion.

After that, it was free and easy, before meeting up in the afternoon to go into the huge China Pavilion.

Some tried to visit as many pavilions within Zone B (where the Malaysia Pavilion is located) as they could; others ventured out to the other zones; and a few decided to just walk around and take photos of the various pavilions, rather than lining up to enter them.

Said MMU graduate Shalina Abdul Gaffor: “As expected, the Shanghai Expo was very crowded.

“I managed to visit three pavilions — Malaysia, New Zealand and China.

“It was very hot as the temperature was reaching 38°C, and it was too difficult to get into the other pavilions because of the big crowds waiting to get in.”

Sherene shared: “Of the four pavilions we got into, I think the China Pavilion was the most remarkable.

“The technology used to make the illusion of a flowing river, make the characters in an ancient Chinese painting on a wall move, and shape out Chinese characters and the words ‘Shanghai Expo 2010’ with water fountains, was impressive.”

And after the long day, the graduates had to prepare to go home the next day.

For some, the trip played a role in their decision to join the company.

“I received a job offer from Huawei, and I’m going to accept it.

“This trip affected my decision, because from this experience, I knew that Huawei is a very strong and well-developed multinational company,” said Mohamad Fauzi.

Many of them also said that they would definitely recommend the Job Camp to their juniors.

Said Shalina: “The Job Camp not only provided us fresh engineering graduates with technical knowledge, but also good presentation skills.

“It was very useful, and I would definitely recommend it to my juniors.