As intake opens for a new year, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia tackles education in these pandemic times.
WITH a history spanning almost two centuries, Heriot-Watt University has truly made a mark for itself as a global university, bringing together scholars who are leaders in ideas and solutions, delivering innovation, educational excellence and ground-breaking research.
Established in 1821 as the world’s first mechanics institute in Scotland as the School of Arts of Edinburgh, the university today stands as the eighth oldest higher education institute in the UK.
Its core areas cover business, science, technology, engineering, mathematics and fashion – subjects that have made a real impact on the world and society till today.
Ranked 35th in the UK according to the Guardian University Guide 2021, Heriot-Watt University is among the top 10 in the UK and the first in Scotland for its research impact (REF 2014).
In fact, the University recently celebrated five of its academics receiving the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) from the Ministry of Higher Education.
As the whole world is still in the grip of Covid-19, the university – along with its international campuses in Dubai and Malaysia – have set in place a form of learning that is uninterrupted by lockdowns.
As everyone wholeheartedly awaits the dawn of a new year, Heriot-Watt University students around the world can rest assured that their quest for greater knowledge will continue unhampered.
That said, the January 2021 intake for Heriot-Watt University Malaysia (HWUM) is open for submission.
Based in Putrajaya, this 1.9ha state-of-the-art lakeside campus is a landmark first “green campus” in the country and caters to the rising intake of international students, especially those from neighbouring countries in this region.
The tertiary programmes available at HWUM cover three levels, from foundation to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with subjects ranging from Foundation Studies, Accounting, Actuarial Science, Business, Construction Management, Data Science, Energy, Engineering, Enterprise, Finance, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Project Management, Psychology, Quantity Surveying to Renewable Energy.
Based in Putrajaya, HWUM’s 1.9ha state-of-the-art lakeside campus is a landmark first ‘green campus’ in the country.
Learning in the new normal
Developed as a solution that enables students to continue their educational voyage without a hitch, Responsive Blended Learning (RBL) is Heriot-Watt University’s answer towards enabling education to progress not only during a pandemic lockdown, but also for the digital era.
Currently, RBL combines active, supported online learning such as webinars, with appropriate face-to-face learning opportunities whenever it is conducive. Learning then becomes extremely flexible, especially in response to changing situations and environments.
It also enables students all over the world to begin their educational journey as a cohort without interruption in their progress.
The thing that makes it so dynamic is the mode of learning – reverting to online studies and tutorials when external situations change and back to in-class, face-to-face instruction when situations improve.
In this way, students and instructors are assured of their wellbeing, while the daily business of learning and teaching continues without disruption.
And as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0) approaches, a different set of challenges appear, particularly so for this younger generation.
As youths today face increasing digitisation in their everyday lives, they need to adopt a healthy mindset, learn to manage stress and develop meaningful social relationships.
To effectively enable its students to mature in these areas, the university leverages its Positive Education approach.
They are taught coping strategies through effective time management, by cultivating a positive mindset – developing self-confidence, interpersonal and communication skills and a sense of purpose.
In a sense, HWUM empowers its students with its ideology of being “FutureMade”. It encourages them to be successful learners via its guidance and teaching methodology, and by nurturing them in an environment that leads to holistic growth.
Moulding exemplary individuals
To help secondary school students fit better into a university setting, new students are encouraged to engage in a positive transformation.
They are taught to focus on developing their emotional intelligence, creativity, understanding their own personalities, their strengths and weaknesses, and developing a long-term vision and mission.
At the Foundation level, students go through the Fit-For-Future programme, designed to help students realise their full potential by setting realistic goals through engaging and interesting activities.
When they progress to their undergraduate studies, HWUM’s EmPOWER Programme’s four-level structure gives students experiential learning opportunities that instil a lifelong foundation for building emotional intelligence, resilience, and happiness.
The first level, known as Watt Level, is compulsory for all students and is offered in their first year of undergraduate degree studies and focuses on leading self and defining impact.
The subsequent three levels (Kilowatt, Megawatt and Gigawatt) are achieved through a more personalised approach developed by students with their personal tutors.
HWUM students are encouraged to engage in a positive transformation.
Undergraduate degrees
HWUM offers a wide range of full-time undergraduate programmes that are career-driven in focus and accredited by relevant professional bodies.
Undergraduate programmes available for the January intake include:
School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society
• Construction Project Management
• Quantity Surveying
School of Engineering and Physical Sciences
• Chemical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
School of Social Sciences, Edinburgh Business School
• Accounting and Business Finance
• International Business Management
• International Business Management with Enterprise
• International Business Management with Human Resource Management
• International Business Management with Marketing
• Bachelor of Business Administration
These degrees will award students with the titles MA, BA, BSc, BEng and MEng upon successful completion.
Postgraduate and research studies
Moving on from undergraduate degrees, students may also seek further specialisation in their field of choice through postgraduate or even research studies.
With over 80% of academic staff engaged in research at internationally recognised levels, all campuses of Heriot-Watt University deliver crucial research in diverse industries, from healthcare to automation..
HWUM offers 16 programmes in engineering, business and finance, granting the MSc and PhD titles.
Some of the programmes are available for either part-time or full-time study. A full list of postgraduate and research programmes is available here.
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme at HWUM is a part-time programme that offers practical “real-world” knowledge within an inspirational environment to learn in.
The programme has seven core modules: Delivering Successful Projects; Developing and Executing Strategy; Economics for Business; Financial Decision Making; Leadership Theory and Practice; People, Work and Organisations; and Strategic Marketing.
Over 80% of academic staff at Heriot-Watt University’s five campuses worldwide engage in research at internationally recognised levels.
Studying at HWUM
Heriot-Watt’s programmes offer the same content, examinations, and resources wherever you are, ensuring the same quality Heriot-Watt is known for throughout your studies.
What’s more, the certificate you receive upon graduation will also be the same as your counterparts in both the UK and Dubai campuses.
Accommodation at HWUM is provided for in either Cyberjaya (Kanvas SOHO) or Putrajaya (Shaftsbury Ryo). Scholarships and financial aid are also available.
For those who are interested, there is also a RM2,500 early bird waiver for undergraduate applications before Dec 15.
Visit http://bit.ly/hwumvirtual for more information.
