PENANG, 5 September 2013 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is looking for ways to simplify the intake process of postgraduates in an effort to encourage more of them to apply, including the candidates from abroad.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman, easing the problems in register with this is an important step in helping those who are pursuing higher degrees by research but facing a number of constraints such as obtaining visas and obtaining employer’s permission.

“We are prepared to consider reducing the fees and make necessary adjustments so that it would not cause encumbrance to candidates enrolling for higher degrees by research while also offering some special fellowship to help them,” the Vice-Chancellor added.

The opportunity to pursue higher degree is open to those interested with substantial fundings from the government particularly from the Ministry of Education through MyBrain and MyPh.D which USM has benefitted from both programmes with 700 candidates at the masters and doctorate levels respectively.

Moreover, the USM has grant aid through fellowship programmes such as the USM Global Fellowship as well as in some other means, including for candidates from abroad.

“We also encourage lecturers who have research grants to help their candidates for the same purpose,” said Omar.

The Vice-Chancellor said this after attending the Students Welcoming ceremony for about 1,800 new postgraduate candidates who will primarily undergoing coursework and mixed modes at USM Main Campus. About 3,000 postgraduate candidates enrolled into the university this year. Currently 40% of USM postgraduates are from overseas, including Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Bermuda, China, Indonesia, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Syria, Thailand, Vietnam, Yemen and 25 other countries.

At the same press conference, Omar said USM is making mapping plans to encourage postgraduate students to study at the doctoral level, especially among those who did mixed mode because of their better established thesis.

“Currently about 25% of the postgraduate candidates have graduated within the specified period and we are aiming for around 20% during this semester as they are affected by many things, particularly the challenge to discipline themselves in meeting deadlines,” added Omar.

Omar also announced that USM will offer two new postgraduate programmes on Sustainable Development and Internet Engineering, likely in February 2014, through a multi-disciplinary programme.

Earlier in his address to the new postgraduate candidates, the Vice-Chancellor advised that they should always be aware of the future challenges to further enhance the knowledge, technology and ready to meet the changes that occur with the transformations, rendering the world smaller and smaller in the context of communication and knowledge.

“Only those who are prepared for all the changes will be able to continue to succeed in the future besides adapting to a new culture and the globalisation process that requires tolerance and universal values,” said Omar.

Also present was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs) Professor Dato’ Dr. Ahmad Shukri Mustapa Kamal; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Development ) Professor Dr. Adnan Hussein; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Industry and Community Network) Professor Dato’ Dr. See Ching Mey; Dean of Graduate Studies Professor Dr. Othman Sulaiman; Registrar Puan Siti Zubaidah A. Hamid and principal officers of the university. - Translation: Yong Check Yoon/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa.