Thursday 31 July 2014

The Case of Human Development in Malaysia by United Nations' Human Development Report


The Human Development report by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) noted that Malaysia government had put in place measures to counter inequality such as redistribution of government-owned land, forcible purchases and restriction on ownership and quotas on public sector employment.
But these direct measures have come under fire by critics, who say that these policies were "misguided and mismatched" to the deeper structural problems in Malaysian society, UNDP said.
"For example, the positive discrimination policies favouring the ethnic Malays, or Bumiputras, over the dominant Chinese and minority Indian populations have improved their access to education and jobs and helped them more fully realise their economic potential," the report said.
"Yet Malaysia’s Chinese and Indian minority citizens chafe at 70% quotas in university admissions, flocking instead to private and foreign schools and often staying away from the country."
The World Bank recently reported that the severe brain drain in the country is caused by the imbalances of the New Economic Policy (NEP), with Indians and Chinese making up the highest numbers.
It warned that if the situation was not addressed as soon as possible, it would slow down the economy and halt the country's development.
There are currently about one million Malaysians abroad, of whom 308,833 are highly-skilled workers. – July 24, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/despite-pro-bumi-policies-un-report-shows-inequality-growing-in-malaysia

Malaysian parents (be it bumiputras or non-bumiputras) were trapped and hit hard with spending more money to finance their children education. In view of limited seats and deteriorating quality in ranking of public universities, Malaysian parents preferred to send their children to private universities for further education. Knowing that the tuition fee imposed by these universities is high, some resort to borrow money and seek education or personal loan to finance their children tertiary education in order to provide the best education for them. Read story of "Student Loan - Borrow Or Not".

Malaysian students and parents view domestic recognition of academics by Malaysia government and relevant professional bodies as the most important criteria in selecting a degree course, university and country to study. They tend to ignore the fact of lesser-known globally recognized degree that will provide a wiser and wider options for themselves. Why allow these imbalance and bias education policies in this country to deter you to seek a high standard of academic universities like China to further education? China universities are highly recognized in international arena in education. In the latest released of Top 100 universities in Asia, China has 18 universities in the Top 100. Malaysia has none of the university represented in the Top 100 list.  Please read full report here "China To Overtake Japan In Asian University Rankings?

It is the known fact that many private universities in Malaysia are profit orientated and their ultimate aim is to make huge profit out of your miseries. Over the years, the situation has gone from bad to worse with the discrimination policies favouring the ethnic Malays, or Bumiputeras, in Malaysia over the dominant Chinese and minority Indian populations. With these lopsided education policies from the government, these greedy profit oriented higher learning institutions set to take advantage of the situation and imposed high tuition fees to satisfy their greed. 

The sad story is despite with the high tuition fees charged by private universities, the monies paid were not commensurate in providing a full fledged facilities, wholesome amenities and fulfilling campus life. Some city campus of these universities are simply not conducive for students to pursue a 4 years bachelor degree as they were trapped in a 4-wall building with limited access to a wholesome campus facilities and fulfilling campus life.

As we can seen daily in the local newspapers, almost all these private universities offered, advertised and implied in newspapers that "if you cannot afford the high tuition fees, we can help you to arrange and seek student loan from National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN)". I guess everyone has the answer of who is the real and ultimate beneficiary if students borrow loan to further education. It is none other then these private institutions. For your information, many of the private universities in Malaysia charged 3 times or higher tuition fees in medical degrees and 2 times or higher in engineering degrees compared with the tuition fees charged by China Universities. 

Please refer below links for details of course fees for medical and engineering.

1. Course fee of medical degree in Malaysia compared with China Universities

2. Course fee of engineering degree in Malaysia compared with China Universities

In human development, government of the day should not used preferential treatment policies in the name of protecting certain race or religion to sideline the bright and brilliant students. Student admission to public universities for popular and critical programs like medicine, dentistry, engineering, law should be purely based on students with best admission result. There should be a standard and equal platform and level playing field to gain admission to public universities. Awarding of scholarship must be based purely on meritocracy and nothing else in order to retain the best students to study locally and serve the country.

I see Malaysia education will continue to deteriorate if government continues with its discrimination policies. More and more people will seek options and ways out of the country to chase their dream in foreign lands in order to have a better and fair treatment for themselves and their next generation. So it is time for students and parents to weight your options and view seriously other alternatives available to you to fulfill your aspiration to study want you want to be.  

I am here not to sensationalize the inequality in Malaysia. I just want our beloved Malaysia to be a better place for everyone to live. I just want students and parents know and be aware of the options and open the eyes to a better and bigger pictures that can offers a solution to problems in further education.


Course Fees of Medical Degree In Malaysia Compared with China Universities


China was nowhere on radar screen of international students who want to pursue western medicine before 2004. For the first time in 2004 when China Education Ministry introduced an English Medium MBBS program fully taught in English, it has changed the landscape of western medical studies in China. With just only four universities offering English medium education in medical, the list now has grown to 52 universities of which are approved by the Chinese governmentMany medical councils around the world such as USMLE, PLAB, AMC, MCI, PMDC, HPCSA, SCHS, and etc have recognized China medical degree and provide medical licensing examination and eligibility to be practised in the respective countries. 

In 2011, China hosted more than 27,000 foreign students doing degrees in western medicine , up from 20,000 in 2009, according to Chinese media reports.

There are many compelling reasons to study medicine in China and the most obvious reason is the affordable tuition fees. In average, a 6-years Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in China universities cost at least one-third of the price of those charged by Malaysia universities. Please refer below tables for comparison.

Medical Programs

a. Course fee charged by Malaysia universities


b. Course fee charged by China universities

University
Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Duration

Tuition Fees
Per Year (RMB)
Starting Date

City / Country
Wuhan UniversityMBBS
Public Health and Preventive Medicine (Combined Bachelor and Master )
Master in Medicine
Phd in Medicine
6 years
6 years

3 years
3 years

32,000Sept
Wuhan, China
Top 10 universities in China
Zhejiang UniversityMBBS5.5 years
42,800Sept
Hangzhou, China
Top 10 universities in China
Fudan UniversityMBBS6 years
75,000Sept
Shanghai, China
Top 10 universities in China
Sichuan UniversityMBBS6 years
45,000Sept
Chengdu
Top 10 universities in China
Sun Yat-sen  UniversityMBBS

6 years


38,000

Sept
Guangzhou, China
Top 10 universities in China
Jinan UniversityMBBS6 years
32,000Sept
Guangzhou, China
Tianjin Medical  UniversityMBBS6 years
32,000Sept
Tianjin, China
Tongji UniversityMBBS6 years
35,000Sept
Shanghai, C
     (Tuition fee is subject to change by China Universities)

      Please click here for "Forex Exchange Rate"


Why study medicine in China?
  • Most affordable Medical degree in the world
  • Eligible for many medical licensing examination and globally recognized
  • The great educational infrastructure in Asia is available in China
  • On par with western higher education in medicine
  • Complete program taught in English
  • Highly subsidized tuition, and hostel expenses
  • 3 star category hostels for international students
  • Easy visa
  • Plenty of quality hospitals for internship
  • Fulfilling and colorful campus life  
To learn and know more about medical programs in China, please click below links:






Foreign students' colorful life in China

Further study in China offers the best of both worlds: 

1. High standard of academic with affordable fees 
2. Colorful and fulfilling campus life

China captured a big chunk of market share of international students. From "nowhere to be seen" in 2001, China has 7% of market share of 4 millions international students in 2011 at the expense of US due to its education reform policies to conduct tertiary education fully taught in English to cater for international students who prefer to study in English medium at the backdrop of Chinese medium degree courses. other factors that attributed to the increase of international students study in China are affordable tuition package, high standard of academic, wholesome campus life and scholarship support.

The below pictures paint thousand words of colorful and fulfilling study life in China. 


With continued rapid economic development and growing national strength, China has attracted a growing number of foreign students. According to statistics, more than 350,000 foreign students from 200 countries and regions studied in China in 2013. They have personally experienced the changes occurring in China.


Two Italian students wearing bikinis, lying on the roof of a building near Zhejiang University, take a solarium after lunch, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang on May 11, 2012. (Photo/CNTV)
A student from Ghana learns performance skills of Shaoxing opera under the guidance of opera actor in Zhenjiang, east China's Jiangsu province on May 13, 2012. (Photo/CNTV)


Pakistani students perform modern dance at the Christmas party in China University of Petroleum in Qingdao, east China's Shandong province on Dec. 25, 2013. (Photo/CNTV)

Three Indian students pose for photos in a park in Nanjing on April 11, 2013.(Photo/CNTV)
A Spanish student watches the East Asian Cup and talks about the present situation and problems of Chinese football in his apartment in Xi'an on July 21, 2013. (Photo/CNTV) 
French student Damian Levy and Germany student Moritz Gramming from Sculpture Department of Chongqing Academy turn the 5-meter-high warehouse into an exhibition hall with waste materials. (Photo/CNTV)
Sophia, from Denmark, attends military training for high school freshmen in Tianjiabing High school in Changzhou of Jiangsu on Sept. 26, 2013. She was the only foreign student in school. (Photo/CNTV)
Ukrainian student Natasha works out in her apartment in Hangzhou on Dec. 28, 2012. (Photo/CNTV)
68-year-old Tamada Shigeki registers in Shandong University to start the master study in Chinese in Jinan, Shandong province on Sept. 5, 2013. (Photo/CNTV)


Irish girl Olga shares the dormitory with other Chinese students in a beauty school in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning province. She has been in China for three years. The kindness of her roommates helped her to overcome the homesickness. (Photo/CNTV)
A Nigerian student from Central China Normal University gives lessons to the children of migrant workers in Chunmiao Primary school in Wuhan, central China's Hubei province on April 16, 2012. He has been a volunteer teacher in the primary school for two years. (Photo/CNTV)
Two foreign students - Morris from Kenya and Gilson from Namibia - provide medical service to the residents in Yanchi community of Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu province on Nov. 4, 2012. (Photo/CNTV)
Source - english.peopledaily.com.cn

To learn and see more about international students life in China, please click on below links.

1. Malaysian Students in China

2. University Life in China

3. Why Not Enjoy The Best of Both Worlds

4.  Seek Education Even If It Takes You to China

5. Is University You Plan to Enroll Offered Wholesome Campus Life?

Tuesday 29 July 2014

Explore China - Top 10 landmark attractions in China in 2014

Great Wall at Mutianyu topped the list due to its well-preserved construction and splendid view. The ranking includes well-known attractions on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
The ranking made by China.org.cn is based on TripAdvisor 2014 Travelers' Choice Awards released recently. This is the second year that the website, the largest travel site in the world, released the rankings.
It based the rankings on customers' comments on hotels, restaurants and attractions in the past 12 months.
Great Wall at Mutianyu, Beijing


Located 73 kilometers from downtown Beijing, it is an essential section of the Great Wall. This well-preserved section was built about 1,400 years ago and reconstructed later under the Ming Dynasty. It joins the Juyong Pass in the west and Gubeikou in the east. The strategic importance of Mutianyu was obvious, as many battles took place there. The famous, unrestored Jiankou Great Wall is located to the west of it. It features a splendid view and is equipped with a world-class cable car perfect for after long hikes.



Summer Palace, Beijing



The Summer Palace lies in the northwestern outskirts of Beijing. It is the largest and best preserved royal garden in China. Occupying an area of 290 hectares, the park consists mainly of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake with halls, towers, galleries, pavilions, bridges and islands spread throughout the grounds. Blending southern Chinese garden architecture with northern China's natural landscapes, the gardens are probably the best of their kind when it comes to Chinese garden architecture. In December 1998, UNESCO included the Summer Palace on its World Heritage List.



Big Buddha, Hong Kong



Big Buddha, also known as Tian Tan Buddha, is the world's largest outdoor bronze Buddha. Located on the peak of the Muyu Mountain, it was unveiled in December 1993. The Buddha is 34 meters tall including the lotus base. It weighs 250 tons and was welded with 202 pieces of bronze. It is surrounded by The Offerings of the Six Devas- six smaller bronze statues representing deities on their knees offering flowers, incense, a lamp, ointment, fruit and music to the Buddha.



Temple of Heaven, Beijing



The Temple of Heaven, literally the Altar of Heaven, is a complex of Taoist buildings situated in southeastern Beijing. The Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) visited the complex annually when they prayed to Heaven for good harvests. The temple complex covers an area of 273 hectares, about four times the size of the Forbidden City. The main buildings were built in 1420 under the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) by Emperor Yongle to worship Heaven and Earth.



Potala Palace, Tibet



The Potala Palace is considered to be a model of Tibetan architecture. Located on the Red Hill in Lhasa, it covers more than 360,000 square meters and has 13 stories. It was first constructed in 641 by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in order to welcome his bride, Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty. This structure was later burned to the ground during a war and rebuilt in the 17th century by the Fifth Dalai Lama. Over the past three centuries, the palace has gradually become a place where the Dalai Lama lives and works and a place for preserving the remains of previous Dalai Lamas.



The Palace Museum, Beijing



It is more commonly known as the Forbidden City or the Imperial Palace and was the place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties lived and carried out their administration. Now it is open to the public as a palace museum where people can see the great traditional palace architecture, enjoy the treasures kept in the palace and learn the legends and anecdotes of the imperial family and court. It has 720,000 square meters (72 hectares) of courtyards, pavilions, great halls, flourishing gardens and nearly 10,000 rooms. It is the largest and best-preserved group of palaces in China. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.



Chi Lin Nunnery, Hong Kong



Located in Diamond Hill, it is a large Buddhist temple complex covering an area of more than 30,000 square meters. It focuses on education, social welfare and religious culture. It opened a free school in 1948 to provide free education for poor children. In 1957, a free orphanage and home for the elderly were established. It was renovated in 1989 and a hall, outdoor theater, park and a special technical school were established. The architecture follows the traditional Chinese architecture of the Tang Dynasty, featuring a solemn beauty and calm.



Longji Terrace, Guangxi



Located on Longji Mountain of Ping'an Village, Longji Terrace, also known as Longsheng Terrace Field, is a fascinating scenic spot. First constructed in the Yuan Dynasty and completed in the Qing Dynasty, it has over 650 years of history. It gets its name for resembling a dragon with the mountain top as its backbone. Covering an area of 66 square kilometers, it climbs in altitude from 300 to 1,100 meters. June is considered the best time to visit.



Taipei 101, Taiwan



Taipei 101, also known as the Taipei Financial Center, is a 509-meter, 101-story landmark skyscraper located in Xinyi District of Taipei. Upon completion in 2004, the mega building had been the tallest building in the world until Dubai's 828-meter-tall BurjKhalifa overtook it in January 2010. There are two high-speed elevators located in the tower that move at a top speed of 16.83m/s (55.22 ft/s), shooting visitors up from the fifth floor to the 89th floor observation deck in only 37 seconds. After a busy day in Taipei, flying high into the sky and having a bird's eye view of the entire city of neon lights will certainly make for the perfect ending to your trip.



Yungang Grottoes, Shanxi



The Yungang Grottoes are ancient Chinese Buddhist temple grottoes, located 16 kilometers west of Datong in Shanxi Province. They were built on the north cliff of Wuzhou Mountain and extend about 1 km (0.62 miles) from east to west.The historical records reveal that the grottoes were built during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-557) by an abbot, and are 1,500 years old. Forty-five major caves and 209 other caves cover a total area of 18,000 square meters. The caves feature 51,000 stone carvings, the highest one measuring 17 meters and the smallest one only 2 cm. In 2001, the Yungang Grottoes were made a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Source - china.org.cn

The 10 fastest growing jobs in United States of America


The past 10 years, the number of non-farm workers rose by just 5%. But despite past decade's painful recession and the slow job growth that has followed, several occupations have more than doubled the number of workers employed.

Compared employment figures published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for hundreds of occupations from 2002 and 2012. Service unit operator jobs in the energy industry quadrupled in that time. The nation's aging population and changing energy needs played major roles in driving disproportionate job growth for many of the occupations listed. These are the 10 fastest-growing jobs in America.

Many occupations with extreme job growth in the past few years owe at least part of their growth to the changing demographics of the United States. As the baby boom generation ages, many more people need help planning for retirement. This has driven growth of personal financial advisors jobs. Similarly, the need for personal care aides has grown because more people require help in their daily lives

An aging population also has driven job growth in many occupations that are not directly related to retirement planning and care. According to BLS Chief Regional Economist Martin Kohli: "The aging of the population is one of the factors that is driving the demand for massage therapists." An aging population "is also a factor in the demand for coaches," Kohli said. Many coaches work as instructors for leisure sports that retirees enjoy.

The growing Hispanic population, in conjunction with expanding international trade, are also factors behind the rising number of interpreters and translators, according to the BLS and Kohli.

But not all job growth can be explained by demographic shifts. For both petroleum engineers and service unit operators in the resource industry, the nation's two fastest-growing jobs, growth likely is due largely to changes in the energy sector. Both the rise in oil prices, as well as the need to produce from unconventional sources, such as shale oil, have been beneficial to workers in these occupations.

To determine the jobs with the highest percentage growth in employment, 24/7 Wall St. compared data from the BLS' Occupational Employment Statistics program for both 2002 and 2012. Only jobs with an estimated 20,000 employees or more were included. The program is intended to be a sample of the overall workforce, and estimates are subject to sampling error. The program does not count self-employed workers. Data are collected by the program over the course of several years. Only occupations that existed in both 2002 and 2012 were considered, and any occupations split-up or consolidated between these periods were excluded. Further information on each occupation came from the BLS'Occupational Outlook Handbook.

These are the 10 fastest-growing jobs in America.

10. Skin Care Specialists

> 10-year job growth: 104%
> 10-year job growth: 16,230
> Total employed: 31,810
> Median annual pay: $28,640


The number of employed skin care specialists doubled in the 10 years ending in 2012. Specialists typically work in salons and spas, although many are self-employed. Among the services they provide are skin cleanings, advice on proper skin care and removal of unwanted hair. Vocational schools usually offer cosmetology programs, which skin care specialists typically complete. States typically require a license to work in the field. New skin care services and products have driven demand for such specialists.

9. Personal Care Aides


> 10-year job growth: 118%
> 10-year job growth: 534,190
> Total employed: 985,230
> Median annual pay: $19,910

Personal care aides are in extremely high demand as the baby boom generation ages and the number of elderly Americans rises. But while the total number of such aides doubled between 2002 and 2012, with nearly a million working in the field as of 2012, it remains a high turnover job because of the typically low pay and the high emotional toll. Even the top 10% of home care workers earned just $27,580 last year, when the median wage for employees across all occupations was $34,750.

8. Personal Financial Advisors


> 10-year job growth: 128%
> 10-year job growth: 98,460
> Total employed: 175,470
> Median annual pay: $67,520



The increased number of aging baby boomers approaching retirement and looking to manage their savings and assets has been one of the main drivers behind the growth in personal financial advisor jobs. Another key driver has been the rise in private sector retirement planning as a result of pension shortfalls. The resulting cuts to retirees' benefits mean ever more individuals turn to financial planners in order to better plan for later in life. Becoming a financial advisor usually requires a bachelor's degree. Backgrounds in math, accounting, economics, finance and law are all considered useful. Pay for many financial planners is quite high, with the top 25% of professionals taking home at least $111,450.

7. Coaches and Scouts

> 10-year job growth: 130%
> 10-year job growth: 114,080
> Total employed: 201,800
> Median annual pay: $28,360

The number of coaches and scouts rose from less than 100,000 in 2002 to more than 200,000 in 2012. Several factors have driven job growth of coaches and scouts, and the same factors are expected to continue to drive further growth. A growing number of retirees with time to participate in sports such as golf and tennis is a major source of demand for coaches. But schools and universities are actually the largest source of jobs for coaches, according to the BLS. Job growth in college sports, especially women's sports, is expected to be a key driver of employment growth in the field going forward.

6. Human Resources Specialists


> 10-year job growth: 134%
> 10-year job growth: 225,830
> Total employed: 394,380
> Median annual pay: $55,800

Human resources specialists' duties involve recruiting, hiring and placing workers. The number of workers employed as human resources specialist rose by more than 225,000 between 2002 and 2012. One major factor contributing to job growth – and that is expected to continue to contribute — is the increase of firms in the employment services industry as companies outsource human resources tasks. Most human resources roles require a bachelor's degree, and interpersonal skills are also very valuable.

5. Massage Therapists


> 10-year job growth: 162%
> 10-year job growth: 43,880
> Total employed: 71,040
> Median annual pay: $35,970

The reason for the growth in massage therapists jobs has been a rise in the number of spas and massage clinics, according to the BLS. The Bureau also cites an increase in the nation's elderly population as contributing to demand for massage therapists. The median salary for employed massage therapists was just under $36,000 last year, but the majority are self-employed and most work only part time. The median hourly wage for a massage therapist was $17.29 in 2012.

4. Interpreters and Translators


> 10-year job growth: 171%
> 10-year job growth: 31,720
> Total employed: 50,320
> Median annual pay: $45,430



As international trade expands and globalization continues, the need for interpreters and translators should continue to rise, according to the BLS. Already, the number of employed translators has jumped from less than 20,000 in 2002 to more than 50,000 in 2012. As the nation's Hispanic population grows, interpreters and translators also will be needed. Translation pay varies considerably. The top-paid 10% of translators earned more than $91,800 annually last year, while the bottom 10% earned less than $23,570.

3. Music Directors and Composers


> 10-year job growth: 178%
> 10-year job growth: 15,960
> Total employed: 24,940
> Median annual pay: $47,350

It seems that Americans' thirst for music is on the rise. This should drive job growth of music directors and composers. Another factor driving job growth for this occupation is the expected greater need for original music scores or transcriptions used in commercials and movies. In addition to musical talent and mastery of a variety of instruments, those in this occupation, especially the ones writing and conducting classical music, usually have a bachelor's degree. About 10% of music directors and composers earned less than $21,450 annually, while the top 10% made more than $86,110, a high annual income compared with the same top 10% of other occupations on this list.

2. Petroleum Engineers


> 10-year job growth: 227%
> 10-year job growth: 25,280
> Total employed: 36,410
> Median annual pay: $130,280

Petroleum engineers are some of the highest paid workers in the nation, with a median wage that exceeded $130,000 in 2012. Their work typically involves assessing and planning drilling operations, as well as determining the equipment and methods necessary to extract oil and natural gas in the most efficient way possible. Petroleum engineers are required to have a bachelor's degree in engineering and must pass a licensing exam and have four years of work experience to be licensed. Oil prices play a major role in determining job outlook for petroleum engineers, partially because higher prices improve incentives to explore and produce oil from newer, more challenging sources. In the past decade, oil prices have risen dramatically, possibly accounting for much of the profession's estimated 227% job growth.

1. Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas and Mining


> 10-year job growth: 365%
> 10-year job growth: 44,870
> Total employed: 57,180
> Median annual pay: $41,970


No occupation has grown faster than service unit operators working in natural resources extraction, where the number of workers jumped from just over 12,000 in 2002 to more than 57,000 in 2012. Workers in these fields typically are responsible for overseeing and maintaining wells and other technology used in extracting natural resources. Workers are most often employed in oil and gas producing states, such as Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and North Dakota. There are several potential reasons for the profession's explosive job growth, including rising energy prices and the increased extraction of non-conventional fuel sources.

To know more about job opportunities and prospects, click and read below posts:


1. Degree Major and career options ( Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4 )
2. Top Ten Starting Salaries for Fresh Graduate
3. Top 10 Most Employable Majors in China

Source - usatoday.com