DEVELOPING MULTIDISCIPLINARY EXPERTS

COURSE: MASTER OF BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEM (MBIS)

UNIVESITY: MONASH UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA

The course prepares students to use IT to tackle business problems and to work in areas such as business information research, project management and consultancy.

Information technology has become increasingly important in business, which is why being an expert in both areas will give you an advantage. The demands of carving out a career in the 21st century are one that promises to be tough. This is especially true in the business world, where the use of information technology (IT) is no longer separate but interdependent.

Cognizant of this, Monash University Malaysia’s Master of Business Information System (MBIS) programme has been designed to integrate niche business and IT areas for students with or without an IT background.

“The world is very competitive, hence we need multidisciplinary experts who have knowledge in different domains, including the business and IT sector,” says Dr. Jasbir Kaur Dhaliwal, Lecturer and MBIS Coordinator, School of Information Technology, Monash University Malaysia.

She added that multidisciplinary experts can conquer blind spots that cannot be resolved by single-domain experts. Dr. Jasbir also explains that the course prepares students to use IT to tackle business problems and to work in areas such as business information research, project management and consultancy.

Candidates without an IT background can enroll in fundamental units such as Introduction to Business Information Systems and Foundations of Programming before moving on to advanced materials. “The programme has two tracks – students have the option of branching into the research or industry experience stream, depending on the candidate’s area of interest,” says Dr, Jasbir, adding that students can enroll in a full-time (two years) or part-time (four years) basis. Students with an IT background can complete the programme in one and a half years.

Previous students have embarked on the programme for different reasons, including to enhance their knowledge for career progression while those who are keen on research continue to pursue their Ph.D. after completing their MBIS.

Speaking about career options for graduates, Dr. Jasbir explains that the programme is a stepping stone for students to work in various industries, either locally or abroad, as the skills and knowledge acquired are in high demand. Some of the fields they can enter include Cloud Data Centres, Human Resource Analysis, food, clothing and companies handling trend analysis, depending on the graduate’s area of interest.

A study done by Kelly Services showed that the salary range for high-demand jobs such as lead software developer and software development manager with five to 12 years experience can range from RM9,000 to RM15,000 and RM12,000 to RM18,000 per month respectively. Project directors or SAP team lead with over eight years of experience can pocket minimum salaries of around RM15,000 or RM18,000 respectively.

Monash consistently ranks among the top one percent of the world and was 48th in the world for Engineering and Technology in the Times Higher Education, 2014 – 2015 rankings. In addition to being one of Australia's most prestigious universities, students would be able to go anywhere in the world with a Monash MBIS degree.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY

Monash University Malaysia is an exemplar of transnational education. Because it is a campus of Monash University, all its staff and students are part of a global academy with an international reputation for excellence in teaching and research. Its community of scholars is supported by collegial processes and comprehensive first-class infrastructure. While it is firmly engaged in Malaysia and the region, its focus is also relentlessly global, so its graduates emerge ready to transform the world around them.

NAME OF COURSE

Master of Business Information System (MBIS)

PRE-REQUISITE/ENTRY CRITERIA

An approved three-year bachelor’s degree, or Qualifications and experience considered by the Faculty Admissions Committee to be equivalent to, or a satisfactory substitute for, the above award

CONTACT

For more information on the MBIS programme at Monash University Malaysia, please visit www.monash.edu.my/study/postgraduate-and-research/information-technology/master-business-information-systems