Exploring ‘the power of imagination’

PERSATUAN Perkhidmatan Tadbir dan Diplomatic (PPTD), an association under administrative and diplomatic services for Malaysian civil service, recently organised a seminar for 180 government officials from various ministries and agencies.

Titled

(The Alchemist)... opens up the mind of the reader on the importance of one’s journey rather than the goal ... .

the knowledge-sharing session aimed at providing early exposure to administrative and diplomatic officers who wish to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees. Participants attended sessions such as study fields selection, financial requirements, mental and physical endurance, and effective thesis and research writing techniques.

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik shared his postgraduate journey with participants. He said it is a journey of love and happiness, and the best time to explore the “power of imagination”. He also encouraged participants to read his favourite novel, by Paulo Coelho.

“The book opens up the mind of the reader on the importance of one’s journey rather than the goal that will be achieved in having a degree scroll,” he said, adding an important element for prospective postgraduate students to understand before taking on the challenge of pursuing higher studies.

One of the speakers, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia lecturer Dr Siti Uzairiah Mohd Tobi, shared her experience helping postgraduate students analyse their mental, technical and financial needs before making a decision to choose the best field of their research.

Participants were also guided to identify issues before stating the problem statement and choosing the topic selection to prepare the literature review and the objective and methodology of their research.

PPTD programme director Nadia Monira Mohamed Taib said the association is aware of the needs of its members for knowledge enhancement in pursuing higher education through postgraduate programmes.

“We want to provide a platform for exchanging and sharing of knowledge to all members.”

The seminar also included sessions on applying for scholarships and studying with paid leave as well as guiding participants on preparing proposal papers and attending scholarship interviews.

MaSzlEE Malik