Monday, December 17, 2007

Malaysia University of Science and Technology

Background


The Malaysia University of Science and Technology (MUST) was conceived and planned within the context of Malaysia's Second Industrial Master Plan (IMP2), in response to the Prime Minister's call for the creation of a world-class university to cater for the needs of the science and technology sector, towards Vision 2020. Despite the timely pronouncement of MUST in 1997, the economic downturn of 1998 significantly hampered the establishment and growth of the university. The idea was resurrected and deemed viable again only in December 2000 after MUST received financial assistance from the government in the form of a conditional grant to train highly skilled researchers and scientists for Malaysia in the areas of science, engineering and information technology especially biotechnology, energy, telecommunications, software applications, animation, and intelligent transportation systems.

MUST serves and operates as a not-for-profit, post-graduate research university. Its formative years will be fully assisted and supported by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) USA, a world-renowned university noted for its education and research in advanced science and technology.

MUST aims to produce R&D leaders and critical thinkers in science and technology, to develop and manage cutting-edge indigenous technologies. It is a research-driven post-graduate university that is structured to emulate MIT's style of learning and training. With this strategic partnership, MUST benefited from MIT's extensive expertise in nurturing a research culture that is vibrant, innovative and purposive to our local environment.

Among its near-term objectives, MUST seeks to emerge as a center of excellence dedicated to education and training in the areas of science and technology deemed relevant and critical to the needs of the country and region. It will do so through:

  • Developing indigenous R&D capabilities and entrepreneurship and producing knowledge workers for the K-economy;
  • Promoting innovation and creativity in the fields of science and technology hence helping Malaysian industry become more productive and globally competitive;
  • Accelerating the development and application of multimedia technology in consonance with the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC)

The faculty of MUST comprises full-time and part-time adjunct professors, with a mixture of highly trained and well-experienced Malaysians and foreigners who meet the MIT's standards and requirements.

The top management team of MUST consists of the President, Provost, Vice President of Research and Vice President of Operations.

MUST seeks to emerge as a center of academic and research excellence for a host of carefully selected areas of science and technology deemed relevant to the needs of Malaysia and its neighbors. It will achieve this through the creation and sustenance of critical mass in chosen areas of interest through working closely with world-renowned faculty of MIT and other internationally acclaimed universities.

As a research university, MUST encourages and builds a spirit of cooperation and open enquiry in our community of researchers and postgraduate students with both the public and the industrial sector of this region.

MUST is currently active in soliciting R&D sponsorship and forging strategic partnership with both local and international industries in pertinent niche area research through the establishment of Centers of Excellence in the areas of: Energy and Environment, Biotechnology, Information Technology and Multimedia, Automotive, Transportation and Logistics.

A University Set Apart

MUST is a unique university based on its four characteristics.

  • Firstly, it is a research-driven university that will produce graduates who are oriented towards the origination of ideas rather than the management of technology designed elsewhere.
  • Secondly, it is focused on postgraduate training, starting with Masters programmes and later on programmes leading to PhD.
  • Thirdly, it will attract intellectually elite students not only within Malaysia but also from the South East Asia region as its structure and objectives are unique to the region.
  • Fourthly, it is a private organization that is flexible, adaptable and responsive to industry and government needs.

Brief History

In 1995, the Prime Minister and his delegation made a working visit to MIT and endorsed the conceptualization of establishing a university based on the MIT model in Malaysia. An agreement was then signed in January 1997 for a collaborative programme between MIT and the MUST Ehsan Foundation to establish MUST. In July 1997, the MUST Ehsan Foundation received a formal invitation to set up the university. In 1999, the Malaysian Cabinet approved a RM100 million conditional grant to MUST and in July 2000, MUST was registered as a private university.

With the support from the government, under the Ministry of Science , Technology and Environment, (MOSTE) MUST received its first disbursement of conditional grant to begin its operation in January 2001.

In 2002 MUST admitted its first intake of 46 students into 3 Masters level programmes - MSc in Information Technology, MSc in Biotechnology and MSc in Transportation and Logistics. MUST will offer more programmes within the next 5 years including Materials Science and Engineering (2003), Construction Engineering and Management (2003), Chemical Engineering, Systems Design and Operation, Advanced Manufacturing, Energy and Environmental Engineering and Geotechnical Engineering.

Academic Programmes

MUST offers seven Masters of Science (MSc) programmes and two Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes. Follow the links for more information on these programmes.

Masters of Science(MSc) Programmes

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programmes

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programmes

The programmes currently available are as follows:


Full-time Faculty
[Download/View Faculty Profile]

Biotechnology

Dr. Lim Saw Hoon
PhD Plant Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge, UK
Associate Professor

Dr. Ng Kim Yong
PhD Applied Microbiology & Biochemistry, Okayama University, Japan
Assistant Professor

Dr. Yeo Chew Chieng
PhD Molecular Microbiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Assistant Professor

Dr. Lee Kong Hung
Ph.D. Free Radical Chemistry, University of London, U.K.
Professor

Information Technology

Dr. Nor Adnan Yahaya
PhD Computer Science, Northwestern University, USA
Associate Professor

Dr. Sellappan Palaniappan
PhD Computer & Information Science, University of Pittsburgh, USA
Associate Professor

Dr. Daniel Wong Kuok-Shoong
Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, USA
Assistant Professor

Transportation & Logistics

Dr. Leong Choon Heng
PhD Sociology, Harvard University, USA
Associate Professor

Niranjan Krishnan
M.S. (Dual - Operations Research & Transportation), MIT, Cambridge, USA.
Assistant Professor

Dr. Moazzem Hossain
PhD Transportation, Univ. of Southampton, UK.
Associate Professor

Materials Science & Engineering

Dr. Zanuldin Ahmad
MSc Engineering, MIT, USA
PhD Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK
Professor

Construction Engineering & Management

Dr. Chan Toong Khuan
PhD Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK
Associate Professor

Energy & Environment

Dr. Syed Nur Azman Syed Mustaffa al-Yahya
Ph.D. Inorganic Chemistry, University of Cambridge, U.K.
Associate Professor

Research
Information Technology | Biotechnology | Transportation & Logistics |
Materials Science & Engineering | Construction Engineering & Management |
System Engineering & Management | Energy & Environment

Research Programmes

Fields of Research

Admission Requirements
[ View Brochure ]

Acceptance into the MSc/PhD programme is based on academic qualifications as well as English language proficiency.

Applicants are expected to have a minimum Upper Second Class degree or a Master of Science degree in a relevant field (or an equivalent qualification) from a university of acceptable standing, to qualify for the MSc or PhD programme respectively.

On recommendation by the relevant professor, applicants who have a slightly lower qualification than the above but with working experience in a relevant field can also be considered.

Applicants are evaluated on the basis of their performance and professional promise evidenced by academic records, letters of reference from individuals familiar with the applicant’s capabilities, and any other pertinent data furnished by the applicant. While high academic achievement does not guarantee admission, such achievements, or other persuasive evidence of professional promise, is expected.

To enter any of the MSc/PhD degree programmes, students must be competent in advanced calculus, statistics, numerical mathematics and micro- and macro-economics (see the section on degree programmes for details). Students with minor shortcomings in these areas may be admitted to the Graduate School. However, shortcomings in prerequisite, general, or professional subjects, must be overcome before the student can proceed with graduate work which is dependent on these subjects.



Language Proficiency

All lectures, laboratory sessions and written and oral examinations at MUST are conducted in English. Thus, applicants will be required to provide documentary evidence of proficiency in English through ONE of the following examinations:

a) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 600, or higher is required OR

b) International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) with a minimum overall score of 6.5 and at least 6.0 on each individual component of the test OR

c) Provide other proof of English proficiency as evaluated through personal interviews with MUST.

Our Adverts in the Press

Click on the links below to view information on our February 2008 Intake as advertised in the press:

February 2008 Intake - (or view PDF)
Come and meet us at Education Fairs and Roadshows!






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