Highly Competitive FRGS Grants

I am just back from the FRGS evaluation meeting in Malacca. To date, the second round FRGS 2010 (2/FRGS)has seen the highest number of proposals being submitted. Reviewers were very focused looking for projects that fit the requirements of FRGS. The most common problem often faced by reviewers was to look for the fundamental elements of FRGS research in a research proposal. Research should be premised on existing or current problem, the solving of which requires new methodology, new model, enhanced theory. The results expected will be in the forms of new policy or legislation, better quality of life, better sustainability or even improved capability of human capital...

Inaugural Corporate Governance Essay Competition 2010

The Minority Shareholders Watchdog Group (MSWG) is organising an Inaugural Corporate Governance Essay Competition 2010. This competition will be opened to all undergraduates currently enrolled in any recognized institutions of higher learning in Malaysia. Among others, the aim of this competition is to engage with future leaders of the country into thinking about the current state of corporate governance in Malaysia and what role these future leaders can play to enhance it. I hope UiTM undergraduate students can participate in the competition....

ARI Welcomes Prof Behnaz

ARI has appointed Prof Behnaz from the United States of America as a visiting professor and she will be spending time at our university for slightly more than two weeks effective 5th August 2010. Whilst she is here, she has been tasked to facilitate the conversion of students thesis into journal articles which could be published in indexed international journals. Currently, Prof Behnaz is also a member of several research projects with ARI researchers. ARI is also encouraging ARI members to initiate joint authorship with Prof Behnaz. A talk of publishing will also be organized for staff and student researchers. Prof Rashidah will act as a liasson officer for Prof Behnaz's visit....

Islamic Finance Industry - Global Prospect

It was indeed interesting to listen to the talk on Islamic Finance Industry given by visiting professor Dr Humayoun Dar, from the University of Labourough, United Kingdom. Whilst the Islamic finance is currently growing to an impressive USD3trillion industry, the size is still small compared to the contributions of conventional financial system at USD100 trillion. There's still a lot to be done by industry players to make Islamic Financial institutions an alternative mechanism to build business transactions globally. Prof Humayoun posits that the Islamic finance industry must also focus among others, on eradicating poverty of ummah, commiting to community development and social responsibility... Prof Dar is in the middle, holding the bag.

Plagarism

I personally applaud the stance taken by the university to heavily punish plagarism offenders. As researchers, we are encouraged to cite the work of others. This is particularly important so that we can add value to existing body of knowledge.
Effective this semester, all thesis, project papers, research articles and research monographs will go through the "turnitin" plgarism software. Researchers and students are to take note that all write ups that do not "get through" the plagarism test will be returned. Surely this will delay your submission process. For students, this might delay your graduation date. Think about it...

Formation of GLCRC Approved....

Today ARI and the Faculty of Accountancy submitted a joint-working paper to form another research centre within ARI Framework. The formation of the Government-Linked Companies Research Centre (GLCRC)has been approved today by the University's Executive Committee Meeting (comprising the VC, 4 DVCs, Bursar, Registrar and the Head Librarian). In the running of GLCRC, ARI hopes to collaborate with two GLC-related entities. Meetings and discussions are still under way before a formal decision could be made. In the meantime, GLCRC will kickstart its research activities through existing FRGS and ARI HICoE fundings. Dr Azmi Abd Hamid will lead GLCRC. With this latest edition, ARI now has seven research centres namely GLCRC, CIMA-UiTM Management Accounting Research Centre (AMARC), UiTM-MICG Corporate Governance Research Centre (CGRC), UiTM-ACCA Financial Reporting Research Centre (FRRC), Asia-Pacific Forensic Accounting Research Centre (AFARe), UiTM-ACCA Sustainability Research Centres (APCeS) and UiTM CPA Public Sector Research Centre PSARC). Congratulations...

New Group of Applied Research Students

Today I met another cohort of applied Research students who are mainly from two Master Programs namely Master in Forensic Accounting & Financial Criminology and Master in Corporate Governance. It is always very refreshing to meet up with new group of students. Students are basically to propose an applied research topics that are of their interest. As much as possible, students are encouraged to do a case study of their own organisation. Doing a real life case study related to corporate governance or forensic accounting is certainly very enriching...

AGC Seminar in Forensic Accounting

It was an honour to be invited to speak in a seminar organized by the Attorney General Chambers (AGC). The one-day Forensic Accounting Seminar was held at the newly occupied AGC Office in Putrajaya. I was asked to speak on "The Application of Forensic Accounting in Investigation: Analyzing Financial Statements". In view of the increasing number of financial statement fraud being reported, this initiative is certainly timely and appropriate.
For the future, ARI proposes a more long-term training of AGC's human capital either through CPD or graduate program by research. Knowledge and competency in forensic accounting should be a core requirement for all professionals.

FRGS Grant RM100 million?

In the last cycle of FRGS applications, there were 3,000 applications from both public and private Malaysian universities. I would expect the competition will be stiffer. With RM100 million FRGS grant available for grab, researchers will need to put forward some very fundamental research topics that will creat value to the country. As in the past, we are looking for research topics that adopt new methodology, extended an existing model/theory, produce results that enhance quality of life or improve exiting laws and policies.....

Congratulations Saeid Homayoun

Congratulations to Mr Saeid, our international student from Iran who had recently completed his Master of Accountancy program (by research) under the ever-abled supervision of Prof Dr Rashidah Abdul Rahman, ARI's Deputy Director. His perseverance is exemplary to other students - language is no barrier if you are willing to work hard. He will be pursuing a PhD program in the area of Islamic financial criminology at ARI soon...