Publication Workshop in UiTM Kedah

An academic publication workshop which was aimed at providing exposure to new lecturers was co-organized by the university's Institute of Leadership and Quality Management (IlQAM) and Universiti Teknologi MARA Kedah state campus. The program which was held today at UiTM campus in Merbok was attended by some seventy aspiring lecturers. Professor Dr Normah, the Accounting Research Institute (ARI) director was invited by IlQAM to facilitate the workshop. Though the main thrust of the workshop was mainly geared towards publication in journals that are indexed with ISI Thomson, SCOPUS and Excellence Research Australia (ERA), other forms of publications were also emphasized. These other forms of publications include books, book chapters, research note, concept papers, proceeding papers, policy papers and publications in professional journals. Since the main aim of this workshop was to create awareness to participants on different types of academic publications, no actual papers was submitted at the end of the workshop. Participants were mainly asked to identify at least ten indexed journals, ten professional journals and ten leading authors in their own areas of expertise. Then, they were needed to know and understand the specific requirements of the chosen journals. Future follow up workshops will require participants to bring their draft journal articles and an online submission of the artyicles will be made at the end of the workshop session.

ARI-TESS Collaborative Research

In its effort to drive research in the area of Islamic Financial Criminology, the Accounting Research Institute (ARI)
always seeks for potential strategic research partners to carry out its research. Beside dealing with fundamental issues that necessitate research, ARI researchers are also keen to develop innovative research products that could be used by practitioners. Recently, one research group under the financial criminology cluster, invited an international company, TESS to participate in a focus group discussion to develop anti-money laundering tools using artificial intelligence technology. Also presence in the discussion are experts in the areas of artificial intelligene (AI)from International Islamic University (IIUM), software development and Anti money laundering specialists. The research project titled "Developing money laundering and and financial fraud indicators using artifial technology" is headed by Associate Professor Dr Zuraidah Mohd Sanusi from ARI. ARI thanks officers/researchers from TESS - Mr Satish (Vice President), Mr Peter Ong (Executive Director)and Mr Yap (Director, Financial Services). We also thank Mr Aaron Lau, ACAMS Trainer; Dr Abiodun Musa Aibinu and his team from the Department of Mechatronic Engineering, IIUM and ARI research team members for taking part in the discussion sessions.

Understanding the Glossary of MyRA Instrument - Part 3

More explanations on MyRA terminologies as follows:
1. International Institution participation in research-related activities include the following: Total number of MOUs signed; total programme implemented under each MOU; total number of staff involved in joint research project; Total number of international students participating in undergraduate/postgraduate/exchange programme; total number of students sent abroad for training and total number of staff sent abroad for training
2. Membership in international bodies/association focuses on (i)number of membership in international bodies and (ii) number of staff appointed as leader/committee for international bodies
3. International projects examine (i) total number of staff involved as project leader and (ii) total amount of international grants
4. International fellowship/scholarship refers to total number of staff awarded international fellowship/scholarship
5. Similarly items 1-4 are also applicable at the national level
6. Support facilities are accredited laboratories (e.g OECD, FDA, Department of standard) and library facilities

Understanding the Glossary of MyRA Instrument - Part 2

This entry focuses on MyRA terms that are often misinterpreted when completing the MyRA form:
1. Mixed Mode programmes - are postgraduate programmes with 70% research and 30% coursework components
2. Principal investigator - lead researcher whose project either : (i) commences in the current year, (ii) commenced in previous year and remains active in the current year or (iii)project completed in the current year. A principal investigator is recognized once/year despite the fact that he/she is involved in more than one projects.
3. PhD/professional qualifications - A staff with both PhD & professional qualifications is recognized once under one category only
4. Innovation Awards are only for gold medals won at international events such as SIIF, BIS, INPEX, IENA and few others
5. Impact Factor Journals include those journals that are indexed with SCOPUS/ISI/SCI/SSCI/ERA
6. Please take note the following journals are not considered in MyRA score computation: Academic Journal, Eurojournal, CG Publishing and African World Press7. Section C now includes "Total number of chapters in book"
8. Research Grants from government - benchmark amount is RM30,000 for S&T and RM12,000 for Social Sciences
9. Research Grants from private funding - benchmark amount RM10,000 for S&T and RM6,000 for Social Sciences
10. Research funding from international sources - benchmark amount RM10,000 S&T and RM12,000 for Social Sciences
11. Innovation focuses on patents granted, patents pending, commercialized product (to external parties only), technology know-how and IPR/copyright (inclusive of original writings not yet listed in section C
12 Professional services and gifts consider income generated from training courses, consultancy, research endowment and gifts such as equipment and research materials

Academic & Intellectual Leadership

As part of the university's succession planning program, the Institute of Leadership & Quality Management (iLQAM)invited a prominent guest speaker, an academic leader: Professor Dato' Dr. Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid to give a talk on academic leadership. Prof Ibrahim is currently the Deputy President / Deputy Vice Chancellor INTI-UC Laureate International Universities and Professor of Management, Education and the Social Sciences. In his talk titled "Academic Leadership: What does it mean", Profesor Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid stressed on the need for university academics to "reclaim intellectual leadership". A university is after all "an idea, a state of mind, a supreme intellectual existence, a capacity to understand, a consuming passion for some calling and some mission for humanity". University academics should therefore be at the forefront with a clear mission of abolishing ignorance. Academic leaders according to Prof Ibrahim have the passion for knowledge; are brave to ask tough questions and are willing to propose probable solutions....

Understanding the Glossary of MyRA Instrument 1

One of the most important tools introduced by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia to assess research-related process and output is the MyRA instrument. In fact MyRA has been used to evaluate research universities in Malaysia. Public universities in particular are also required to report their MyRA score annually to the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE).
This entry hopes to examine the glossary attached to the MyRA instrument. The MyRA instrument is divided into nine different sections (Sections A to I). Section A provides the "General Information" on 3 very important data:(i) Number of academic staff inclusive of both permanent and contract staff, (ii) Total number of undergraduate and postgraduate fulltime students and (iii) Number of responsibility research centres. Section B, "Quantity and Quality of Researchers" focuses on four very important data sets: (i)Total number of academic staff involved as principal investigator. (ii)Total number of academic staff with PhD/professional qualification; (iii) Total number of research experienced staff and (iv) Stewardship recognition confererred by both national and international learned & professional bodies. Section C, "Quantity and Quality of Research" lists four important research products: (i)Publications classified into 6 groups (indexed, cummulative impact factor, cummulative citation, non-indexed journal publication, book chapters and research books; (ii) Research grants at university national and international levels; (iii) Research expenditure for each project and (iv) Post-doctoral appointment. Section D "Quantity and Quality of Post Graduates" looks for four different data: (i) Number of PhD Graduated, (ii) Number of PhD enrolled, (iii) Postgraduate enrolment and (iv) Percentage of international post graduate students. Section E "Quality of Post Graduates examines two crucial data: (i) Entry qualification at the Bachelor level and (ii) fellowship grants awarded to the post graduate students. Section F "Innovation" provides four pieces of information: (i) Patents filed/granted, (ii) Commercialized products, (iii) Technology knowhow licensing and (iv) IPR/Copyrights (including origional writings). Section G "Professional Services & Gifts" examines four sources of income generations and they include:(i)training including post graduate fees, (ii) Consultancy excluding contract research, (iii) Research endowment and (iv) Gifts (money or equipemet) in excess of RM5000. Section H "Networking and Linkages" details out nine groups of participations: (i) International institution participation in research-related activities, (ii) Membership in international bodies & associations, (iii) International projects, (iv) International fellowship and scholarships, (v) Members of international professional bodies, (vi) National inter-institution participation, (vii) Member of professional bodies and the national level, (viii) National projects and (ix)National fellowship/scholarship awards. Section I "Support facilities" requires information related to accredited laboratories and library facilities.

UiTM-CIMA Teachers Conference 2012

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) co-organized the Teachers Conference 2012.
The one-day conference held at the Dewan Seri Budiman, UiTM was attended by more than 200 teachers representing schools from different parts of the country. Themed "Education in a Borderless World", the conference was graced opened Y. Bhg Dato' Haji Mohd Ghazali bin Abdul Rahman, Director of the Teachers Education Department, Ministry of Education Malaysia. Also presence at the official opening event were UiTM Vice Chancellor Dato' Prof Ir Dr Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar and Head of CIMA Malaysia, Mr Venkakat Ramanan. A special project called "Malaysia Junior Apprentice Project" was also launched immediately after the opening ceremony.
ARI Director, Prof Dr Normah Omar was also invited to present a paper titled "Management Accounting for Non-Accountants: From Cradle to Grave". Among the other speakers include Dr Edward Chan from the International Psychology centre, Mr Venkkat Ramanan from CIMA and Professor Datin Dr Quek Ai Hwa from Help University

CISM for Malaysia

The Accounting Research Institute (ARI) is greatly honoured to be given the opportunity to work closely with the Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM) to develop a self-assessment questionnaire for Corporate Integrity System Malaysia (CISM). The self-assessment CISM is essentially premised on twelve categories of corporate ethics and integrity. They are namely (1) vision and goals, (2) Leadership, (3) Infrastructure, (4) Legal compliance, policies and rules, (5) Organizational culture, (6) Disciplinary & reward measures, (7)Measurement, research and assessment, (8)Confidential advice and support, (9) Ethics training and education, (10) Ethics communications, (11) Whistleblowing and (12) Corporate social responsibility. A total of 214 descriptors have been used to measure the corporate integrity system. Self assessment CISM questionnaire has been developed by the academic group together with IIM based on a successful adaptation of the Global Ethics and Integrity Benchmark by Dubinsky and Richter from USA. What is so special about the CISM self-assessment questionnaire is its ability to benchmark against global best practices. The questionnaire is available on IIM website (http://cism.my/upload/CIAQ_Consultative.pdf) and corporations are encouraged to participate in the self-assessment survey.

Corporate Integrity Pledge - 1 year on

The Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM) marks the one year anniversary of its Corporate Integrity Pledge initiative by organizing a Roundtable Discussion with existing and potential pledgers. Yang Berhormat Dato' Seri Idris Jala, Minister at the Prime Minister Department graced the occocasion by giving a brief speech on the results of the various government transformation programs (GTP). One of the main initiatives of the GTP includes the government's effort to enhance ethics and integrity measures both in the government and the private sectors. One year ago, PEMANDU and IIM launched the Integrity Pledge (IP)initiative and to date more than sixty corporations have signed up the IP. In today's meeting, two corporations - Maybank Berhad and Thumbprints Sdn Bhd shared and presented their integrity best practices with the participants. Other corporations that shared their respective corporate integrity system include MIMOS, Siemens, TM, Essence Communication, Top Glove. Two new pledgers - Institute of Engineering Malaysia and MDeC signed their IP with IIM during the event. Meanwhile, Professor Dr Normah Omar from the Accounting Research Institute (ARI)introduced and presented the Corporate Integrity System Malaysia (CISM)- Self Assessment Questionnaire that could be used and adapted by corporations to assess and develop their own CISM. The instrument (CISM) is a product developed from a successful adaptation of a Global Ethics and Integrity Benchmark tool originally developed by Dubinsky and Richter from the USA. CISM is developed jointly by the academic group and IIM. More than 120 participants took part in the half-day Roundtable Discussion held at IIM auditorium today....

Meeting with ACAMS CEO

The Accounting Research Institute (ARI) is deeply honored to receive guests from the Association of Certified Anti Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS)who visited the university today. Mr Ted Weissberg, ACAMS CEO from New York; Ms Hue Dang, Head of Asia (based in Hong Kong)and Mr Aaron Lau, ACAMS Certified Trainer met up with researchers from ARI to discuss (i) viable research topics in the area of anti-money laundering and (ii) the possibility and viability of ARI researchers to be trained towards the Certified Anti Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS)accreditation. ARI researchers were briefed on the four modules that made up the CAMS curriculum. The Faculty of Accountancy of Universiti Teknologi MARA had started CAMS as part of the undergraduate students' enhancement program. Recent CAMS graduates are currently employed by top employers in the country...