The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an upheaval in the global economy. On home ground, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin recently revealed that the Department of Statistics predicts a 5.5% unemployment rate, with over 850,000 Malaysians being rendered jobless in 2020. Amidst this climate of economic uncertainty, having job security is more important than ever. This is where obtaining a postgraduate degree can make a difference.
“A postgraduate degree would not only provide security in the area of the students' expertise, but also serve as an assurance that they are credible candidates with a high degree of professionalism that is needed for a job,” explained Dr Gowrie Vinayan, PhD, PMP, Assistant Professor at Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia.
According to her, postgraduate programmes are tailored to provide specific, in-depth knowledge to students, increasing their proficiency in a discipline and giving them an advantage over others. This is also essential in providing a strong base for those looking to climb up the corporate ladder in their existing roles or expand their expertise into other areas.
Heriot-Watt University Malaysia offers a range of postgraduate programmes, including in the areas of business, engineering and the built environment. Taught by a highly qualified faculty, the programmes emphasise both academic rigour and hands-on learning experiences.
“The postgraduate programmes under our renowned Edinburgh Business School in particular are tailored to take a broader view of the real business world and give an understanding of the socio-economic and geo-political forces impacting businesses worldwide as well as providing the intellectual tools to succeed with complex challenges in the rapidly changing global environment,” emphasised Dr Gowrie.
Ir Dr Go Yun Ii, the university’s Associate Dean for the Science and Engineering Constituency and Programme Director of Studies for Postgraduate Programmes in Renewable Energy & Energy Engineering, reveals that a postgraduate degree can help an engineer leapfrog into a leadership role. “In addition to better opportunities for salary increase, a postgraduate degree not only demonstrates the engineer’s enhanced technical knowledge but also their management capabilities and other relevant soft skills,” she said.
Over 80% of Heriot-Watt’s faculty are engaged in internationally recognised research, allowing the university to connect its students with leading researchers who are working on essential areas for the 21st century. This way, students can be part of a thriving environment that is focused on making a significant impact on issues that matter.
Assessment consists of a mix of examinations, coursework and a dissertation or research project. Weekly part-time classes are also available to accommodate the busy working professional, while friendly and responsive lecturers who can be easily reached during consultation hours or through e-mail facilitate the learning experience further.
To ensure students are able to enjoy a seamless study experience amidst these uncertain times, Heriot-Watt recently introduced an innovative Responsive Blended Learning approach. Responsive Blended Learning, or RBL, was conceived to mitigate disruptions to students’ studies due to the pandemic. This approach combines active, supported online learning with contextually appropriate face-to-face learning opportunities, depending on the current situation. As students are able to access their curricula from anywhere and at any time, they will be able to proceed with their studies smoothly no matter what lockdown restrictions are imposed or lifted.
“With the pandemic still at large, the uncertainty is still here. We could resume face-to-face lectures only to have to close down later; or there could be international students who would like to come to Malaysia to study but are unable to do so just yet. With RBL, students can potentially have 100% face-to-face lectures if we are able to open up our campus completely, go totally online, or even have a combination of both online and face-to-face classes,” explained Heriot-Watt University Malaysia’s Provost and Chief Executive Officer, Prof Mushtak Al-Atabi.
Heriot-Watt’s postgraduates are highly regarded by employers worldwide, with over 90% of them already in graduate-level jobs or furthering their studies within six months of completing their programmes. With its strong global links to business and industry, the university is also able to link its students with some of the world’s top employers, while its extensive network of over 123,000 alumni means that students automatically become a part of a massive international family.
Noor Iskandar Hashim bin Noor, a Learning & Development Specialist who is currently pursuing the MSc in Business Strategy, Leadership and Change, feels that his studies will give him an edge in his professional field. “I found that the MSc in Business Strategy, Leadership and Change fits my needs well. As a Learning & Development Specialist, my focus is on People Development and Maturity issues in the context of Business Strategy, Leadership and Change (ta-da!). It helps me to structure and put more rigour into the programmes and training I do. It helps me to put the science behind into my thinking,” he enthused.
Heriot-Watt University Malaysia offers a range of scholarships for its postgraduate programmes, including a special Corporate Partnership Postgraduate Bursary that offers waivers of up to 30% to those who apply together with their colleagues and 20% Alumni Scholarships to Heriot-Watt graduates.
The university was established in 1821 and is the eighth oldest higher education institution in the UK. In addition to its postgraduate programmes, it also offers a range of foundation and undergraduate programmes with business, finance, built environment and engineering specialisms. Among others, the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 ranked Heriot-Watt ninth in the UK for impact, with 82% of its research ranked world-class.
The main intake date for all Heriot-Watt University Malaysia’s postgraduate programmes is in September 2020. There will also be an additional intake for its business and psychology postgraduate programmes in January 2021. To find out more about the university’s postgraduate programmes, visit its Postgraduate Application Day, which will be held on 29th August 2020 with physical distancing measures in place. Those who apply then will also enjoy a special waiver. Alternatively, you may log on to https://bit.ly/pgappday2020 or call +603 8894 3888/e-mail [email protected] for more details.