THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2016

Space technology
every day

Humankinds obsession with space and technology has greatly influenced

the way people live and work, positively impacting known concepts of
architecture, engineering, medicine and other disciplines.

2 Postgraduate

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2016

We come
in peace
and curiosity
By IAN JEROME LEONG
THATS one small step for (a)
man, one giant leap for
mankind.
Many would be familiar with
these words by Neil Armstrong
when he became the first man to
walk on the moon. Outer space
and the universe have for
generations intrigued humanity,
exposed new mysteries, sparked
an unending list of studies and
been the inspiration behind
countless cinematic and literary
marvels.
With the availability of more
advanced technology,
humankinds obsession with
space has grown deeper over the
years and activities such as space
exploration have only intensified
with countries including the
United States, Russia and China
battling to outdo each other in
sending more missions into space
and uncovering new
breakthroughs.
However, what good comes out
of such activities? Can
understanding the chemical
composition of distant planets
and the formation of black holes
and the birth of stars provide
useful information that could
benefit humanity?

To infinity and beyond

Long before Yuri Gagarin or
Laika was sent to orbit the planet,
astrologers looked to the skies,
documenting their observations
and theories.
Although names such as
Ptolemy, Aristotle, Nicolaus
Copernicus, Galileo Galilei and
Charles Messier may not exactly
be household names, their
earliest observations are no
doubt familiar to many these
include the movement of the
planetary system, the four
primary moons of Jupiter and the
rings of Saturn.
The discoveries by these
esteemed astrologers are not only
the foundations of modern space
research but are now considered
general knowledge and the very
basics of school science textbooks.
It is undeniable that some of
this knowledge has impacted the
way people live; for example the
Gregorian calendar that was
based on solar patterns.
Since then, new information of
space is constantly made known

to the public and any findings

released by the National
Aeronautics and Space
Administration (Nasa) such as
images from the Hubble space
telescope attract wide media
coverage.

Human see, human do

While many people will continue
to be in awe and have wonder
towards space exploration and
studies, there are always those who
believe such activities are a waste
of money, an environmental
nuisance and the information
learnt can be of no use to
humankind.
What more when a single space
shuttle according to Nasa costs
approximately US$1.7bil
(RM7.225bil) to build and
US$450mil (RM1912.5mil) to
launch. These large figures include
the use of up to 730,000kg of
propellant or more than three
million litres of fuel for a single
space mission.
Between 2007 and 2013, The
Washington Post reported that the
annual budget allocated for space
programmes in the US averaged
US$40bil (RM170bil) covering areas
such as research, exploration,
cross-agency support, aeronautics
and education.
Though interestingly, this
budget only represents roughly
0.25% of the country's gross
domestic product.
Fact of the matter is that such
explorations and costs are vital for
the continuous existence of
humankind. Much of the work
conducted in outer space has a lot
to do with studying Earths air
quality, climate change, alternative
energy and atmospheric
conditions.
Moreover, with global
populations surpassing 7.5 billion
people and the unhealthy
environmental circumstances
affecting many countries as a
result of rapid development and
pollution, the idea of space
colonisation is beginning to look
like an inevitable progression
instead of a plot from a
science-fiction movie.
Among the reasons Nasa heavily
devotes its time and energy into
studying space is because comets,
asteroids and dwarf planets
provide clues to where water
and the Earths raw materials
come from, shedding light on

Aeronautics or
astronautics
what it takes for life to develop
on a planet.
By collecting space samples,
scientists also hope to find new
resources that can be used on
Earth that may provide cleaner
energy outputs to help protect the
environment.
Assoc Prof Ir Dr Mandeep Singh
from the Faculty of Engineering
and Built Environment at The
National University of Malaysia
(more commonly known by its
Bahasa Malaysia acronym UKM)
shares another example of how
space research can be useful on
Earth.
One study is to see the effects
of microgravity on astronauts
bone development, leading to
assist in the treatment of patients
with osteoporosis and metabolic
bone disorders under the
Mechanical Response Tissue
Analysis (MRTA).
The most important reason,
however, is to detect potential
cosmic threats or planetary
collisions before such calamities
wipe out the entire human race.
It is a widely known theory that
dinosaurs were made extinct after
giant asteroids landed on the
planet and caused catastrophic
climate changes.
As cosmic collisions are indeed
natural, researchers see a great
need to ensure humans avoid the
same fate. Suddenly, scenes from
Michael Bays movie Armageddon
starring Bruce Willis may not be
too far-fetched after all.
Though space research is often
focused on future outcomes,
many people do not realise that
much of the development that
goes into supplying astronauts
with the right tools and
equipment can be adapted for use
on Earth.
One example is the use of
inflated anti-gravity suits or
G-suits that have been retrofitted
with hospital gas supply cylinders
to decrease bleeding and rapidly
shift needed blood a process
known as autotransfusion - from
the legs and lower body

IN essence, aeronautical
engineering and astronautical
engineering are branches of the
more general field of aerospace
engineering.
Aeronautical engineering
refers to crafts that operate
within the atmosphere of the
Earth such as aeroplanes and
helicopters while astronautical
engineering pertains to the
study of crafts that leave the
atmosphere of the Earth.
Aerospace engineering is a
relatively new field in Malaysia
and there are a few universities
such as Universiti Putra
Malaysia that have related
courses and even support the
development of national
aerospace interests and the
Aerospace Malaysia Innovation
Centre.
There are a number of

similarities between the two

fields of study in terms of
concepts but there are also some
critical distinctions.
Aeronautical engineering
includes the applications
relating to aerodynamics,
propulsion, thermodynamics,
heat transfer, aircraft structures,
aircraft mechanics and aircraft
stability and control.
Astronautical engineering
covers applications associated
with orbital mechanics, space
environment, satellite
technologies, jet propulsion,
spacecraft design and dynamics,
determination and height
control, telecommunications,
aerospace structures and rocket
propulsion.
Professionals design and build
units such as space shuttles and
space stations.

towards the heart and brain to

treat haemorrhage or dehydration.
The Nasa-derived LifeWrap
has already proven to reduce
postpartum haemorrhage-caused
mortality by 50% both in advanced
and developing countries.
Another helpful instrument
is based on the Tunable Laser
Spectrometer that was fitted on
a rover sent to Mars to detect
methane gases.
With funding from firms such
as Southern California Gas
Company and Chevron in the US, a
more compact and portable
version was created to help energy
and utility workers detect
underground pipe leaks that are
potentially dangerous to humans
and contribute to global warming.
For the general public, a
company called Salt Cases in
America developed protective
cases for iPhones, iPads and
MacBooks using space blanket
heat sheet technology that shields
the gadgets from extreme
temperature changes.
With space agencies such as
Nasa willingly collaborating
with universities and firms, new
innovative products are constantly
being designed and tested,
eventually making its way to
the market.
Every year, Nasa highlights
technologies that are benefiting
life on Earth in the form of
commercial products through
its own publication, Spinoff.
The publication has profiled
almost 2,000 products since its
initial print in 1976.
Len Rosen, administrator
and creator of 21st Century
Tech Blog said on his website,

For every dollar invested by the

government, the American
economy and other countries
have seen a US$7 (RM29.75) to
US$14 (RM59.5) rise in revenue,
all from spinoffs and licensing
arrangements.

Resistance is futile
Though a few countries are
truly ahead in terms of expertise
and experience in space activities,
it does not stop smaller nations
such as Malaysia from getting in
on the act, albeit with a little
international assistance.
In 1996, the nation ventured
into new territory with the
Malaysia East Asia Satellites or
MEASAT-1 and MEASAT-2.
The satellites were launched to
enhance the nations
infrastructure and regional
communications, providing directto-home television service as well
as general communication
services.
These activities were not only
a success but a beginning of a new
industry. Currently with a fleet
of six satellites, MEASAT Global
Berhad is a premium supplier
of communication services to
leading broadcasters and
telecommunication operators
across 150 countries.
Besides the transmission of
information through Internet,
radio and television, the
development of satellites also
helps scientists to predict and
assess weather, enabling humans
to prepare for natural disasters
such as flood and drought.

> TURN TO PAGE 5

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2016

Postgraduate 3

Hng, a
general
manager,
finds the
lecturers of
SEGi PACE
well prepared
and the study
materials
useful.

Embrace
your pace
SEGIS Professional and
Continuing Education (PACE) is a
consortium of global universities
that enables adult learners to
pursue their higher education at
their own convenience,
anywhere and anytime.
PACE offers programmes from
SEGi University Online as well as
from notable Australian and the
United Kingdom universities.
The programmes offered are
from numerous fields, including
business and accounting,
communication studies, early
childhood care and education,
engineering and the built
environment, technology and
innovation, allied health sciences
and law.
One of the most sought-after
programmes under PACE is the
Master of Business
Administration (MBA).
This can be attested by the
many students who are pursuing
an MBA with PACE, including
Girish Gopal, Lai Kin Theng and
John Hng.
Girish, an engineer by training
who works in the oil and gas
industry, explains he is fond of
the flexibility of the programme
that allows him to manage his
time for studies, work and
personal life. Besides the
programme being a good fit with
his schedule, he is glad that it is
affordable as well.
Lai, an engineer in a wellknown semiconductor company
in Penang, agrees with Girish
that flexibility and effective
learning are key components of
PACE.
He adds that SEGi PACE
provides him with all the
support he needs with its
independent learning
management system,

Lai, a student of the MBA

programme under PACE, believes
SEGi PACE assists his learning
through Blackboard, an
independent learning
management system.

Girish, an engineer in the oil and

gas industry, says the flexibility of
the course is one of the highlights
of PACE.

PACE offers
programmes
from SEGi
University
Online as well
as from notable
Australian and
the United
Kingdom
universities.
Blackboard, which is also widely
used by premier universities in
the world.
With Blackboard, he is able to
access sessions anywhere and
anytime without having to
attend a class physically.
Hng, a general manager at a
leading technology company,
opted for independent learning
and enjoys attending classes
every month.
He says the lecturers are well
prepared, study materials are
up-to-date and most importantly,
relevant to the modern business
world.

n For more information on

PACE, call SEGi University
(03-6145 1777/1800 887 344),
SEGi College Subang Jaya
(03-8600 1888/1800 888 622),
SEGi College Kuala Lumpur
(03-2070 2078/1800 888 028),
SEGi College Penang
(04-2633 888), SEGi College
Sarawak (1300 887 344), e-mail
askme@segi.edu.my or visit
www.segi.edu.my or
www.pace.edu.my.

4 Postgraduate
VC COLUMN
THE industrial revolution had a
profound effect on society. It was
the start of greater mobility,
automation and freedom from
mundane tasks.
Arguably, the technological
revolution that is happening now
will have a greater impact. The
Internet has made the world
more connected as computing is
accessible to more people than
was the case 20 years ago.
E-mails may soak up increasing
amounts of time but compared to
writing a memo and circulating it
by hand, it enables a fast
interchange of information,
increasing the speed at which
business is conducted.
There are many other examples
where the effect of this
technological revolution can be
seen. Social media platforms
such as Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram and LinkedIn have
enabled millions of people
to connect with one
another on a daily basis.
Social media has also

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2016

The technical revolution

led to friendships being formed
with people who they have never
met in person and possibly never
will.
Google and other search engines
enable the worlds knowledge to be
just a click away. Google it has
become a common phrase and the
Encyclopaedia Britannica has been
largely replaced by Wikipedia as
one of the principal places to look
for information.
Cameras have come a long way
from the days when you took 36
pictures and waited days, weeks
or months to get the pictures
developed.
Pictures can now be shared
within seconds with a
worldwide audience. Phones,
tablets, laptops, watches and
personal computers now
have cameras, making
picture taking and sharing
easier.

By PROF
GRAHAM
KENDALL
Another hardware revolution is
taking place in the form of 3D
printing and there can be little
doubt that we are just witnessing
the start of what could drive a
manufacturing revolution.
As this technology progresses, it
is hard to imagine where it will
lead but you can envisage a
scenario where you can print
spare parts at home rather than
waiting for them to be delivered.
We are now able to
manufacture (print) components
at home, yet we are not able to
reliably produce software in an
automated way.
The technological revolution
has been driven by advances in
software and hardware, however,
software is still being developed
by teams of programmers, using
mainly manual processes.
In the past 30 years, there have
been research in computers

Computers play a key role

in modern times but
there is still much to do in
software development
and reliability.

Arguably, the
technological
revolution that is
happening now
will have a greater
impact. The Internet
has made the world
more connected as
computing has been
accessible to more
people than was the
case 20 years ago.
programmes that write computer
programmes, often called genetic
programming.
However, genetic
programming has never been
able to produce large-scale
industrial computer systems.
All indications are that we are
still a long way from being able
to do this. It is difficult to
manually engineer a software
that is provably correct and
guaranteed to do what you
expect it to do, let alone expect a
computer to do it.
Imagine if civil engineers could
not prove the reliability of their
structures. Would you dare step
onto a bridge or go to the top
floor of a building using a lift?

We put our faith and lives into the

hands of computer software every
day and there is no guarantee that
it will work as it should.
Engineering has made huge
strides in the last few years. We
assume that buildings will stay up,
bridges will not collapse and
aeroplanes will stay airborne.
However, nobody is surprised
when large-scale software
development projects run late, are
over budget and do not work as
expected.
It is a common day occurrence
to turn it off and turn it on again
due to software malfunctions.
Engineering covers many
disciplines, including civil,
manufacturing, chemical,
materials, electrical and
environmental. Software
engineering, despite its name,
does not engineer software but
develops it without being able to
offer any guarantees.
Software engineers are often
not certified, in the same sense
that civil engineers are certified
and can offer guarantees about
their end products.
If we could really engineer
software it would help speed up
the technological revolution and
make our software more robust,
safer and with some guarantee
that it will operate as designed.

n Prof Graham Kendall is the

chief executive officer and
provost at The University of
Nottingham Malaysia Campus
and pro-vice-chancellor at The
University of Nottingham.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2016

Postgraduate 5

Deep
impact
> FROM PAGE 2
As Malaysia
continued to push for
development, the
interest in space activities
and its related technology began to gain
traction, signalling the introduction of
courses such as aerospace engineering and
astronautics in Malaysian universities such
as Universiti Putra Malaysia and UKM.
By 2002, the National Space Agency
(ANGKASA) was established with the
mandate to formulate policies and
regulations, coordinate, monitor and
implement space activities in Malaysia.
The agencys vision is to harness space as
a platform for knowledge generation, wealth
creation and societal well-being.

Live long and prosper

For obvious reasons, the acceptance of
space activity and exploration in Malaysia
reached its peak when Datuk Dr Sheikh
Muszaphar Shukor became the first
Malaysian to go into space through an
agreement with Russia.
After going through the Angkasawan
Programme and an intensive training stint,
Dr Muszaphar spent nine days aboard the
International Space Station, performing
experiments relating to the characteristics
and growth of liver and leukaemia cells and
the crystallisation of various proteins and
microbes in the weightlessness of space.
He also carried out experiments for the
European Space Agency and Japan
Aerospace Exploration Agency on the effects
of microgravity and solar radiation on an
astronauts body system. The results of these
experiments will benefit both general
science and medical research.
At present, the outcome of Malaysias
endeavours in space research has already
resulted to patent filings locally as well as in
the US, publications in peer-reviewed
journals and presentations at international
space conferences.
ANGKASAs mission to use space
technology and sciences to help various
aspects of the nations economy, sovereignty
and foreign policies has been achieved.
Not only does Malaysia have healthy
relationships with space research
organisations in other countries but inspired
young children and youth to recognise
space-related research as a viable career
option.

Use the force

Like all research activities, it takes time,
patience, funding, countless trials, expertise
and troubleshooting before yielding the
desired results or a viable prototype.

Not only does

Malaysia have healthy
relationships with space
research organisations
in other countries, the
Angkasawan Programme
inspired young children
and youth to recognise
space-related research as
a viable career option.
Taking for example the Large Hadron
Collider, the largest and most complexed
research facility in the world required an
abundant resource before it was able to
prove theories related to the collision of
particles and the Big Bang.
This project required years of planning,
a circular 27km long tunnel under the
Swiss-French border, up to 10,000 scientists
and a building cost of up to 10.4bil Swiss
franc (RM44.88bil).
Yet, these activities are necessary as the
outcomes pave the way for further
advancement in science and technology,
subsequently benefitting humanity through
better tools, gadgets and machinery for daily
life.
In terms of satellites for Malaysia,
Assoc Prof Mandeep explains the
development of such technology will help
the nation in its various economic industries,
including security, forestry, mapping,
agriculture and fisheries.
There are many uses of space science
such as in the development of farming and
crop selections and determining the sowing
and planting seasons.
Observations on the movements of the
sun and moon are also useful in the fisheries
industry. In the field of defence, the use of
satellites is useful in communications
technology, ground control systems, signals,
and navigation, search and rescue, he says.
All information gathered from space
activity will contribute to the general
understanding of existence, both past and
future.
Thus, a persistent effort in space study
and exploration is paramount to benefit
humankind as a whole.

Dr Muszaphar conducted various experiments on the International Space Station to benefit both
general science and medical research.

6 Postgraduate

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2016

River pollution
and
public
health
Industry-aligned programmes
Curtin Sarawak awards its students with qualifications from Curtin Perth as postgraduate
programmes offered are identical to the programmes offered at its main campus.

CURTIN University Sarawak Campus,

Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) is Curtin
Universitys largest international campus.
It offers different levels of postgraduate
study and industry-aligned programmes by
coursework or research under its Faculty of
Engineering and Science, Faculty of Business
and Faculty of Humanities in collaboration
with its graduate school.
Pursuing a postgraduate degree is a
rewarding journey that not only enhances
ones knowledge and skills within his or her
area of interest but also contributes to
building professional experiences and
personal growth, broadening ones career
prospects.
Postgraduate studies is a growing area at
Curtin Sarawak and holds potential for
future growth given the high industry
demand for highly skilled professionals.
Postgraduate programmes at Curtin
Sarawak are identical to those at Curtins
main campus in Perth. As a result, degrees
earned at the Sarawak campus are conferred
directly by the Curtin University in Perth.
Those interested in pursuing a masters
degree in Curtin Sarawak will have to hold
appropriate qualifications as decided by the
respective faculty deans. Some masters
degrees have a work experience component.
Candidates may enrol in a masters
programme either in full- or part-time mode,
typically for a minimum of one year or a
maximum of two years of equivalent fulltime study.
Doctoral candidates can also enrol in a
full- or part-time mode for a minimum of

two years and a maximum of four years of

equivalent full-time study.
A HDR (Higher Degree by Research) differs
from other postgraduate degrees in that at
least two-thirds of the study programme
must involve research. Although candidates
may be required to complete some
coursework units, the main part of the work
will be a thesis written under the guidance
of a supervisor.
As Curtin Sarawak is committed to
supporting and nurturing postgraduate
researchers within a dynamic, conducive
research environment, it offers a number of
PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) and MPhil
(Master of Philosophy) research scholarships
for eligible candidates to join the research
community at the university and conduct
advanced studies based on their chosen
research areas.
In addition, students can benefit from
learning from highly experienced academic
staff who work closely with their
counterparts in Perth in teaching and
research to ensure that the quality of the
education reaches the same high standards.
Curtin Sarawaks location within the hub
of the oil and gas industry in East Malaysia
and its proximity to the Sarawak Corridor of
Renewable Energy (SCORE) gives students
opportunities to interact and network with a
variety of industry experts.

n For more information on Curtin Sarawaks

postgraduate programmes, call 085-443 939,
e-mail raihanah@curtin.edu.my or visit
www.curtin.edu.my.

THE degradation of the natural

environment can increase the incidences of
cancer, respiratory problems and birth
defects. Researchers from the School of
Business at Monash University Malaysia,
along with other researchers from Kindai
University and Bangladesh Agricultural
University conducted a study on how
pollutants in rivers affect the quality of fish
and subsequently, public health.
Green ergonomics is a new concept
developed to explore the connection
between humans and nature, and how it
affects the well-being, health, productivity
and performance of humans.
A team of researchers from the School of
Business conducted one of the first
significant studies of river pollution in
Malaysia.
The study examines how people in the
agricultural, industry and household
sectors cause pollutants that move beyond
the boundaries of their workplaces and
degrade river water quality and fish health,
causing a deterioration in overall health in
Malaysia.
Arsenic, mercury and selenium were
found in the samples taken from the
Langat River Basin (LRB) and Klang River
Basin (KRB) with the content readings
exceeding permissible national and
international standards.
The concentration of lead and arsenic in
the muscles of fish samples from KRB
exceeded the maximum permitted levels.
It was concluded that the main cause of
this heavy metal pollution is the discharge
of inadequately treated wastewater from
industries to rivers.

Detrimental to health
The ingestion of heavy metal over a long
period of time can be detrimental to ones
health. Arsenic causes skin ulcerations,
cancer, neurotoxicity and cardiovascular
diseases. Mercury may cause
cardiovascular disease and affect the
central nervous system. Selenium causes
thyroid problems and lead absorption may
lead to diminished cognitive development
and brain cancer.
A socioeconomic survey conducted on
the inhabitants of the LRB and KRB showed
that some residents suffered from chronic

Arsenic, mercury and

selenium were found in
the samples taken from
the Langat River Basin
(LRB) and Klang River
Basin (KRB) with the
content readings exceeding
permissible national
and international
standards.

illnesses such as heart disease, asthma and

cancer.

Collaboration is key
A green ergonomics approach can provide
useful insights into sustainable relationships
between humans and ecology. The
contribution of this study is threefold. The
first is that it provides insight into the
human factors and ergonomics framework
to understand river pollution and the
implications for the future.
Secondly, it also extends and adds to the
repertoire of ergonomic studies in the
country and provides a comprehensive
understanding of the physical, economic,
political, institutional and social dimensions
of river pollution.
Lastly, policy interventions to change
human behaviour and achieve greater
collaboration between various levels of
government, academia, civil society and
businesses can be looked into to help
establish sustainable relationships between
people and ecology in Malaysia.
The research was conducted by Monash
University Malaysias Dr Poon Wai Ching and
Prof Gamini Herath, Bangladesh Agricultural
Universitys Dr Ashutosh Sarker as well as
Kindai Universitys Dr Tadayoshi Masuda.

n For more information on the School of

Business at Monash University Malaysia,
visit www.buseco.monash.edu.my.

Among those who conducted the research on river pollution in Malaysia were (from left) Kindai
Universitys Dr Tadayoshi Masuda, Monash University Malaysias Dr Poon Wai Ching and
Bangladesh Agricultural Universitys Dr Ashutosh Sarker.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2016

Postgraduate 7

UPMs aerospace engineering

students better understand the
various disciplines under aeronautics
and astronautics through hands-on
projects and research.

Leading
'rocket science'
in Malaysia
UNKNOWN to many in Malaysia, aerospace
engineering has been an important field of
research at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
for nearly 20 years.
Since its inception in 1996, UPM has been
the lead university of the Aerospace
Malaysia Innovation Centre (AMIC).
UPMs Department of Aerospace
Engineering, founded to support the
development of national aerospace interests
proclaimed in the 1997 National Aerospace
Blueprint, worked with other lead members
to form AMIC.
These members are the Airbus Group
(formerly EADS), Majlis Amanah Rakyat,
Malaysian Industry-Government Group for
High Technology (MIGHT), Rolls-Royce and
Composite Technology Research Malaysia.
Aerospace engineering is an advanced
field of engineering primarily concerned
with the design, analysis and operation of
aircraft, spacecraft and their associated
technologies, explains Dr Ahmad
Salahuddin Mohd Harituddin, a senior
lecturer at the Department of Aerospace
Engineering.
He adds that the term aerospace, which
first appeared in print in 1958, is used to
mean both the sciences of navigating
through the atmosphere (aeronautics)
and in space (astronautics).
The field of aeronautics includes
disciplines such as aerodynamics, aircraft
propulsion and structures. Astronautics
pertains to subjects such as orbital
mechanics, aerospace materials and satellite
technologies.
According to Dr Salahuddin, Aerospace is
a relatively new engineering field. However,
the field has advanced by leaps and bounds,
with spin-off technologies benefiting human
beings in more areas than just in the sphere
of aviation and space.
We are a relatively young academic
department in a university that is steeped
in its tradition in agriculture. Nevertheless,
aerospace engineering has grown at UPM
to become an integral part of the Faculty of
Engineering.
The 2016 QS World University Rankings
ranked UPMs aerospace programme among
the top 150 in the world.
With more than 20 academic staff with

PhD qualifications (five of them are

professional engineers with Ir designations),
the aerospace programme has graduated
hundreds of aerospace engineers at the
postgraduate level.
The departments specialised research
areas include aircraft structures,
technologies in unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV), and future space technologies such as
tethered spacecraft and formation flight.
With national research and development
grant support totalling RM1.5mil as well as
international grants amounting to RM5mil,
the department has produced patents that
have also contributed to areas outside
aerospace such as biomedical and sports
engineering.
Among our most notable achievements is
the creation of a student-accessible
makerspace a collaborative workspace for
students to engage in hands-on engineering
projects.
This has produced international awardwinning projects such as a high-altitude
balloon project during the Global Space
Balloon Challenge 2016 and the 2013 Airbus
Fly Your Ideas challenge in Toulouse,
France, says department head Dr Azmin
Shakrine.
The department offers four-year PhD
and two-year masters programmes with
research in various fields of aerospace
engineering.
It also offers the Master of Innovation and
Engineering Design, which gives students the
opportunity to learn a variety of subjects
related to innovation and design techniques,
business practices and patenting.
According to senior lecturer Dr Mohd
Roshdi Hassan, UPMs PhD programme,
which is jointly awarded by the University of
Sheffield, allows students to benefit from the
research strengths of both universities as
well as Sheffields strong alliance with
Rolls-Royce, Boeing and British Aerospace.
Students under this joint programme get to
spend up to 18 months at each university.
If you aspire to be a rocket scientist,
UPM is the place to be.

n For more information about the aerospace

engineering programmes at UPM, visit
www.eng.upm.edu.my.

8 Postgraduate

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2016

A space odyssey
PEOPLE are often captivated by new
images and information about outer space
when they are released to the public. Any
news about space exploration also attracts
wide media coverage.

However, there are always some

interesting things about space and
its related activities that many people
might not know about.
Here is a look at some of them.

In 2010 president of the United States Barack Obama

famously said, Now, I understand that some believe
that we should attempt a return to the surface of the
moon first, as previously planned. But I just have to say
pretty bluntly here: Weve been there before.
This does not mean he did not believe in space
travel, but had a bigger vision in mind.
Our goal is the capacity for people to work and
learn and operate and live safely beyond the Earth for
extended periods of time, ultimately in ways that are
more sustainable and even indefinite.

On the International Space Station where astronauts live

in a micro-gravity environment for several months, they
do not use their feet to walk. Therefore, the skin on their
feet starts to soften and flakes off.
As laundry facilities do not exist in space, astronauts will
wear the same underwear and socks for a few days.
Those socks need to be taken off very gently in front of a
filter that will suck the shedded skin. If not, the dead skin
cells will float around in the weightless environment,
potentially causing breathing allergies among other
astronauts.

A year on Venus (the length of time it takes

for the planet to complete one whole orbit
around the Sun) is 224.7 Earth days. However, it takes
243 Earth days to rotate on its axis just once. This means
that one day on Venus is longer than a year on Earth.

Most people would have seen a

model of the solar system in
school or libraries. However, it is
highly likely that none of these
models are made to scale. The
Sun makes up 99.8% of the entire
mass of the solar system. One
million Earths would be needed
to be the same size as the Sun.

Humans should be
thankful that we do not live
on other planets. Jupiter has
fast winds and a hurricanestyle storm that has been
raging for the last 300 years.
Mercury and Mars have
extreme temperature
changes on the same day
while the temperature in

Even though Mercury is

the closest to the Sun, it is not
actually the hottest planet.
With no atmosphere on
Mercury, it is only hot (425C)
when it is directly facing the
Sun. Temperature drops to
-180C at night.
On Venus, the thick clouds
trap the Suns heat, causing
temperatures to rise to a
sizzling 500C all of the time.

Without gravity
pulling you down,
your spine in the
International Space
Station will
straighten
making you 5cm
taller.

Venus is five times hotter

than boiling water.
Neptune, however, has
the fastest ever wind speeds,
reaching 1,600mph
(2,575kph). The fastest wind
speed ever recorded on
Earth was the passage of
Tropical Cyclone Olivia at
408kph.

Due to the risks involved

in space exploration, the
earliest astronauts did not
have life insurance cover.
Instead, Neil Armstrong,
Buzz Aldrin and Michael
Collins signed photographs
of themselves to be
auctioned off for money
should they not make the
journey home from the
moon.

Not everyone who flies to

outer space is called an
astronaut. An astronaut is
someone who has been selected
and trained by selected space
agencies either the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration
(of the United States), European Space
Agency, Canadian Space Agency or Japan
Aerospace Exploration Agency.
The Russian Space Agency produces cosmonauts
while the China National Space Administration
produces taikonauts.

Outer space is not that far away. Space

officially begins at the Karman line,
approximately 100km above the Earth. This
means you can reach space in the same
lenght of time some people take to drive to
work.

Postgraduate 9

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2016

THE Management & Science

University (MSU) is one of
Malaysias top universities.
It focuses strongly on in-demand
areas of study, which encompass
medicine, health sciences,
pharmacy, information sciences
and engineering, business
management and professional
studies, education, social sciences,
hospitality, culinary arts, music,
and fashion.
As Malaysias best teaching and
learning university, MSU gives
priority to quality education and
creative teaching methodologies in
producing quality and holistic
graduates.

Building a global network

real-world experiences.
These exercises broaden
students understanding of issues
by getting them to think beyond
their text materials. New terms
and concepts are defined in the
margins to facilitate learning.

Learn from the best

An international
experience
Besides incorporating
international exposure in the
student learning experience,
extensive industrial training
components and personal
enrichment competency elements
are also blended into the
programme to ensure the
graduates employability.
MSUs Graduate School of
Management (GSM) recognises that
todays global companies require
managers with a broader outlook.
The university attracts top
students through its
internationalisation effort of
employing faculty members with
overseas experience and forming
effective links with businesses.
The Master in Business
Administration by MSU (MSU-MBA)
offers students an experiential
learning opportunity in crosscultural communications, building
a global network and possibly
creating a future international
career.

The Master in Business Administration by MSU nurtures leaders with solid entrepreneurship and strategic
management skills.
In addition, students will have
the opportunities to develop
management skills and techniques,
obtain strategic orientation and
implement the strategies
formulated.

Leaders with an edge

The MSU-MBA programme helps

students develop skills in

leadership, entrepreneurship,
strategic management and
decision-making so that they
become successful leaders in
their area and entrepreneurial
thinkers in the most competitive
markets.
The programme provides
sufficient knowledge for students

to understand the various facets

of an organisation to formulate
successful strategies. It also instils
confidence in them.
Active learning exercises within
the programme act as a basis for
verbal analysis and discussion,
allowing for a rich learning
environment through the
integration of the classroom with

GSM has established

collaborative educational links
with a number of top overseas
universities, including those in the
United Kingdom, the United States,
Australia, New Zealand, South
Korea, Japan, Germany, Russia
and China.
The Global Mobility Programme
provides the opportunity for
postgraduate students to develop
an awareness and appreciation of
other cultures, political and
economic environments and
approaches of doing business.
Professors of the MSU-MBA are
accomplished educators who have
made significant contributions to
the business world, both as
academics and working
professionals.
They have conducted research
and published articles across a
broad range of business and
professional areas. They have also
taught university-level business
courses abroad, bringing their rich
multicultural experience to
Malaysia.

n For more information,

call 03-2718 4302/4300/4301 or

e-mail gsm@msu.edu.my or visit
www.msu.edu.my.

10 Postgraduate
FIVE decades of embracing Islamic
finance by the global finance
system has proven that the system
could provide the market with
ethical practices that promote
economic growth and equality.
Parallel to the development of
syariah-based Islamic finance,
crucial needs have arisen for the
practice of syariah review and
audit to form the internal control
for syariah compliance.
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysias
(USIM) latest offering, the Master of
Accounting and Shariah Audit
(MASA), is a groundbreaking
programme that caters to the
demands of Islamic countries and
syariah-based institutions.
Institutions operating syariahbased activities require graduates
who are able to audit companies
and ensure their operations
are in accordance to Islamic
jurisprudence and commercial law
as well as maintain the integrity of
syariah-based operations.
The MASA programme provides
students with the necessary skills
and in-depth knowledge to provide
syariah assurance in institutions
offering syariah-based operations.
Syariah review and syariah audit
skills are not limited to Islamic
financial institutions such as
Islamic banks and takaful
operators but are also crucial in
ijtimaie or social-based Islamic
institutions such as zakat and waqf
institutions, syariah-based
cooperatives, syariah-compliant
companies that offer halal products
and services, and funds operated
according to syariah principles.
The programme offers a
comprehensive curriculum
encompassing syariah, accounting
and auditing, and information
technology (IT)-based courses.
Syariah courses such as fiqh

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2016

Upholding ethical finance

USIM offers the Master of Accounting and Shariah Audit to meet the increasing demand for individuals who can
carry out syariah review and audit to ensure the integrity of syariah-based organisations.
muamalat, qawaid fiqhiyyah,
aqidah and usul fiqh provide
candidates with the fundamental
knowledge to prepare them to
review and audit syariah-based
operations. The exposure also
bridges non-syariah background
students to review and audit such
operations.
Among others, these courses
deal with the issues of maqasid
syariah and general prohibitions,
contracts, sources of law, school of
thoughts in fiqh muamalat, Islamic
legal maxims, application of
syariah principles and contracts in
Islamic banking, and application of

syariah principles and contracts in

Islamic capital markets.
Accounting and reporting play a
vital role in Islamic finance as they
validate and provide evidence of
syariah-based transactions as well
as communicate the transactions to
the stakeholders.
Syariah audit is different from
the conventional audit as its
objective is to ensure internal
control for syariah compliance and
the integrity of the relevant
organisations in upholding syariah
principles, in addition to the
normal audit role with regards to
risk management as well as

governance and managements

efficiency and effectiveness.
The corporate governance
course exposes students to aspects
of the corporate governance
structure in Malaysia such as the
Malaysian Code of Corporate
Governance 2012 as well as
international regulatory
perspectives provided by
international providers such as the
International Financial Services
Board and the Accounting and
Auditing Organization for Islamic
Financial Institutions.
A discussion on aspects of
syariah governance required in the

Islamic Financial Services Act

(IFSA) 2013 and Bank Negara
Malaysias Shariah Governance
Framework will also take place.
In terms of review and audit
methodologies, the syariah audit
course gives an overview of the
syariah audit process, audit
planning and audit scopes for
both Islamic banking and capital
markets.
Syariah audit approaches
adopted in the industry such as
compliance-based, risk-based and
strategic-based approaches are also
discussed.
In addition to scopes, processes
and approaches, IT-based syariah
audit is also a highlight in this
programme.
This academic programme is
value-added with research
components that enhance students
ability to conduct scientific
research in related areas of
accounting and auditing, especially
in review and audit.
Trainers expose students to
various research and writing
techniques, including case study
writing as well as qualitative and
quantitative research approaches.
Graduates who can conduct
scientific research in addition to
delivering values in the operational
aspects of syariah compliance and
assurance are sought after as such
expertise is vital for a career in
accounting, audit, compliance and
governance in syariah-based
institutions.

n For more information, visit

www.usim.edu.my.

A place of
useful learning
THE University of Strathclyde Business
Schools Executive MBA (masters in
business administration) programme has
been ranked 41st for top global 100
programmes in the Financial Times
Executive MBA Rankings 2016.
This annual ranking of the Strathclyde
Executive MBA, also delivered via other
international centres in Singapore, Greece,
Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates,
Bahrain and Oman, places Strathclyde
in the top 10 of UK schools ranked and
also the only executive MBA programme
ranked in Malaysia.
The Strathclyde MBA programmes
ranking successes as well as its excellent
research ratings and triple accreditation
confirm Strathclydes position as a business
school of global standing.
Strathclyde Business Schools (SBS)
executive dean Prof David Hillier says,
As a leading business school in an
international technological university,
we continue to innovate our MBA to
ensure it is relevant and impactful to
todays business world, no matter where
and how you study it.
These rankings are a testament to
our excellent student body across our
international network and we are
delighted to see them do so well both on
the programme and in their subsequent
careers.
Strathclydes MBA, introduced in 1966,
was the first one-year full-time MBA
programme in the UK and continues to
lead the pack in innovative and applied
learning.
SBS is internationally respected as one
of the most innovative business schools in
Europe with one of the largest academic
faculties.
Strathclyde is internationally accredited
by the Association of MBAs, European
Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) and

The Strathclyde MBA is designed for ambitious

and talented individuals who want to level up
their business management skills through
innovative applied learning.
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools
of Business. It is one of only 67 institutions
in the world to have such distinction.
In fact, less than 1% of business schools
in the world hold triple-accreditation
status. In Scotland, no other business
school is accredited so highly.
SBS has a reputation for research
excellence. In the most recent Research
Assessment Exercise, SBS was rated 7th
in the UK for its world-leading and
internationally excellent research.
Based on collaborative learning,
the Strathclyde MBA is designed for
ambitious, talented and well-qualified
individuals with solid business experience.
The integrated programme comprises
compulsory modules supported by a
selection of optional in-depth functions
allowing students to tailor their MBA
to suit their career aspirations.
The programme seeks to nurture
reflective, open-minded and adaptive
learners who are always ready to grab
hold of opportunities and solve problems
in the practice of management.
The teamwork approach fostered at
Strathclyde is an important aspect of the
course and ensures that people from
different career backgrounds learn from
each other.

n For more information, call 03-7660 8950

or visit www.cdc.edu.my.

Postgraduate 11

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2016

SOME organisations have a hard

time understanding how big
data can power their key
business initiatives, even though
the ultimate goal is to make
more money from useful data
patterns about a customer,
product and market.
Analytics is the discovery and
communication of such insights.
While organisations continue to
manage business performances
using traditional data monitoring
methods, it is analytics that
monetise the accumulated data.
Nowadays, there are
benchmarks such as Bill
Schmarzos Big Data Business
Model Maturity Index against
organisations that may measure
their readiness to seize the dataenabled business opportunities.
The index indicates where an
organisation stands with respect
to exploiting big data for
business gains.
With strategic intent,
organisations could leverage
actionable insights on customers
usage patterns, product
performance behaviours and
overall market trends to gain
new revenue streams, innovate
new products and enhance
customer experience.
As organisations are
reorganising themselves to
exploit the competitive edge
offered by business analytics,
there would be arguments about
using the right metrics for
decision-making.
They would be thinking how
the right analytics could be
delivered to the right users at the
right time in the most actionable
and relevant way.
The first way would be to
adopt a platform or ecosystem
business model. There are
lessons learnt from the failed
businesses, which are too
vertically integrated.
In the 1970s, there were many
completely disconnected supply
networks such as the automobile
manufacturing supply chains of
the United States, Germany and
Japan.
Today, automotive supply
networks are sharing many
common suppliers.
Similarly, the Airbus and
Boeing overlap in engines,
electronics, avionics, tyres, seats
and other components as well as
private-labelled apparel retailers
who are sourced from contract
manufacturers in South-East
Asia.
In short, organisations that try
to do all things by themselves
will eventually falter because
smaller organisations are more
adept at spotting and acting on
market opportunities.

Insights from big data

Platform or ecosystem-centric
business models are more likely
to succeed. Much like the lessons
of Nintendo with its third party
video games as well as Apple and
Google with their respective app
stores, creating such a platform
benefits the customers by
exposing them to a wider variety
of products.
This is also advantageous to
the platform provider as it
creates a high level of customer
dependency on the platform and
a higher switching cost for the
customers.
Secondly, knowing the
organisational impact of big
data. For instance, organisations
ought to know about value
creation process.
Michael Porter defines a value
chain as a chain of activities of a
firm operating in a specific
industry -- products pass through
all activities of the chain in order
and at each activity, the products
gain some value and the chain of
activities give the products more
value-added than the sum of the
independent activities values.
Today, there are more
examples of organisations that
are using meaningful patterns in
data to transform key business
processes into value chains.
A good example is the
merchandising by hypermarkets
to improve customer segment.
Big data determines the impacts
of the detailed point of sales
(POS) transactional data, social
media data (unstructured), realtime data and predictive
analytics on customer behaviour.
The insights identify marketing
promotions and campaigns that
are the most effective in driving
store traffic and sales.
Thirdly, inculcating
organisational creativity. The
data monetisation process of
digital media companies start
with these key understandings:
Who are the target customers?
What business solutions do they
need for which they are willing
to pay? What data assets does the
company have (or could the
company have)?
Internet companies and direct
marketing organisations,
therefore, have ingrained
experimentation and
instrumentation into their
analytics and customer
engagement processes.
Experimentation is the act,
process, practice or an instance
of making experiments, where

Understanding market trends and consumer behaviour helps companies

find new revenue streams.

Business analytics allow organisations to have a competitive edge.

an experiment is a test, trial or
tentative procedure to uncover
something unknown a principle
or supposition.

As a companion concept,
instrumentation is the art and
science of the measurement and
control of process variables within

a production area.
The two practices that nurture
organisational learning free
organisational thinking to explore
new ideas.
Business analytics (BA) is a
subject of the Victoria University
MBA (VUMBA).
The students learn about BA its
back end of algorithms and
models, data augmentation,
transformation and enrichment
processes and the front end that
leverages new mobile and data
visualisation technologies to
improve user experience.
It is a serious business of
building superior knowledge and
skills to derive business values
through new business models,
new products and new markets.

n For more information on

the Victoria University MBA at

Sunway, e-mail Dr Hendry Ng
at hendryng@sunway.edu.my.

12 Postgraduate
THE Edinburgh Business School
has welcomed its latest cohort of
20 students to the Heriot-Watt
University Malaysia campus at
Putrajaya to begin their MBA
(Master of Business
Administration) programme.
The students, who are working
professionals, have chosen one of
the most popular and flexible MBA
programmes in the world, which
boasts more than 11,400 students
and 19,800 graduates in 166
countries worldwide.
Among those starting the
programme is Khairul Nazmi
Ahmad Majdi. He is a technical
professional at Baroid Services, a
company that is part of Halliburton
Energy Services.
He chose the Edinburgh
Business School MBA after
researching on those available
nearby. The main attractions of
the Edinburgh Business School
MBA are the vast experiences of
the teaching staff and the fact that
modules are delivered during
weekends. The alumni network is
also very impressive, he says.
Its always been an aspiration to
further my studies and enhance
my skills and credibility.
With an engineering
background coupled with an MBA,
I hope that the future will bring
opportunities to hold higher
managerial positions within the
company. Many top managerial
posts are usually held by those
with an MBA, he adds.
The Edinburgh Business School
MBA enables students to study
independently wherever they are
in the world on campus in
Malaysia, Edinburgh, Dubai or
through one of the schools 23
Approved Learning Partners.
Students may opt to attend their
graduation ceremony in Malaysia,

THE STAR, TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2016

Diversity in expertise
expertise, diversity and maturity
of our cohort as about 40% of
them are employed by Fortune
500 companies.
The induction programme
that our new cohort undergoes is
designed to not only build a
foundation of learning for the
duration of the programme but
also provide students with the
opportunity to build new
relationships.
Ive seen the kind of support
that a cohesive cohort structure
can give. You collaborate with

Heriot-Watt University Malaysia

campus MBA programme director
Angeline Chivapathy.
Edinburgh or Dubai. This worldrenowned MBA programme has
been delivered by top personnel
from the United Kingdom and Asia
at the Heriot-Watt University
Malaysia campus since January
2013.
This programme is approved by
the Higher Education Ministry and
fully accredited by the Malaysian
Qualifications Agency. It is
delivered by Heriot-Watt
University that is accredited by
Royal Charter in the UK.
To date, 38 students have
completed the programme with 92
currently studying.
The new cohort boasts students
from a range of sectors and
industries, including oil and gas,
engineering, medicine,

Khairul Nazmi Ahmad Majdi, a

technical professional at Baroid
Services, will be starting his MBA
programme at the Heriot-Watt
University Malaysia campus.
accountancy, and
government
departments with
varied roles, including
an engineer, geologist,
business manager, legal
counsel, human
resources manager
and marketing officer.
MBA programme
director of the
Malaysia campus
Angeline Chivapathy
says, the diversity of
students on the
programme leads to
stimulating and
challenging seminars.
Im proud of the

professionals who are working

towards the same goals as
yourself and who may eventually
become a part of your business
network as well as trusted friends
long after graduation, she says.
Registration is open for the
January 2017 intake and the
school is holding its final preview
for prospective students on Nov
19 (Saturday), at 11.30am at
Heriot-Watts Putrajaya campus.

n For more information, e-mail

malaysiamba@ebs.hw.ac.uk.
The Heriot-Watt
University Malaysia campus
is located in Putrajaya.