Capacity Building in SE Asia

1. Capacity Building in SE Asia Dr Christopher Hill Director Graduate School University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus

2. Needs Analysis • What skills are required/desired? • Benchmark international development with national strategy • PhD holders a key indicator of research capacity and development • In 2008 there were 8000 PhD holders in Malaysia • Government set target of 100,000 by 2020 • Under MyBrain15 initiative Government reduced target to 60,000 • In 2008, the Government was sponsoring 3914 students at PhD level • 39.4% were pursuing their studies locally • 30/1% in Britain • the rest in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the USA (figures quoted in STAR from government press conference in Putrajaya 26/9/08)

3. Global Skills(?) • Harness local ability while developing international expectations • Critical thinking • Industry engagement • International exposure • How do we identify, support, develop, promote and embed these?

4. Transferable Skills

5. Areas for Development • Transferable skills and market requirements differ according to location and need • Understanding the parameters of cultural influence provides the ability to incorporate and develop these aspects to reinforce the core • Teaching must reflect the learning needs, expectations and capabilities of our students while continuing to ensure quality of material and of our graduates

6. Research Development and Delivery • Research Skills and Technique • Research Management • Communication Skills • Career Management • Research Environment • Delivered at: • IIUM • Taylors • UTHM • UKM • USM • UPM

7. SE Asia – Capacity Building • Fundamental need for knowledgeable quality graduates • Demographics make SE Asia hub for recruitment • In order to remain competitive in the ‘global’ job market students need transferable and employable skills • English language • Research capacity and capability • Providing students with the opportunity to acquire such skills in the form of activity based short courses will make graduates more employable and better able to adapt to the rapid changes in our increasingly globalized world.

8. DelPHE-Iraq Project • Two year project developing research capacity and international awareness • Up-scaling academic ability and capacity • Cascading knowledge to additional departments and student body • Training the trainers • Worked with Ministry of Education to develop guidelines

9. Two day event: ‘Good Practice in the Supervision of Doctoral and Masters Research’ • Working with British Council and Thai Research Council • Blended model of case studies, best practice, workshops and keynotes • Success comes from embedding and integrating learning rather than imposing and implementing • Developmental approach works best when capacity is increased, understood and supported • Roll-out to 6 Thai universities

10. IYES (International Young Entrepreneurship Scheme) • 3 day residential programme • Develop entrepreneurship activity • Promote business engagement • Develop cross-cultural team working and awareness

11. Research Showcase • Annual competition • Present your research to a wider audience • Promote engagement with wider community • Develop presentation skills and build confidence

12. Research Innovation Week • Promote international engagement • Writing Research Grant Proposals • Technical Writing for Publications • Project Management • Research Skills and Methodology • Career Development

13. Summary • Provide valuable solutions to real problems • Needs analysis and focused strategy • Engage with Ministry to ensure support and direction • Develop blended learning models that provide best practice but fully support and promote sustainable learning • Fly-in model ‘works’ in the short term but does not lead to integrated and embedded learning • Creative solutions and dynamic approaches spark interest, ensure participation and secure partners • Creative approaches to real issues • Global solutions to national problems