Local private colleges to be rated on MyQuest this year - The Star

By RICHARD LIM

PUTRAJAYA: Local private colleges will be rated this year through the Malaysia Quality Evaluation System (MyQuest), said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

The move, he said, was necessary as universities and university colleges were already evaluated through the Rating System for Malaysian Higher Education (Setara) and it would be “incomplete” if Malaysia’s 402 private colleges were not rated.

“It is important to know where our many colleges stand and we cannot compromise on quality,” he said at a press conference.

“We hope to come out with the results at the end of the year as the rating will assist students when it comes to choosing a college.”

Mohamed Khaled launched MyQuest after delivering his New Year’s message to the ministry at the Putrajaya International Convetion Centre on Monday. Under MyQuest, private colleges will be classified into six tiers.

They are Tier 6 (Excellent), Tier 5 (Very good), Tier 4 (Good), Tier 3 (Satisfactory), Tier 2 (Poor) and Tier 1 (Very poor).

My Quest employs a 40-30-30 breakdown: 40% of a college's score comes from its Input (students and facilities); 30% from Output (Recognition of a college's courses and graduates); and 30% from a college's quality management system.

Developed since the end of 2009, MyQuest is able to generate three different evaluation reports - college-based, cluster-based and international student-focused.

To qualify for MyQuest, colleges must have at least one matured programme running, with at least one batch of graduates.

Mohamed Khaled said that polytechnics would also be rated under a system known as PolyRate and the results would also be announced at the end of the year.

He added that this year’s Setara exercise would include universities that offered open and distance learning programmes as they widened access to higher education and promoted lifelong learning.

Three new research grant schemes were also announced to complement the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS).

They are the Long Term RGS, the Exploratory RGS and the Prototype RGS.

Mohamed Khaled said that over RM700mil would be disbursed through the schemes over two years.

Explaining the move, Mohamed Khaled said that research was multi-faceted and the nation could lose out if everything was spent on fundamental research.

“Some forms of research may take a long time and if we lack this specific type of grant, few would be motivated to undertake such efforts,” he said

OUM PhD pioneer graduates invited to the first Staff Assembly

The OUM's pioneer PhD graduates were specially invited to attend the first staff assembly for the year 2011. The letter of invitation were specially prepared and signed by its President and Vice Chancellor, Emeritus Prof. YBhg Tan Sri Dr Anuwar Ali.

Photo with President of OUM. From left: Dr Baljinder, Dr Wong, Dr Lum, Tan Sri and Dr Aminah

It was a very special occasion both for OUM and the graduates. The guest of honor was Dato' Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar, our Malaysian first astronaut. It was special because this was the first time OUM has invited graduates to attend its Staff Assembly, which happened to be the first assembly for the year 2011. Among the graduates present include Dr. Baljinder Singh, Dr. Sia Mal Kong, Dr. Wong Siaw Ming, Dr. Lum Heap Sum, Dr. Aminah and Dr Richard Ng.

Tan Sri Anuwar presenting the meritorius award to Dato' Dr Sheikh Muszaphar

For the graduates, it was an opportunity to meet in person our very first astronaut and to hear him sharing his personal experience through his talk entitled "Having the Right Attitude towards Excellence". According to Dato' Dr. Sheikh, his achievement culminated from his years of hard work, passion, dare to take risk and fear of nothing except God. He explained how he was selected from among 11,425 applicants and later shortlisted to 4 and finally became the first astronaut.

Dr Richard and Dr Aminah with astronaut, Dr Sheikh

It was his passion and his dreams. To him dreams are possible if you can overcome fear. It was a very interesting talk with video clips shown on his 12-day stay at the International Space Station.

The book autographed by Dato' Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar

Dr Lum receiving a souvenir from Tan Sri President

To the graduates, this occasion is considered a home coming event and get together session after their convocation held in November 2010. They met the faculty members and also the top management of OUM. They were also treated to a brunch attended by all staff and our astronaut. The President of OUM then presented each and every one of the graduates an OUM Jacket, a CD and a book written by our astronaut.

Dato' Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar then signed the autograph of his book of each of the graduate.

The pioneer PhD graduates having discussion on future plans before their departure

To the management of OUM especially to the President of OUM, Tan Sri Dr. Anuwar Ali, we are grateful for the invitation and appreciation shown.

Ex-Higher Education DG Dr Radin made UPM vice-chancellor - The Star

PETALING JAYA: Former higher education director-general Prof Datuk Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi has recently been appointed as vice-chancellor of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) beginning Jan 1, 2011 until Dec 31, 2013.

His experience in the academic field for the past 24 years replaces Prof Tan Sri Datuk Dr Nik Mustapha R. Abdullah, who will end his period of appointment as vice-chancellor on Dec 31, 2010.

Widely experienced in the higher education field, Prof Radin has been the university’s deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and International Relations) from 2005 to 2006.

He was also the institution’s Engineering faculty dean from 1999 to 2004, and has expertise in the Road Safety Engineering field.

Prof Radin was awarded a PhD in Road Trafic Engineering from Birmingham University in 1996, a Masters degree in Engineering in the field of Transport and Trafic Engineering from the University of Sheffield in 1985 and a Bachelors Degree in Engineering (Hons) in the field of Civil and Structural Engineering in 1984.

In the area of research, Prof Radin has headed 14 research projects and over 100 journal publications of high impact, apart from receiving 22 awards and recognitions both locally and overseas.

Having been the director-general of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros), he received the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award from the UK in 2005, which acknowledges the contributions and innovations of the recipient in the advancement of road safety.

Meanwhile, Prof Dr Mohd Saleh Jaafar, 47, has been appointed as UPM’s deputy vice-chancellor (Research and Innovation) for the next three years, beginning Jan 1, 2011 until Dec 31, 2013.

Prof Mohd Saleh replaces Prof Datuk Dr Abu Bakar Salleh, who ends his period of appointment on Dec 31, 2010.

Prof Mohd Saleh holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree from the Michigan State University, US, a Masters degree in Science from Michigan Ann Arbor, US, and a PhD from the University of Sheffield, UK.

Prof Mohd Saleh joined UPM in 1988, beginning his career as a lecturer at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and was appointed as Assoc Prof in 2001 leading up to his appointment as Prof at the faculty in 2009.

He was the Head of the Civil Engineering Faculty in 1996 until 2006 before his appointment as the deputy dean (Academic), and later as the Engineering Faculty dean in Oct 2007.

Happy New Year 2011

Wishing you all a very Happy and a Prosperous New Year. May 2011 brings more joy and success to all of us

Program MyBrain15 di bawah RMK10

Program MyBrain15:

Program MyBrain15 adalah salah satu program agenda kritikal di bawah Pelan Strategik Pengajian Tinggi Negara (PSPTN). Matlamat program adalah untuk mewujudkan kelompok sumber manusia yang berpengetahuan tinggi sebagai pemangkin kepada penyelidikan dan inovasi. Ini adalah penting bagi memastikan usaha Kerajaan untuk menjadikan pembangunan ekonomi berteraskan inovasi dapat dicapai dengan jayanya. Di bawah program ini, Kerajaan mensasarkan untuk mencapai sebanyak 60,000 pemegang PhD di kalangan rakyat Malaysia. Program yang ditawarkan oleh Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi adalah seperti berikut:

MyPhD:

MyPhD terbuka kepada semua graduan yang layak dan kakitangan sektor swasta. Objektif program ini adalah untuk meningkatkan jumlah kumpulan tenaga kerja profesional tempatan yang berpengetahuan dan berkemahiran tinggi berteraskan inovasi dan kreativiti yang mampu menjana pertumbuhan sektor ekonomi dan industri tempatan.

Kriteria MyPhD:

Calon-calon

* Pelajar Awam
* Kakitangan Swasta
* Pensyarah IPTS

Tempat Pengajian

* IPTA
* IPTS bertaraf GLC (UTP,MMU & UNITEN)

Bidang Tajaan

* 60% - Sains dan Teknologi
* 40% - Sains Sosial/Sastera Ikhtisas

Kontrak

* Berkhidmat di Malaysia atau mana-mana organisasi yang mempunyai kepentingan kepada Malaysia selama lima (5) tahun.

Syarat Permohonan MyPhD:

i. Warganegara Malaysia;

ii. Umur tidak melebihi 45 tahun semasa memohon;

iii. Telah mendapat tawaran/memulakan pengajian di IPT;

iv. Memiliki Ijazah Sarjana atau setaraf yang diiktiraf oleh IPTA dengan CGPA minima 3.00. Bagi mereka yang tiada kelayakan sarjana, perlu mempunyai pencapaian CGPA minima 3.50 di peringkat sarjana muda atau pengalaman berkerja berkaitan mengikut tempoh yang diluluskan oleh Agensi Kelayakan Malaysia (MQA);

v. Pengajian secara sepenuh masa;

vi. Tidak menerima sebarang bentuk penajaan dari lain-lain penaja (kecuali menerima elaun sebagai Pembantu Penyelidik Siswazah);

vii. Pelajar akan dikenakan perjanjian bersama seorang penjamin dan ikatan kontrak untuk berkhidmat kepada negara.



Syarat Kontrak:

i. Lima (5) tahun kontrak berkhidmat dalam negara atau dengan mana-mana organisasi yang berkepentingan untuk negara dengan gantirugi penuh pembiayaan sekiranya terlibat dalam pelanggaran kontrak;

ii. Penerima biaya yang melanggar syarat-syarat kontrak seperti berhenti atau ditamatkan pengajian oleh pihak IPT atau gagal atau berhijrah ke negara lain sebelum tamat kontrak akan dikenakan tindakan bayar balik atau gantirugi.

Permohonan dan Penawaran:

i. Permohonan akan dibuka secara online sepanjang tahun mulai 01 Disember 2010.

ii. Tawaran juga secara online akan dibuat dalam empat (4) fasa iaitu Januari, April, Julai dan Oktober pada setiap tahun.

iii. Pemilihan calon akan dibuat berdasarkan penilaian oleh Jawatankuasa Pemilih yang akan dilantik Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi.

iv. Sebelum memohon, calon hendaklah terlebih dahulu:-

* Memperolehi surat tawaran pengajian;
* Menyediakan Kertas Rancangan Penyelidikan (proposal)

Keterangan lanjut: https://www.mohe.gov.my/MyBrain15/index_myphd.php

MyMaster:

MyMaster merupakan feeder kepada program pembiayaan pengajian di peringkat PhD iaitu MyPhD. Objektif program ini adalah untuk merangsang dan menggalakkan graduan yang berkaliber meneruskan pengajian di peringkat yang lebih tinggi dalam bidang-bidang yang penting selaras dengan agenda pembangunan negara.

PhD Industri:

PhD Industri memberi tumpuan kepada para profesional dan pengamal industri dalam menghasilkan inovasi dan meningkatkan daya saing melalui penyelidikan berasaskan industri. Program ini juga adalah insentif Kerajaan untuk menggalakkan perkongsian pengetahuan antara pengamal industri dan ahli akademik dalam melahirkan profesional yang berpengetahuan tinggi.

Kumpulan Sasar:

* Eksekutif di industri yang terlibat secara langsung dengan penyelidikan, pembangunan, inovasi dan peningkatan daya saing industri berkenaan.
* Tidak termasuk kakitangan agensi Kerajaan, institut penyelidikan Kerajaan (research institutes) dan syarikat-syarikat bertaraf GLC.

Pembiayaan PhD Industri:

Pembiayaan maksimum sebanyak RM50,000 seorang sepanjang pengajian.

Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi:

-> Kos Penyeliaan
-> Kos Pengajian
-> Kos Latihan Penyeliaan
-> Kos Pemeriksaan Panel
-> Penganugerahan Ijazah

Industri:

-> Kos Penyelidikan Projek

Syarat Permohonan:

i. Pemilihan calon dari industri melalui perbincangan antara IPT & Industri

* Permohonan terbuka kepada semua warganegara Malaysia yang sedang berkerja di industri;
* Pemohon perlu mempunyai Ijazah Sarjana atau setaraf yang diiktiraf oleh universiti; ATAU
* Pemohon memiliki Ijazah Sarjana Muda DAN pengalaman industri dalam bidang berkaitan. (tertakluk kepada terma Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) yang ditetapkan oleh Agensi Kelayakan Malaysia (MQA), dan syarat-syarat yang ditetapkan oleh IPT).

ii. Perjanjian persefahaman antara IPT & Industri (MOU);

* meliputi kepentingan bersama, iaitu antara IPT dan industri

iii. Perjanjian persefahaman antara IPT & Industri DAN maklumat calon dikemukakan ke Bahagian Biasiswa, Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi bagi proses pembiayaan

Untuk keterangan lanjut:

- Sekolah Pengajian Siswazah di IPT yang terlibat; atau

- Bahagian Biasiswa

Bahagian Biasiswa

Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi Malaysia,

Aras 4, Blok 1, Menara PJH, Presint 2,

62100, PUTRAJAYA

(u.p. Unit IPTA : Program PhD Industri)

No. Tel: 03-8888 1616 Fax: 03-8884 4701

Email : phdindustri@mohe.gov.my

URL: http://www.portal.mohe.gov.my/biasiswa


Skim Latihan Akademik IPTA (SLAI):

SLAI bertujuan meningkatkan kualiti tenaga pengajar di IPTA selaras dengan objektif PSPTN iaitu "Memperkasa Institusi Pengajian Tinggi". Dalam RMKe-10, Kerajaan mensasarkan 75% pensyarah berkelayakan PhD atau setaraf di IPTA bertaraf Universiti Penyelidikan manakala sebanyak 60% di IPTA lain. Pengajian ini terbuka kepada pensyarah/ tutor/ fellow yang berkhidmat di IPTA sahaja

Prof. Karl Wagner visits Toong Wah Cave Temple in Ipoh

During his visit to Malaysia again in December, my PhD supervisor Prof. Karl Wagner took the opportunity to come to Ipoh and spent a night here. It was to celebrate my success in obtaining my PhD degree recently during the 9th OUM Convocation, which he was unable to attend due to work commitment.



We had good Bean Sprout Chicken and Yong Tau Fu. This has been one of the main attractions for him to come to Ipoh. Before he left, he visited the Toong Wah Cave Temple which was located near the Lost World of Tambun. This was his second visit to this temple as it was located 100 m above.



During his visit, w have good discussion on the joint research that we plan to do. We are also planning to write a book to share our discovery.

Global Learn Asia Pacific 2011

Global Conference on Learning and Technology

March 28 - April 1, 2011

Melbourne, Australia



The mission of the Global Learn Asia Pacific Conference, organized by the AACE, is to further the advancement and innovation in learning and technology. As the educational world becomes increasingly global, new ways to explore, learn, and share knowledge are needed.

Global Learn serves as a means to connect and engage creative educators, researchers, consultants, training managers, policy makers, curriculum developers, entrepreneurs, and others in the topics and fields in which they are passionate. Many individuals are transforming learning environments in local as well as more global ways. Global Learn offers an opportunity to meet and discuss their ideas, findings, and next steps.

Important Dates:

Final Call for Submissions: Jan 21, 2011

Final Call for Virtual Submissions: Jan 21, 2011

Early Registration: Feb 8, 2011

Author Confirmation: Feb 8, 2011

Proceedings File: Feb 8, 2011

Hotel Reservations: Feb 26, 2011

Major Topics:

* Advanced Technologies for Learning and Teaching
* Innovative Approaches to Learning and Learning Environments
* Educational Reform, Policy, and InnovationYarra Valley, Melbourne
* Evaluation and Quality Improvement Advances
* Assessment and Research
* Global Networks, Partnerships, and Exchanges
Open Education
* Technologies for Socially Responsive Learning
* Virtual and Distance Education

Conference Venue:



The Sebel Albert Park, Melbourne
65 Queens Road
Melbourne VIC 3004
Australia
Phone: 61 3 9529 4300
Fax: 61 3 9521 3111

For further information: http://aace.org/conf/glearn/