PhD Comic: Deciding what to wear

World Book Day - Do you read enough?

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin urged Malaysian to read more in order to increase the literacy rate in Malaysia and it is important to take note for the quality of material that we read.

In order to maintain our leadership position and to remain our competitiveness in accrelerating pace of change, people has to find their ways to outreach the others. To achieve this vision, exploring knowledge is one of the crucial steps to move forward.

If you would like to upgrade yourself and remain your competitiveness in this ever-changing environment, don't miss the largest gatherings for universities and colleges in Sept!

Enhance knowledge and prevent finger-pointing - Dr. Ismail

To prosper in a world of abrupt changes and discontinuities, of newly emerging forces and threats, of unforeseen influences from abroad, new strategies need to be envisioned and knowledge need to be updated from time to time in order to survive in this competitive environment.

Health Ministry director-general, Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican urged us to continue enhancing our knowledge to keep up with current trend and to prevent finger-pointing when officiating at a health science symposium few days ago.

The current ecomomic situation has put quite a number of people on their hot seats. As a developing nation, more endeavours need to be injected into Malaysia in order to achieve Vision 2020. Nevertheless, people tend to point their finger to the government most of the time. Is that true that government should take full charge for the current situation?

We, as the citizens, have always forgotten our role in the economy. As the main source of manpower, we seriously have to enhance our knowledge and keep ourselves up-to-date with the current trends in this ever-changing environment.

By getting all these, education is essentially important to everyone of us. Perhaps, it explains why education sector is always recession proof and why government introduced the second national economic stimulus package in March to encourage undergraduates and /or working adults to take up Master / PhD.

To apply for the above package, please visit www.mohe.gov.my

Take some time to meditate as how you should work for your own future!

Upgrade yourself to survive!

Recession is nerve wrecking! The global economy meltdown has cut million of jobs to date and it can feel as if there are few jobs with good pay to be had.To be able to face the uncertain challenge ahead, by continuing education is the best way one can get.

It is speculated that economic conditions would be better in the next 2 to 3 years. The market will bound back giving the candidates with better education ample job opportunities. Question is, are you up for it when it comes?

It is now the golden period for everyone to upgrade their skills and their education. To all the aspiring candidates who ever planned to further their master or doctorate, there are many things one once wish to have and now is all happening.

1.Government and the bank are now not so conservative about the loan policies and the interest rates. Future loanees can enjoy a more relaxing repayment and a more flexible terms & conditions.

2.Government is giving financial assistant to those who willing to further their higher education. Now, that’s quite a good news!

3.Those who have been wanting to study abroad can obtain longer working month on their student VISA eg from 12 months to 29 months.That comes as icing on cake to all those who planned to half work and half study abroad!

4.Those at work who are made redundant can also take this recession period as the time to upgrade their skills by taking higher education to boost their earning power when the economy recovers.

So, this is the time to make the most out of the credit crunch across the world by further your education! Remember, opportunity comes to those who prepared. Visit Malaysia Post Graduate Education Fair and discover the potential in you!

Join us at Facebook! 12th Malaysia Post Graduate Education Fair!

Criteria for Choosing a Graduate Program

by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.

There are any number of criteria people can use when trying to evaluate various graduate programs. This list is not meant to be inclusive, but to provide you with the most common criteria people use when choosing a graduate school. You'll find the information you need to evaluate each program in various graduate school guides and directories, as well as from the catalogs and Websites of the individual graduate programs that interest you.
Presented in alphabetical order:

Accreditation: There are two main types of accreditation: institutional and program-specific. You should determine the proper accreditation degree programs in your field require. While accreditation is not so much an indicator of quality as much as process, you could face negative consequences if the program does not have accreditation. For example, students who attend an unaccredited law school may not be allowed to sit for the bar exam (whose passage is needed to be a practicing lawyer). Note: a school that is not properly accredited may not openly volunteer this information -- so dig deeply.

Admission Standards: You want a graduate program with tough admissions standards; it's better to be among the select few than with a larger group that may end up lowering the quality of your graduate education. Most schools publish this kind of information, so look for the number of applicants compared to the number of acceptances. You could also look at base requirements for admission, which usually include undergraduate grade-point-average and standardized test scores.

Career Assistance: One of your main goals for earning an advanced degree most likely revolves around career advancement -- either getting a new job or entering a new field. You should examine the amount of career development and placement assistance each program provides to graduates. While this assistance should just be a small part of your overall job search upon earning your degree, it's still an important one. You should also look at where each school's graduates are working (along with their salaries, if possible).

Cost/Financial Aid: If we all had unlimited resources, then cost would not be an issue; for most of us, however, this is usually a top issue. Make sure you examine all associated costs, including tuition, books and supplies, housing, and miscellaneous fees and expenses. Then review the types of financial assistance each program is offering you, including grants, loans, and fellowships. Don't be afraid to negotiate with your top schools; if a school really wants you in their program, they will find additional resources for you.

Culture: Just as all organizations have corporate cultures -- "the way things are done around here" -- so too with graduate schools. You need to identify schools with cultures that fit your style and comfort-level so that you'll have a better chance to excel. Some call this concept the philosophy of education. For example, we know of one program where there were major factions among faculty and students, with these groups competing for resources and recognitions; would you prefer that kind of super competitive environment, or one that was more nurturing for all students?

Degrees Offered: Probably the most fundamental criterion; if a graduate school does not offer the degree or certificate program you seek, then it does not make any sense to investigate the program any further. Just make sure you know the specific degree/certificate you need to take you to that next career step you are seeking. Don't compromise or consider a lesser degree.

Faculty: A graduate program is only as good as the faculty who teach in it. It's important to work with faculty who are respected and known in your field. You need to establish a method to evaluate each program. The most basic measure is looking at the percentage of classes taught by full-time, terminally qualified faculty. But you could also investigate the reputation of the faculty by examining things such as the number of scholarly publications, the national or regional acclaim of faculty members, and/or the professional experiences of the faculty.

Location: Just as with your undergraduate choice, location is an important factor. Depending upon the degree you're seeking, you're going to be living in that geographic area for several years. More importantly, except for top-tier programs, the value of an advanced degree is typically strongest in the region where the school is located and known. So, if you want to eventually live in the Pacific Northwest, it makes more sense to attend a graduate school in that region rather than one on the East Coast.

Multicultural/Diversity Opportunities: Better programs tend to be diverse -- because diversity (of all types) often leads to a broader world view. Examine both the faculty and student composition. You need to determine a mix where you'll feel most comfortable. Also, if you are interested, you might see if the programs offer an international study opportunity.
Physical Facilities: What is the condition of the building(s) of each program? Do they have all the tools you need for your specific interests? Investigate programs that stress “state-of-the-art” facilities to see if they really are state-of-the-art. More fundamentally, make sure the programs have the types of facilities you need. For example, if you plan to specialize in market research, you'll want a program that not only has great computer facilities, but also one that has behavioral labs for events such as focus groups.

Reputation/Ranking: Lots of different organizations rank graduate programs, so while rankings are an important measure of quality, you also need to investigate the source of the rankings. Examples of organizations that rank graduate programs include U.S. News and Business Week. But ranking may not be as important as other criteria here because of the flaws in the ranking process, including the ability for a school to have a high ranking while the program that interests you could still be weak. Go to our bookstore for a complete list of graduate school related books.

Research/Academic Focus: Graduate programs tend to have a specific strength or focus in one or two areas within a specific discipline, and you should fully investigate the faculty interests and research areas of each program. For example, Stetson University's College of Law excels at trial and litigation (one of the top in the country), but is not as strong in other areas of law, such as environmental law; thus, if you're interest lies in being a trial attorney, Stetson should be on your list.

Resources: This is sort of a catch-all category. We used to talk mainly about library resources here (number of volumes, periodicals, etc. in your field), but resources really means just about anything that supports the graduate program, including endowments and foundations that support student research and publications.

Size: There are two aspects of size that you should evaluate -- size of the program and size of the entire university. Just as with your undergraduate school, you need to find a size that feels right for you - whether to be a small fish in a big pond or a big fish in a small pond. The size of the university is important in terms of resources available (see above) and whether you like that kind of environment; more important, however, is the size the graduate program -- where you'll spend the bulk of your time. Examine the faculty/student ratios.

State Regulations & Residency Requirements: If you are looking at graduate programs at state universities, you need to examine admission requirements and costs for in-state residents versus all other applicants. If you have your heart set on a specific state university and you do not currently live in that state, you might consider relocating to that state and establishing residency there before applying to the graduate program.

Surrounding Community: You're going to have to live there for a number of years, so you better be able to at least tolerate the surrounding areas. What are you looking for -- an urban, rural, or suburban setting; do you want to live in a large city or small town? There is a joke here at Stetson University among undergraduates because the university is located in a small, quiet, and quaint town named DeLand - which most of the faculty love - but which many students refer to as “Dead-Land.”

Source: Quintessential Careers

Quintessential Careers: Considering Graduate School? Answer These 5 Questions before You Decide

by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.


Deciding to seek one or more graduate degrees is a major commitment of time and money; a decision not to take lightly. You will face several years of intense work and research -- a much more demanding course load than in your undergraduate program. Before deciding your next step, you should take the time to honestly answer these five questions.
Why are you considering a graduate degree? Career Goal: You need to have a clear understanding of what you want to do with your career -- and how earning a graduate degree will help you reach that goal. If you have any doubt at all about your professional goals, consider putting off graduate school and, instead, spend some time working on some self-assessment and career planning. If you go to graduate school without a clear goal, you will probably end up wasting both time and money.

While certain careers definitely require an advanced degree -- doctors and lawyers, for example -- many other careers offer plenty of job opportunities for job-seekers with just an undergraduate degree. In fact, in some situations having an advanced degree can actually hurt you in a job search if you also have little or no job experience.
Compensation: Most studies show that people with advanced degrees earn more on average than people with bachelor's degrees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 1998 the average worker with a bachelor's degree earned $40,478, while a worker with a master's degree earned $51,183, and a worker with a doctorate earned $77,445.

Staying Marketable: While a graduate degree is not required for many "entry-level" jobs, you may need to earn an advanced degree to keep your training and skills current -- and make you more marketable for career advancement.

Career Change: A graduate degree can often make sense for a job-seeker who is looking to make a career change, In this case, you would be earning the graduate degree in the field you plan to enter. Read more about career change strategies in our article, The 10-Step Plan to Career Change.

When should you consider obtaining a graduate degree? One of the questions most often debated is when is the best time to consider a graduate degree. Is it better to attend graduate school right after you complete your bachelor's degree, or is it better to wait a few years and gain some work/life experience first. As mentioned above, certainly do not consider going immediately to graduate school as a default move -- or to avoid getting a job.

The reasons for going straight to graduate school after earning your bachelor's degree:

you are accustomed to being a student -- and have momentum;
your study skills are sharp;
you have few obligations;
some occupations require an advanced degree even for "entry-level" positions.
The reasons for working for a few years before going to graduate school:
you can better know your career goals by working in the field for a few years;
some graduate programs require work experience;
you bring a broader world view to your studies;
you have a more mature outlook on school and work;
many employers will pay some or all of your graduate school expenses;
you can gain solid financial footing;
you can improve your chances for acceptance to graduate programs -- especially if you were not the best student in your undergraduate program.
What is the best graduate degree for you? There are two traditional categories of graduate degrees -- master's and doctoral -- although there are also numerous hybrid combined-degree and certificate programs at many universities.

Master's: Master's degree programs are growing and evolving, with degrees offered in just about all fields. Master's degrees can be professional or academic. Professional degrees, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA), are designed for employment or advancement within a given field. Academic degrees, such as a Master of Science, are designed for intellectual growth and (sometimes) a prerequisite for doctoral work within a given field. Master's degrees may take one to three years to complete.

Doctorate: Doctoral degrees, the highest possible earned academic degree, can also be professional or academic. Professional doctoral degrees, such as the Doctor of Medicine (MD) and the Juris Doctor (JD), stress the practical application of knowledge and skills. Academic doctoral degrees, the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), focus on advancing knowledge through original research in a given academic field. Doctorates may take three to six years to complete.
What is the best graduate school/program for you? Just as important a decision as whether to go to graduate school is the decision of where to go to graduate school. In fact, some experts say your choice of a graduate school is much more important than your choice of an undergraduate school.

We've developed a list of criteria you could use to evaluate various programs.
A more fundamental question for many, though, is whether to simply continue graduate studies at the college where you earned your bachelor's degree. Unless you attended a top-tier undergraduate college, most experts suggest that you should seek a graduate program at a different college from where you earned your bachelor's degree. The idea is that by attending a different school, you are exposed to different faculty, different perspectives, and different resources -- all designed to broaden your knowledge and experiences within your field. It's a lot harder than simply continuing on at your alma mater, but change is almost always a good thing, especially in graduate education.

Can you afford graduate school? Just as with your undergraduate college, it is crucial to look at the costs of the various graduate programs that interest you and determine what mix of financial aid will make attending the programs feasible. It's best to study the literature each school sends you and then talk with a financial aid adviser at those schools that interest you. Besides some of the same types of financial aid offered at the undergraduate level, most graduate programs also offer fellowships (for teaching or research assistance). And if you're currently employed, don't forget to see if your employer has an tuition reimbursement program.


Dr. Randall S. Hansen is founder of Quintessential Careers, one of the oldest and most comprehensive career development sites on the Web, as well CEO of EmpoweringSites.com. He is also founder of MyCollegeSuccessStory.com and EnhanceMyVocabulary.com. He is publisher of Quintessential Careers Press, including the Quintessential Careers electronic newsletter, QuintZine. Dr. Hansen is also a published author, with several books, chapters in books, and hundreds of articles. He's often quoted in the media and conducts empowering workshops around the country. Finally, Dr. Hansen is also an educator, having taught at the college level for more than 15 years. Visit his personal Website or reach him by email at randall(at)quintcareers.com.


Source: Quintessential Careers

Why Continuing Education is essential?

When Burton B.Goldstein, chairman of information America started the company, one of his board members told him: "If you are still in business three years from now, you'll be in a different business." Goldstein says that observation has turned out to be true. "You have to be comfortable with the fact that you are on a road, a learning curve and you are going to learn stuff and you are going to change."

Continuing education is really an extension of the process that brought about the entrepreneurial venture in the first place. That first vision may be 20/20, but it is more likely that the first vision is only a rough approximation or the 'shape of the answer', as author Horace Freeland Judson puts it.

Continuing education is essential because of changing technology. A group of managers recently told me that the technological competence of the average college graduate today will be obsolete within three years or less. What they said is true in most fields because of the pervasive impact of the information revolution. If you don't keep on learning, somebody else will, and put you out of business.

Continuing education is essential because the target audience is changing. No creative activity is more audience-driven than entrepreneurship. If people do not buy the new product or patronize the new store or join the new organization, the venture dies. The target may be a moving one or a fickle one. Tastes may change. People may move physically. So, the entrepreneur must keep on learning about the target audience.

Still another similarity: the ability to do mundane tasks well. What separates entrepreneurial activity from other creative acts is its emphasis on the practical. Entrepreneurial activity is a creative act, and, as such, is cerebral. It may even grow out of pure research. But entrepreneurs must do the thousand-and-one tasks involved in transforming an insight into something tangible.
Xavier Roberts of Cabbage Patch fame told me that people continually approach him with ideas they believe will make a fortune. "I don't need more ideas," he said. "I need people who can implement ideas." He knows that from experience, Robert was selling his loveably ugly little creatures at flea markets and financing his business on credit cards long before the idea became a national craze.

"Think small," an entrepreneur by the name of Fred P.Burke once told me, "Many people who have these grand visions never can take their eyes from the sky and put them down to the little-bitty takes that have to be done right here, right now, this minute."


Extracted from the Lessons From Successful Entrepreneurs by Dr. Gene Griessman
Source: SME & Entrepreneurship Magazine, April 2009

12th PGEF is back again on December!

We are back again, bringing along the 12th Postgraduate Fair to be presented for the second time in the month of December 2009!

Just like the past fair, it is going to be held in conjunction with the big career fair in Malaysia, Jobstreet Malaysia Career and Training Fair 2009, providing an excellent opportunity to seek for jobs and quality postgraduate education.

Date: 16th - 18th April 2010
Venue: Midvalley Exhibitions Center, Midvalley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Time: 10am to 7pm
Entrance Fee: Free Admission

Don't miss the golden opportunity! You might meet and make the right choice there for your education and most importantly, your future.

For further information about coming fair, please visit www.lifelonglearning.com.my