COURSE FOCUS
THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 JULY 2022
THE Master of Business Administration in
Healthcare Management (MBAHM) by
International Medical University (IMU)
assists in the development of skills in
business analysis, managing health
organisations, financial planning and
strategic thinking in healthcare services.
The course educates students in
understanding the management,
strategising and application of concepts in
matters related to health, be in healthcare
or non-healthcare organisations.
It covers topics on cost cutting, employee
motivation, strategic management,
marketing strategy, predicting market
trends, clinical governance, health laws,
business analysis, conducting research
and improving overall performance
focusing on effectiveness and efficacy.
These skills equip the graduate with the
ability to ascertain that their organisations
are operationally, financially and clinically
capable of serving the needs of patients
or customers.
Working adults can enjoy the flexibility
of IMU’s triple offerings of postgraduate
certificate, postgraduate diploma and
MBAHM. This allows graduates to possess
the academic knowledge and competencies
required to progress at different phases of
their career pathways.
The management project component of
this course involves writing a proposal,
data collection, analysis and interpretation
which prepares graduates for research. The
course covers the development of strategies
in disease prevention, intersectoral
collaboration with other healthcare
agencies and financial management.
The necessity for healthcare
management leadership
Ooi (second from left) and Dr Nitiyanantam (right) at their convocation ceremony on June 25.
As we emerge from the Covid-19
pandemic, IMU is moving out of fully online
classes to a hybrid mode of face-to-face and
online classes. IMU is well prepared to go to
a fully online mode if the need arises.
Students can enrol full-time or part-time
and the MBAHM is open to both local and
international students. The course runs for
one year and three months for full-time
students and between two and three years
for part-time students.
“For someone with no healthcare
background, I gained a lot of new
knowledge from a team of knowledgeable,
experienced and dedicated lecturers. I
learned and gained a lot of important skills
that are important to my working life:
teamwork, time management, presentation
skills, confidence, taking initiative,
leadership, stress management and most of
all, the friendships with my cohort mates.
“Learning from other students with
diverse backgrounds has provided me with
a lot of new and fresh perspectives, as well
as different approaches to problem-solving
and ways of thinking. I have formed many
personal and professional relationships
that I value highly and that will serve me
well in the years to come,” says Ooi Su Yin,
a Postgraduate Diploma of Business
Administration in Healthcare Management
and MBAHM graduate.
Another MBAHM graduate, Dr Benjamin
Loo Tat Meng, says, “The MBAHM gave
me the opportunity to explore and learn
a different field compared to my
undergraduate studies. With a
comprehensive variety of classes and a
team of knowledgeable and experienced
faculty, it made studying interesting,
informative, and challenging. Having
students from different backgrounds
created an atmosphere with a wealth of
experience and culture, which vastly
increased learning opportunities and built
inter-professional collaborations.
“The knowledge obtained from this
programme will be directly applicable in
my career. The foresight to make distance
learning tools available early made the
transition during the pandemic painless and
undisruptive. I am truly grateful to have
been given the opportunity to be part of this
learning journey as the foundation towards
something greater in the future.”
For another MBAHM graduate, Dr
Nitiyanantam Perremal says, “I am proud
to be an alumnus of IMU MBAHM. My
experience has been nothing less than
remarkable as it has enabled such
personal and professional growth. I was
able to learn fundamental business and
management skills necessary to think
critically and act judiciously. More
importantly, I am privileged to have been
surrounded with knowledgeable and
“One tangible
outcome after
completing this
programme was
my professional
advancement, which
has put me at the
forefront of the next
top management
level within my
organisation. I credit
this to my experience
with the MBAHM.”
Dr Nitiyanantam Perremal
diverse faculty with industry experts that
have empowered students.
“This programme connected me to many
brilliant and ambitious individuals within
the healthcare fraternity, some of whom are
now my dear friends with whom I continue
to trade quality improvement ideas. One
tangible outcome after completing this
programme was my professional
advancement, which has put me at the
forefront of the next top management level
within my organisation. I credit this to my
experience with the MBAHM.”
The MBAHM is focused on providing a
comprehensive systematic curriculum for
students, with a variety of teaching methods
employed including tutorials, interactive
videos, field visits, seminar presentations,
role-play, case discussions, flipped
classroom, mini workshops, simulations and
lectures. This content is delivered by
experienced faculty, who have specialised
management experience in the government
and private sectors.
n For more information about this or IMU’s
other postgraduate programmes, email
postgraduate@imu.edu.my, call 03-2731
7272 or visit www.imu.edu.my.
2 Course Focus: Business, Accounting & Finance
Learning the right fundamentals
RECOGNISING the importance of
business and accounting as the
backbone to almost any industry,
Asia Metropolitan University
(AMU) offers programmes in
business and accounting ranging
from foundation to doctorate
levels. Its graduates are highly
sought after by employers who
appreciate their diverse set of
skills and knowledge as a result
of the university’s high-quality
teaching and curriculum.
“Our faculty members teach
the best practices from the
industry. We emphasise how
technology can help enhance
business opportunities, so
students are prepared to land
successful careers in various
business industries,” says
Paramjeet Singh Shutar Singh,
deputy dean of the Faculty of
Business, Management and
Information Technology.
At AMU, a one-year Foundation
in Business Studies aims at
providing students a clear
understanding of the
fundamental concepts, theories
and practices of business
administration practice. It serves
as the quickest path to enter a
business-related degree.
Students can also opt to
enrol for a Diploma in
Business Administration, a
two-and-a-half-year programme
that provides the basics of
business administration,
including accounting, finance
and management.
Upon completing a Diploma or
Foundation in Business, students
can then proceed
to a Bachelor of Business
Administration degree which
is a two- to three-year
programme that focuses on
the fundamental elements of
business administration. Students
in a Bachelor of Business
Administration programme learn
in-depth knowledge of business
administration, including human
resource management and
accounting. This programme
hones the skills of students to
help them become successful
managers of businesses.
In addition, AMU also offers an
amazing opportunity for students
to earn a second degree under
the outbound programme where
students can complete the final
year subjects at Dublin Business
School in Ireland. Upon
AMU is committed to preparing graduates with the right skills and
knowledge to enter the competitive and challenging workforce.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 JULY 2022
successful completion of their Upon completing AMU’s MBA in the university’s degree effectively in a global community.
three years of studies, students programme, students will have programme. Aside from that, Students
will receive a degree certificate developed skills necessary to pursue students are also privy to a are encouraged to explore their
from AMU and an equivalent professional careers in their chosen Bursary Award of up to 30% for interests and talents in various
degree from Dublin Business field or industry; they may also the Diploma in Business and activities that will help them
School. choose to advance their education Bachelor of Business develop academically,
“I chose to study the Bachelor further by earning a PhD or DBA Administration programme. professionally, personally and
of Business Administration before entering academia as There are also Loan Assistance socially. These include involvement
because it is relevant to a field of teachers or researchers. schemes affiliated with the in community service, participation
high demand. I was also attracted The university also caters to this university that students may in research projects, leadership skill
to this field because of its demand with programmes such as apply for a truly seamless enhancement programmes,
competitive earning potential,” Doctor of Business Administration study experience. international exchange
says student Abdul Qaiyum and Doctor of Philosophy in Prior to graduating, students programmes, and international
Abdul Hamid. Management. While the former may choose from a wide array of conferences.
Accounting and finance on equips graduates with business and internship programmes offered This year’s intake is now open for
the other hand teach students management theories, the latter by the university which will help applications. Attend the university’s
specialist knowledge of provides knowledge to enhance them gain practical skills in real- Open Day on July 23 and 24 for
accountancy practices, relevant management skills to time environments. These more information.
commerce, industry and finance. advance expertise in research and internships are also open for
The Diploma in Accounting practice. graduates to improve their n For more information on AMU’s
programme at AMU provides AMU also offers various chances of getting hired by programmes and scholarships,
students a wide spectrum of government and private financial established companies or message the education counsellors
knowledge and skills necessary assistance. Students who wish to start-up ventures. through WhatsApp at 012-237 0925,
for a career at the semi- join the Foundation programme are AMU strives to develop holistic email info@amu.edu.my or visit
professional level. This entitled to 100% scholarships should students who have the ability to amu.edu.my/businessadmin or amu.
programme provides a solid they decide to further their studies communicate and work edu.my/accounting.
foundation for those interested in
furthering their education and
training to become qualified
professional accountants.
Students may continue with
a Bachelor of Accountancy
programme at AMU which
produces holistic graduates
that prepares them to become
leading practitioners that
can support business and
commercial ventures.
Bachelor of Accountancy
student Kishern Arumugam says,
“The field of accountancy is
highly flexible. I get to choose
many different industries to
work in upon graduating. I look
forward to working in strategic
and diverse roles to apply the
skills and knowledge that I’ve
gained at AMU.”
AMU also offers students a
direct pathway into postgraduate
studies in Business. The Master of
Business Administration (MBA)
programme at AMU offers
extensive training in business
management. It is also a
professional degree, as it
prepares graduates for careers
in various fields within the
business world.
The MBA programme has been
designed to provide students with
an understanding of both
theoretical and practical aspects
of management, as well as an
appreciation for ethical issues
related to business
administration.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 JULY 2022
Transforming students
to be globally sought after
FOR nearly 40 years, Binary
Business School (BBS) and the
Binary Graduate School (BGS) have
been producing highly employable
accounting and business graduates.
“Our Business and Accounting
graduates enjoy outstanding
graduate employability because we
equip them with extensive industry-
specific skills, transforming them to
become Industry Specialist
Professional (ISP) talents,” says
senior lecturer of the School of
Accounting and Finance S.F. Huang.
“The ISP Centre of Excellence at
Binary University is supported by
over 1280 Faculty of Industry
Professionals (FIPs) who are
industry experts. They groom our
graduates to walk and talk the
language of the industry using the
IPs we have developed over the last
30 years,” adds Huang, who is
himself a chartered accountant with
over 25 years of experience.
“The ISP Certified Talent
Transformation programme is
conducted over a three-year period
and runs parallel with our degrees.
Testimony of the power of the ISP is
in the outstanding graduate
employability rate which is one of
the highest in the country, as
evidenced by the Tracer Study
conducted by the Ministry of Higher
Education,” he adds.
Founder and chairman of Binary
University Tan Sri Datuk Prof Joseph
Adaikalam says, “Driven by the BEE
Centre of Excellence, all business, IT
and accounting students acquire
extensive entrepreneurial
Course Focus: Business, Accounting & Finance
knowledge and skills.
“Possessing an entrepreneurial
mindset coupled with industry-
specific skills helps employers
harness the power of creativity and
innovation among our graduates.
This is why Binary University has
invested millions to create an
ecosystem-based education model
to bring out the latent talents of
youths. Graduates who lack the
entrepreneurial mindset and
industry-specific skills will be
handicapped in a business world
that has now become fast-paced
and globalised,” he elaborates.
Datuk Seri David Sew, founder
and chief executive officer of
SpecTruck Sdn Bhd and an industry
partner of Binary University, says,
“I highly recommend anyone
considering an accounting
degree to choose Binary’s BA
(Hons) in Accounting as very
few qualifications enjoy a triple
accreditation of CPA (Australia),
MQA and exemptions from
eight papers of the ACCA (UK).”
Huang explains, “Unlike
many accounting courses which
are taught by academics, our
accounting degrees are taught
by practising accountants. More
than 70% of our teaching staff
are practioners.”
Senior lecturer in Accounting
S.K. Chee says, “While many
degrees in accounting are of a
four-year duration, ours take
only three years to complete
after STPM. Moreover, ours is
an honours degree. Our fees are
very reasonable and value for
money with the highest quality.”
Dean of BGS Prof Dr Asif
Mahbub Karim who has worked
in some of the world’s top five
accounting firms shares, “As an
accountant, you are trained to
be very versatile. Hence, there
is a myriad of jobs one can fit
into easily. Accountants around
the globe today work as
certified public accountants,
financial controllers, company
secretaries, tax consultants,
auditors, chief financial
officers, and finance directors
among others. Many
accountants are highly
successful entrepreneurs.”
“BBS also offers the BA Hons
in Business Management
(BABM), BA (Hons) in
Entrepreneurship (BET) and the
Studying risk management
WITH an increasing number
of universities offering risk
management courses, students
interested in entering the
business sector find themselves
with even more options.
Risk management, or risk
assessment as it is sometimes
known, is the process of
forecasting and evaluating
potential risks that a business
may face, thus minimising the
likelihood of avoidable problems
and coming up with contingency
plans to manage inevitable ones.
Students should carefully
weigh their options for financial
risk management courses, as they
need a study pathway that will
help them develop professional
and personal attributes as
well as the necessary technical
skills to become a successful
risk manager.
Those who want to study
overseas will be pleased to note
that there are twinning options
available for many risk
management courses. If you
would prefer studying at home,
there are options for you as well.
A good risk management
course should provide you with
sound business knowledge and
the skills needed to manage a
range of banking, financial and
risk management activities.
Upon graduating, you can
expect to face prospects of being
hired into positions that involve
3
Datuk Seri
David Sew.
BA Hons in Marketing (BIM)
which all offer graduates the
opportunity to specialise in
industries that students have
a passion to work in. Similarly,
BABM provides students the
option to specialise in 23
industries including Logistics
& Supply Chain, Tourism, and
Telecommunication,” adds BBS
dean Prof Bipin.
BGS offers the PhD, DBA,
MBA, MSc Education
Management and a suite of
MSc by Research in areas
such as Public Administration,
International Marketing,
Healthcare Management and
Tourism Management.
“Binary’s PhD is unique in that
over 90% of candidates are from
academia. Another unique
feature is that it is a milestone-
based PhD, thus enabling
candidates to graduate on time,”
explains vice-chancellor Prof
Dr Sulo.
“The Binary DBA is popular
among chief executive officers
and senior managers whereas
the Binary MBA is pursued by
those who aim to create a mark
in their chosen industry. The
Binary MBA is the only Industry
Specialist MBA in the region,
thus giving its graduates a
distinctive advantage over many
MBAs offered locally,” she adds.
n For more information, attend
the university’s Open Day on July
23 (10am to 5pm) or visit binary.
edu.my. The next intake is on
July 26.
stockbroking, banking,
financial planning, insurance
management, investing and
fund management.
The unstable economy affects
many organisations around the
world. While corporate finance
experts used to depend on
forecasts and projections to
help them determine active and
passive operation periods,
many seek a new focus now,
which is to manage risk before
problems arise.
As a risk manager, you will
play an important role in
maintaining the financial health
of the company you work for.
You may be assigned to roles
that range from legal processes
to frontline operations.
Corporations now boast
dedicated departments for risk
management, which means that
people with your skills will be
in-demand upon graduation.
You can expect to work closely
with accountants, financial
planners, top management
and legal advisors in your line
of work.
While finance degrees will
usually cover risk management
in varying degrees of depth, it
is advisable to get a specialised
degree if you are sure of the
career path you want, because
it can increase your chances
of landing a position in this
unique area.
4 Course Focus: Business, Accounting & Finance
Accountants leading
ESG standards
THE accounting profession is bringing
global environment, social and corporate
governance (ESG) concerns to the forefront.
It is taking the lead in setting and
developing ESG standards, measuring and
reporting ESG targets and matrices to
investors and stakeholders.
A symposium organised by the Malaysian
Institute of Accountants themed “Corporate
Board Leadership Symposium 2022:
Mastering Governance in the Era of ESG”,
has shown how the accounting profession
contributes to ESG and climate action to
achieve the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals.
Accountants can add value through their
analytical skills, knowledge of the financial
reporting chain, understanding of and
application of reporting standards, and the
use of their professional judgement, which
cannot be replaced by automation or
emerging technologies.
The knowledge of the financial and
non-financial reporting ecosystems
supports organisations in developing their
ESG road maps and setting their ESG targets
and matrices.
ESG reporting plays a vital role in
accounting, recording and reporting the
organisation’s environmental, social and
governance activities and those activities’
impact. The reporting allows an organisation
to guide and present its ESG activities to
build its brand name. It also mitigates any
negative ESG controversies that could harm
the organisation.
“Human judgement is required when
deciding which of the numerous ESG
methodologies, frameworks and metrics
to follow. Even after deciding on the
ESG methodology and framework, the
accountant has to judge how to follow the
ESG methodology and framework. These
judgments and responsibilities cannot be
technically nor legally pushed to the new
emerging IT automation technologies,” says
Dr Siew Eu-Gene from the School of
Business, Monash University Malaysia.
This leads to another important issue: how
does one know whether the ESG reporting is
fair, accurate, reliable and complies with the
chosen ESG methodology and framework?
Therefore, the auditing and assurance
services unit provides the competencies
and skills to give assurance reports on the
credibility of ESG targets and matrices for
ESG reporting.
“Providing assurance reports on
sustainability metrics forms the basis for
reporting financial and non-financial
information that is accurate, transparent
and reliable for ESG reporting. The focus of
auditing is to ensure the effectiveness and
Dr Siew reiterates that
human judgement is still
required when deciding
which of the numerous
ESG methodologies,
frameworks and
metrics to implement
and adhere to.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 JULY 2022
“The knowledge of
the financial and non-
Dr Shyamala shares
financial reporting that the focus of
auditing is to ensure
ecosystems supports the effectiveness
and reliability of an
organisations in organisation’s internal
control systems in
developing their ESG collecting financial
road maps and setting and non-financial
data.
their ESG targets and
matrices.”
reliability of the organisation’s internal
control systems in collecting financial and
non-financial data,” states Dr Shyamala
Dhoraisingam from the School of Business,
Monash University Malaysia.
Management accounting aids in an
organisation’s strategic planning and
monitoring of its ESG activities and
initiatives. Management accounting tools
such as strategic risk assessment, life cycle
analysis and performance measurement
systems, integrated with the financial
reporting chain, help provide the ESG data
for setting targets and matrices.
ESG audits involve identifying and
managing risks arising from an
organisation’s environmental, social and
governance matters. Accountants participate
in the strategic planning and monitoring of
ESG activities and initiatives.
The outcome of an ESG audit is to issue
assurance reports on sustainability metrics
which form the basis for reporting financial
and non-financial information that is
accurate, transparent, reliable, and complies
with laws and regulations. The use of
technology enables ESG data to be captured
and analysed but human judgement is still
essential to creating the matrices.
To conclude, human judgements, as
opposed to computer algorithms, are needed
in many ESG reporting processes and
valuations. These cannot, at present, be
simplified into programming codes. Given
the growing ESG reporting, accountants can
rest assured that they will play an important
role in the foreseeable future.
n For more information about the courses
offered at the School of Business, Monash
University Malaysia, visit www.monash.edu.
my/business.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 JULY 2022
THERE are plenty of pathways
that SPM or STPM leavers can
take upon receiving their results.
However, this is also heavily reliant
on their grades.
Director of the Centre for
Foundation Languages and General
Studies, Asst Prof Eric Tang Cher
Hing says, “Students need not
worry about entry requirements
for Foundation in Art programmes
at University of Cyberjaya (UoC).
They will only need to have a
credit in any five subjects to fulfil
its entry requirements.”
“Even if students do not meet
those criteria, they can also enter
into the tertiary education system
through the university’s certificate
programmes. The low barrier to
entry of only one credit in any SPM
subject ensures that anyone who
has the desire to learn is able to do
so at the university, and eventually
enter into the university’s diploma
and later the undergraduate
programmes offered,” he adds.
At UoC, students are entitled to
100% scholarships for certificate or
foundation programmes should
they continue their studies with the
university’s degree programmes.
Though there are plenty of
Starting your business
and accounting journey
options available for them to study
after completing their Foundation
in Arts or Certificate in Business
Studies, the dynamic and
growing field of Business and
Accounting remains to be a top
choice for students.
“Business and Accounting are the
backbone to almost any industry,
as it is needed in order to ensure
sustainability of economies that will
create jobs and ensure that societies
can thrive. In any environment or
economic climate, both Business
and Accounting graduates are
needed. The only difference with
time is that the technology around it
changes, requiring adaptation and
flexibility,” says Prof Dr Mudiarasan
Kuppusamy, dean of the Faculty of
Business and Technology at UoC.
At business school, students are
Course Focus: Business, Accounting & Finance
taught academic theories and are
expected to apply them in real-
world situations. Studying business
administration or management
moulds students into razor-sharp
decision makers and professionals
who are able to face uncertainty,
risk and change on-the-go because
that’s going to be the future of work
for everybody.
Subjects taught in business
include the principles of
management, microeconomics,
brand management, investment,
and problem-solving skills.
Accounting subjects include
business mathematics, financial
reporting, business statistics,
corporate finance, and auditing.
Khalid Kabiru Inuwa, a Year Two
Bachelor in Business Administration
student, says, “A qualification in this
5
field can open up many
opportunities within the
business arena. You’ll learn the
basics of business including
operations, finance, marketing,
human resources Dean for the Faculty of
and management. Just as
Business and Technology Prof
importantly, you’ll learn how
Dr Mudiarasan has embarked
to communicate successfully,
think critically and lead and on various industrial and
motivate people.” academic consultancy works
Studying business also and is a member of Malaysia’s
creates networking 5G Task Force.
opportunities for students be it
within their curriculum or in
extracurricular activities.
Needless to say, students who
have good communication
“Business and
skills and thrive in working as
a team will fair with ease in a
Accounting are
business programme. the backbone
to almost any
“UoC’s Foundation in Arts
programme can lead to a
number of degree programmes
including Bachelor in Business industry, as it
Administration (Hons) and
Bachelor in International is needed in
Business Management (Hons).
As such, we actively involve order to ensure
students in events where they
are polished in their
sustainability of
presentation and public speaking
skills. This is demonstrated in
economies that
events organised which require
students to communicate or
will create jobs
liaise with other prospective
students, parents, staff and
and ensure that
external parties,” Asst Prof societies can
thrive.”
Tang adds.
Accounting and finance on
the other hand teaches students
specialist knowledge of Prof Dr Mudiarasan
accountancy practices, Kuppusamy
commerce, industry and finance.
An accounting degree equips
graduates with commercial law,
financial statement preparation, ACCA and CIMA. With these
internal controls and audit, cost accreditations, our Diploma in
management and more. These Accounting programme exempts
hard skills make accounting students from sitting for certain
and finance graduates highly ACCA exams, which means the
competent to employers level of knowledge gained
seeking for account managers, during the programme is
financial advisors and auditors equivalent to students who have
among others. completed the exams by ACCA.
“One of the reasons I chose to The same applies to our Diploma
study accounting is because this in Business Administration
is a field that is always high in programme which is accredited
demand in the job market. I can by CIMA,” says programme
work anywhere around the coordinator for diploma
country or the world with my programmes at UoC, Noor Adila
qualifications. I truly believe that Abdul Raub.
the skills that I’ve learnt in Start your journey in business
accounting will help me in any and accounting with a
career path I choose to pursue foundation, diploma, degree or
in the future,” says Jeremy Ng master’s programme.
Pey Yuan, a Year Two Bachelor
in Accounting and Finance n For more information about
(Hons) student. UoC’s Business and Accounting
Students who are sure about programmes, WhatsApp
their chosen field and prefer a education counsellors at 011-
more in-depth knowledge on 1112 3344, email studywithus@
accounting are encouraged to cyberjaya.edu.my or visit
study the Diploma in Accounting. cyberjaya.edu.my/studybusiness
“Students should look out for or cyberjaya.edu.my/
programmes accredited by studyaccounting.
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