THE STAR, TUESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2018

WORK & STUDY

Lifelong learning
in motion
The notion that the chance to pursue further study expires once adult
responsibilities kick in is a thing of the past. Learn how modern programmes
let you balance work, study, family time and social obligations.
2 Work & Study
Working towards
closing the skill gap
WHETHER you managed to hit
most traditional education
checkpoints or have less
conventional vocational or
technical qualifications, learning
is lifelong and many look to
improve themselves by
furthering their studies.
However, work, family and
social obligations can deter
someone looking to pursue
further study. As for fresh
graduates who may be free from
these responsibilities, their main
concern would be trying to land
a job in the first place or secure
one that is relevant to their skills
and interest.
Nevertheless, these are not
reasons to stop learning or be
complacent in your career as
further study is important
whether you have just graduated
or been in the workforce for
years.
Experience wanted
In his article titled Young and
jobless in Malaysia published in
The Star last month, AmBank
group chief economist and head
of research Anthony Dass
wrote that although headline
unemployment was around
3.4% last year, the youth
unemployment rate was more
than three times higher at
around 10.8%.
These statistics support
an analyst report titled
Unemployment among graduates
needs to be sorted out fast
by M. Shanmugam published in
The Star last year. In his article,
he covered some reasons for the
high youth unemployment rate
in Malaysia.
He wrote, “Topping the list is a
mismatch between the training
provided at universities and skill
sets required by employers.
Employers contend that the
current university curriculum
does not reflect the (industry’s)
skill requirements and cite
graduates’ lack of
communication skills as a major
setback.”
A report published in May
titled Youth Unemployment
Rate Remains High as Skills
Mismatch Stay Prevalent
by Malaysian Industrial
Development Finance Berhad
claims that the skill mismatch
and market uncertainties remain
as challenges for every economy
in tackling the issue of high
youth unemployment rates.
Obtain in-demand skills
There are local institutions that
recognise the issues these people
are facing and provide solutions
in the form of professional
training courses and certification
to close the gap between the lack
of qualified workers and need
for skilled workers.
In 1993, the Government
established the Human Resources
Development Fund (HRDF) under
the Human Resources Ministry to
collect funds from employers for
the development of training
programmes to increase the
number of skilled workers
in the workforce.
The main offering of HRDF is
the Training Assistance Scheme,
which provides training grants to
employers as an incentive to
retrain and upgrade their
employees’ skills for the
advancement of their respective
companies.
As for fresh graduates who
need workforce compatibility
training, the Future Workers
Training Scheme is employed to
minimise training intervention
for newly hired workers.
Self-directed growth
Institutions such as the
Institute of Professional
Development-Open University
Malaysia (IPD-OUM), Malaysian
Institute of Management (MIM)
and Malaysian Institute of
Human Resource Management
THE STAR, TUESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2018
offer personal development
training programmes via
membership for individuals
who are looking to increase
personal employability. Short
courses are available for people
who face time constraints.
These are usually one- or two-
day courses on subjects such
as New Age Marketing Strategies
or Assertiveness Skills for
Leaders.
Targeted at people who
desire skill-based training,
IPD-OUM offers Malaysian Skills
Certificate courses for individuals
who do not have traditional
qualifications so that they can
improve their job prospects.
A clear example of how such
courses have contributed to
decreasing the youth
unemployment rate is the
1Malaysia Training Scheme’s
success in helping more than
144,440 graduates secure jobs
upon undergoing on-the-job and
communication skills training
since its inception in 2011.
On a local news portal, Energy,
Green Technology, Science,
Climate Change and
Environment Minister Yeo Bee
Yin wrote, “Since we are living in
a fast-changing world where the
job market changes so quickly,
our tertiary institutions need to
equip graduates with skills that
can be ‘transferred’ across
different industries such as the
ability to learn new things
quickly and independently,
adaptability to new technologies
and environments, and
analytical, critical and creative
thinking.”
People can also learn for free
or affordably through platforms
such as Skillshare, Khan
Academy and YouTube. These
platforms are interactive forums
on which users can share their
knowledge online or learn from
others. Although these platforms
do not offer completion
certificates, they are still good
tools for personal growth.
For people who seek proper
certification to increase their
chances of landing a job or
climbing the corporate ladder,
there are free online university
courses or massive open online
courses which are available on
platforms such as edX, Coursera
and Open2Study.
Become a career
chameleon
As the job market becomes
increasingly competitive,
workers can no longer expect to
be spoon-fed by their supervisors
and must take the initiative to
obtain the skills they need.
This matter can be a point
of frustration, especially when
it is known that skill mismatch
is not the only problem. The
uncertain job market in this
highly convertible age of
new technologies is also a
contributing factor.
Thus, workers looking to
secure a job or climb the
corporate ladder should obtain
skills in adaptability and
resourcefulness and equip
themselves with an attitude of
constantly seeking to learn new
things.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2018
Flexible
options in
education
YOUR quest for knowledge does
not have to end at donning your
graduation gown. Lifelong
learners have a burning desire
for continuous self-improvement
embedded in them.
Though the term may seem
exclusively applicable to degree
holders in the workforce with
career progression in mind,
lifelong learning is necessary
across all ages, levels of
education and professional
backgrounds.
A Human Resources
Development Fund programme –
Strengthening of Lifelong
Learning for Skills Enhancement
– aims to provide a continuous
supply of quality local human
capital through effective
initiatives that can build a world-
class Malaysian workforce.
Such initiatives include
encouraging and capitalising on
studying while working. With
strong support from the
Government, lifelong learning is
taking a step forward in
Malaysia. An important
consideration now is to ensure
that this endeavour is successful.
Management & Science
University (MSU) offers
breakthrough ways for working
adults to pursue further study.
Lifelong learners from all
walks of life may enrol in MSU’s
range of undergraduate and
postgraduate programmes and
choose the best option from a
variety of study modes such as
weekday, weekend or evening
classes, or virtual lessons that are
held via video conferencing and
supported with online
discussions.
Enterprising and technology-
driven MSU is steeped in
research, innovation and social
entrepreneurship.
The university comprises the
Faculty of Health and Life
Sciences, Faculty of Business
Management and Professional
Studies, Faculty of Information
Sciences and Engineering,
International Medical School,
School of Pharmacy, School of
Education and Social Sciences,
School of Hospitality and Creative
Arts, School of Graduate Studies,
Graduate School of Management,
and Centre for Fundamental
Studies.
MSU is one of Malaysia’s top
universities. It focuses on
developing and delivering quality
With its many recognitions and accreditations, MSU is the ideal platform
for lifelong learners to continue receiving education beyond their
undergraduate degrees.
Work & Study 3
human capital to national and
global critical-need areas
such as medicine, health
sciences, pharmacy, information
sciences, engineering, business
management and professional
studies, education and social
sciences, hospitality and culinary
arts, music, and fashion.
MSU scored five stars in five
QS Stars University Ratings
categories (teaching, facilities,
graduate employability, social
responsibility and inclusiveness)
and placed 217th in the QS Asian
University Rankings 2018.
The institution was awarded 5
Star: Excellent status in the
Rating for Higher Education
Institutions in Malaysia 2017 and
recognised as a leading education
provider at the Putra Brand
Awards 2017.
Besides that, the university was
named The Most Entrepreneurial
Private University in 2016 at the
Ministry of Higher Education
Entrepreneurial Awards and the
Best Brand in Education for
Leadership and Human Capital
Development 2017 at the Asia
Pacific Elite of Elites
BrandLaureate Awards.
MSU’s award-winning study
programmes meet stringent
standards set by local and
international bodies including
the Malaysian Qualifications
Agency, the United Kingdom’s
Accreditation Service for
International Schools, Colleges &
Universities, and Japan’s Alliance
on Business Education and
Scholarship for Tomorrow
(ABEST21).
MSU gives top priority to
enhancing its graduate
employability and the growth of
its students and faculty. By
engaging highly qualified
academics and international
visiting professors, the university
delivers compelling learning
experiences within the
framework of a holistic
curriculum.
Lifelong learning is vital for
everybody, not just the insatiably
curious.
Make lifelong learning a part
of your life to advance in your
profession and gain immense
personal fulfilment.
n For more information,
call 03-5521 6868, e-mail
enquiry@msu.edu.my or visit
www.msu.edu.my
4 Work & Study
Marketing manager and AeU DBA student Chen with her family.
Self-paced study
for professionals
WORKING adults who harbour dreams of
pursuing a doctorate degree may find the
prospect daunting because of their
obligations to family and work.
Understanding that juggling work, family
life and studies can be complicated, Asia e
University (AeU) offers a highly flexible
learning mode so that you can fit your
studies around your priorities without
putting your life on hold.
AeU’s Doctor of Business Administration
(DBA) programme is designed for the
professional who aims to not only gain a
distinguished title and top leadership
position but also make significant
contributions in her area of expertise. This
increasingly popular programme is offered
as a combination of coursework and
independent research.
Equivalent in status to a Doctor of
Philosophy (PhD), the programme
encourages the development of doctorate-
level critical thinking, research and decision-
making skills that will help you revolutionise
your chosen field and thrive in a world of
adaptive leadership that is highly uncertain
and challenging.
The programme offers an immersive
online learning experience with live face-to-
face classes and real-time discussions,
creating a vibrant social network that
enables you to study and interact with
professors, facilitators and fellow classmates,
some of whom live and work abroad.
Amy Chen Yen Jiin is a 2016 graduate of
AeU’s Master of Business Administration and
marketing manager of Anakku Sdn Bhd. Her
passion in exploring different dimensional
views to enhance her business skills
culminated in her decision to enrol in AeU’s
DBA programme.
Chen says, “My work requires me to travel
locally and abroad. I am usually busy trying
to cope with my work, family and studies.
AeU has the best flexible-learning mode and
extensive learning resources that enable me
to manage my work and studies.
“I faced my fair share of struggles during
my master’s, which was tough at first.
Eventually, perseverance, self-motivation
and good time management were the
success factors that helped me juggle my
commitments.
“Now, I am an expert in managing work
and family obligations while studying.
Prioritising and strategising in my daily and
monthly schedules enables me to schedule
quality time with my family. Being realistic
during the times when my priorities change
helps me get through the process of finding a
balance among expectations.
“Unexpected events can upset my work
and study schedules. When loved ones fall
THE STAR, TUESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2018
ill, taking time off work to care for them and
then returning to an increased workload at
the office can impact my work and studies.
“I rely on my supportive husband to help
out with chores and mind the kids. Despite
being pressed for time, I am pleased that I
am able to get my assignments done.
“I am currently enjoying the DBA course,
which is new and eye-opening to me.
Whether at home or abroad, I do not feel
isolated or lonely because I can easily
interact with the supportive and caring
academic facilitators, staff and coursemates.
“I enjoy attending the once-a-month
tutorial sessions because I can share my
experiences and exchange ideas with my
peers. I network with them during classes
and we keep in touch via a Whatsapp group.
“Embarking on this course was the
beginning of a new chapter in my life. My
postgraduate studies not only help me to
contribute better to my current job but have
made me an important role model to my
children. If I can do it, anyone can.
“I am determined to stay on track and
follow through with my passions to achieve
my dream. If you know how to make it
work, postgraduate study can come with
great life experiences that are self-fulfilling.”
About AeU
AeU is a collaborative, multimode
university that was established in 2008
under the auspices of the 34 countries in
Asia Cooperation Dialogue. AeU was
awarded 4 Star: Very Good status in the
Rating for Higher Education Institutions
in Malaysia 2017 – the best among open
and distance learning universities in the
country.
AeU’s myPLS is a personalised online
learning platform that gives students easy
access to information and allows students to
learn anytime, anywhere alongside other
professionals around the world. AeU has an
extensive online library collection that
includes e-books, journals and e-theses.
In just 10 years, AeU’s cumulative student
population, which is spread over 84
countries, has exceeded 29,000. The students
of AeU enjoy a quality, immersive and
personalised education experience that is
flexible, relevant and available anytime,
anywhere. More than 3,000 students are
enrolled in AeU’s programmes at its
collaborative partner learning centres in
Europe, Asia and Africa.
n For more information, call 1300 300 238/
03-5022 3567, e-mail enquiries@aeu.edu.my
or apply to AeU’s September intake at
www.aeu.edu.my