Producing entrepreneur graduates
BINARY University College (BUC) executive chairman Datuk Professor Joseph Adaikalam says that paper qualifications alone cannot guarantee jobs or rewarding careers anymore.
“The business world has changed and so must the expectations of school-leavers and parents. When you are scouting for universities to pursue tertiary education investigate what are the “outcomes” and “outputs” generated by the institution.”
“Investing in university education is expensive. Hence, it is only natural that you expect to enjoy rewarding careers in the future.
“Particular attention must be paid to the question ‘What can I become after pursuing the degree?’ For most of us, the answer may be as simple as I will become an accountant, a software engineer or a business executive. But in reality, this is far from the truth.
“The truth is you only become a graduate; a degree holder. The truth is you aspire to be an accountant, a software engineer or business executive. But ‘Does the employer really want you?’ or ‘Why should an employer want you’?” he asks.
He adds that many graduates are disillusioned by the fact that a paper qualification alone is a passport to high-paying jobs.
According to him, research shows that in 2010 alone, more than 33% of university graduates remained unemployed after six months of graduation. Many more were under-employed, doing jobs for which they were underpaid.
“The 2011 Tracer Study conducted by the Ministry of Higher Education revealed that 93% of Binary graduates got jobs within six months of graduation. A good percentage got starting salaries above RM2,500 per month with some even chalking RM5,000 per month. So what do employers want? What is Binary doing that sets its graduates apart from all others?” asks registrar Roland Wee.
“The answer is simple. We produce Intrapreneurs who are ISP certified graduates. Our graduates are armed with Entrepreneurial skills and equipped with in-depth industry-specific knowledge and skills. Thus our School of Accounting produces entrepreneurial accountants and not just accountants. The School of Technology Management produces entrepreneurial IT professionals and not just software engineers.
“And our School of Business produces entrepreneurial managers and not just managers. Above all, we do not mass produce graduates. We offer our students a personalised study plan, thus working on your shortcomings over the degree period.
“This is why we have remained as a specialised institution since the 80’s’’ adds Prof Adaikalam who is also the founder of the university.
“To be an Intrapreneur graduate, you need to be in an environment that promotes the entrepreneurial spirit. The ecosystem must be able to bring out the entrepreneurial talent inherent in each one of us.
“As Malaysia’s first entrepreneurship university college, Binary has a timetested formula that has worked very well for its graduates. Apart from having a full-fledged entrepreneurship faculty, the School of Entrepreneurial Development (SEED), the university is supported by Asia Centre for Entrepreneurship (ACE), an applied research centre that links students to the real world of business and entrepreneurial opportunities. ACE also provides insights into what lies ahead for our graduates in the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) and the New Economic Model of the government,” he adds.
“The ETP which will transform our country into a high income nation has a direct impact on the future of all Malaysian graduates.
“It offers exciting job opportunities numbering over 3.3 million by 2020. Of these 46% will be middle income jobs while high-income jobs will increase by almost three times.
“Hence, graduates need to prepare themselves to capitalise on this new job opportunities. Binary’s ISP Certified Intrapreneur graduates will have a major competitive edge as they will acquire ISP skills that are directly relevant to the National Key Economic Areas or NKEAS and the corresponding jobs that will be created,” Prof Adaikalam continues.
“Binary’s Accounting degree which is triple accredited by MQA, ACCA (UK) and CPA (Australia) provides graduates the opportunity to work globally. This is one major reason why students are attracted to our degree.
“The other two reasons are it is an honours degree (and not a general degree) plus its reasonable fees,” adds School of Accounting dean SF Huang, who is a chartered accountant with 25 years experience.
“Binary Business School is Malaysia’s only SIX-STAR business school as rated by the Ministry of Higher Education in the Myquest 2011. Binary Business School offers the BA (Hons) in Business Management and BA (Hons) in Marketing in addition to the Diploma in Business and Diploma in Marketing.
“Binary Business School which is a name synonymous to business education since 1984, has produced thousands of business graduates who today occupy respectable positions locally and globally,” says Binary Business School dean Associate Professor Sudesh Prabakharan.
Next intake will be commencing on April 18.
For more information, contact 038070 6590 or 016-504 7810 to enrol at BUC. For those staying in KL, you may pursue your studies at Binary College City Campus. For details, call 03-4041 8562/92 or 012-317 4111.