I understand this topic has been discussed before but I would like to hear more feedback regarding this subject.

I have a Bachelor of Commerce(Hons) Accounting from UTAR and also a MSc Accounting and Finance from LSE.
I am currently working in London as a finance assistant sine 2008 June and plan to go back Malaysia and lecture.

Could anyone please comment on the salary I can expect from my profile??
Right now, I am more incline to join IPTS than IPTA since i do not hold a Phd.

Also can i know if lecturer's working hours is flexible and if lecturers are allowed to run their own business besides lecturing??

Thanks a lot.

Just look at your lecturer and u get part of the answer

I emailed them about the prospects but i dont think its good to ask about the salary part. That is why i posted here. Thanks a lot.

Oh i mean the flexible hrs and stuff.. about the salary how much is alot to u? different ppl will feel differently.. some need >10k and they will say alot some only need 6k

Would be grateful if someone could shed some lights on the expected salary part with regards to my profile. Thank you.

I'm 29 years old and would like to know about possible salary as lecturer at IPTS as well. I'm Electrical and Computer Engineering graduate.

My qualification
1. BEng (Hons) from Multimedia University, Malaysia (Top 3 students from the department and scholarships recipient)
2. MSc from University of Hong Kong (Top student, Gold medalist)
3. PhD from RMIT University, Australia (Scholarships from RMIT). During my PhD, I have published 15 publications in conferences (4 in top tier conferences) and journals (2 in top tier journals). The ranking of the conferences and journals are set by the Australian government as a measure to evaluate the quality of the publications throughout Australia. I don't think Malaysia has any ranking for the conferences and journals as I never see them publish in those top tier avenues.

My experience
I worked as lecturer at a college in malaysia for 5 months, an MNC for 5 months, and also 1 year of internship during undergraduate and postgraduate.

My possible offers
I receive offers from Japan and UK, though i'm considering contributing to my own country back home. Hope someone could shed some lights on lecturer salary at IPTS with the latest information.

For instance, in UK, I'm offered a full time three-year position as researcher and a part time tutoring job. After completing my research, they have agreed to provide 6,500 quid per year to fund my future research for the next 10 years. So, the total I receive within the next 10 years would be 65,000 quid equals RM357,500.

My questions
1. I wanted to know if my achievements are well recognised in malaysia, and being an above average achiever, does Malaysia provide any incentive like the UK or perk to promote brain gain?
2. What is the salary I get if I join an IPTS?
3. What are the incentives and perks?

This post has been edited by PhDExpert: Feb 27 2010, 07:49 AM

PhDExpert.. I respect you for thinking about our own country and wanting to contribute back. But one point is please dont compare overseas salary with malaysian ringgit. Its not fair to the country.

1. Malaysia will definitely recognise your achievements with all the gold medalist and stuff that you have when u go for interview. But atfer that its your future achievements which is being considered.

2. I think its around rm5-6k which is way less than UK or watever country but is a comfortable starting salary to live in Malaysia. If you have so much confidence in your own ability then Im sure you will reach prof status in no time and earn more than rm10k or possibly 20k.

3. Not sure lol

PhDExpert, how about being a technopreneur? You can solve one of the tough problems, e.g. DIY financial planning, effective portfolio optimization

Hello f4te,

Everyone in the country deserves respect from each other unless you are a slacker leeching the country I'm a modest person learning and researching my field most of the times, though I admit, after years of education, I hope my salary is not disappointing.

1. Yes, of course Malaysia is recognising my achievements. But, all I want is fair treatment among the lecturers. I'm of particular interest to know if

a. there is any discrimination/unfairness in research funding distribution.
b. there is any discrimination/unfairness in promotion.

This is because there is no transparency among the lecturers' qualification and publications in Malaysia. If you happened to visit the lecturers' homepage, you'll be disappointed with what they have. Either without or a list of low quality publications. This includes Head of Department of the School. In fact, I know some lecturers publish in a number of international conferences or journals that are commercialised. You pay, you publish. So, you could imagine the quality of the majority of the lecturers.

I would rather work at overseas if I could not secure any research funding though I'm working hard and had a top notch PhD.

2. I hope at least 6k for my first job, and subsequently earn RM20k per month. But then, the concern is job promotion. I hate if there is discrimination. After all the hard work, just because of discrimination, I could not be promoted.

After spending years at overseas, I view discrimination, be it positive or negative, as serious matter. So, I would appreciate if anyone could tell the situation in Malaysia. If there were discrimination in UK and Japan, I would not get a good deal from them, and this has proven to be false.

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Added on February 27, 2010, 11:21 amHaha... I gotta consult you about these: technopreneur, DIY financial planning, and effective portfolio optimization I'm learning to invest

This post has been edited by PhDExpert: Feb 27 2010, 11:21 AM

Yes, any takers?? Does it make any difference on the job offer if you hold a degree/master from a more recognised university?? and also if your result is better then will you be offered a better position??

I don't think there are that many lecturers or researchers on this forum. But I believe that the pay scales and salaries of government academics are standardized and can be found online. That would represent the minimum threshold.

Yes i think science people like us in this forum need to group up and form our own discussion... For our own sake

I remember reading a book called "I hate people".

Basically, one of the golden rules in the workplace is to blend into the situation.

Slowly then only you set goals to improve the present condition in the workplace.

So PHDExpert, before you secure any funding research or whatever, assess the situation first lor.

just to focus on this one.

if u're looking to start at RM6k, i believe that's reasonable. some IPTS would pay a little bit higher than that. however, the highest paid lecturer in malaysia that i know of up to this day only gets RM17k per month. that covers for both IPTA and IPTS.

just be aware that IPTA and IPTS are virtually two different worlds. IPTS would pay u higher, but they literally own u. IPTS hardly does any research, so they expect that u will dedicate 80% of ur time in classrooms and lecture halls. IPTAs on the other hand actually requires u to do research and publications as well as other academic ventures. teaching is only about 30% of ur total job. but u do get a generous degree of freedom in terms of ur work.

IPTS sounds good but I think the benefit of being government servant is better right Dr Azarimy.. because IPTA get more recognition compared to IPTS..thats what i think..

I wanted to know this too. That's in my list of questions:

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Added on February 28, 2010, 12:07 pmConsider a Poisson process, one person would not be able to ameliorate the situation. In other words, it does not take a single car to cause a traffic jam, but a host of cars. There are many writers that never substantiate their points of views.

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Added on February 28, 2010, 12:11 pmIn that case, I might target RM7,000 because I believe I'm an above average student as I hvae been honoured with medal and scholarships from overseas universities.

I believe IPTS like Monash and Nottingham are research based institution judging from their graduate schools. Correct me if I'm wrong.

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Added on February 28, 2010, 12:18 pmOn personal note, I think it is only fair if I am rewarded with higher salary:

1. Most PhDs in Malaysia are sponsored by public and private universities. They have spent the country high cost of education fees and living costs at overseas. In fact, I don't see why my salary of RM8,000 to RM10,000 per month being senseless because I never spend a single cent from Malaysia to pursue Phd. Getting a PhD scholarships from overseas is highly competitive.

2. Malaysia pays a lot to hire expatriate with strong foreign accent. Isn't it unfairness if Malaysia hire me as a normal lecturer?

3. I wonder if Malaysia understands how we at overseas feel about its unfair treatment.

This post has been edited by PhDExpert: Feb 28 2010, 12:26 PM

aside from salary, any other benefits of being a lecturer?

Man, your thinking is so strange. They're not hiring a student. They're hiring a researcher. That is a big distinction.

1. So, so strange. Nobody on the hiring panel gives a damn how much the country saved by not having to finance your studies, LOL!!!! LOL!!! Jesus.

2. It's intriguing to see how an academic reasons about the real world. It's amusing!

3. I'm sure lots of Malaysians are losing sleep over your sense of unjustice! LOL!

You have to get out of your I-ness. Me, me, I, I, should, should. It's not about you. They are the one with the money, they are the one who will make the decision, and nobody gives a damn about the sort of "fairness" as you see it. Nothing is as it "should" be. Things are as they are. It is up to you to be the sort of person they will want to hire over others like you. What are they looking for? Stop, for just this one moment in your life, to think about yourself and your cv. Think about them instead. The dean who has to fill a position. What would he want to see of a candidate to give his faculty/school more presence? Etc.

God, you're strange.

This post has been edited by kotmj: Feb 28 2010, 03:44 PM

Not strange until you understand the real situation in Malaysia.

I'm intrigued to learn Malaysia is hiring researcher while in fact the lecturers are not producing world class publication. I have been attending top tier conferences throughput the world, and let me tell I have never met any researcher from Malaysian universities so far. By top tier conferences, they are ranked among the best by US, Australia and Singapore. Ever wonder why those countries ranked well in the ivy league? Because they publish in top tier conferences and journals, while what the Malaysian universities have done so far? Nothing more than low ranked publications with high acceptance rate. To most Universities in UK, Australia and Singapore, these low ranked conferences and journals are money making avenue. you publish through paying high prices. This is a serious issue.

Malaysian universities are paying high prices to send students to study at overseas. The Singapore is targeting Harvard, MIT, Cambridge, Oxford and ivy league Unis, but where do the Malaysian Universities send their staffs to? I don't have to tell here.

Do you know each PhD student that Malaysian universities send to pursue at overseas cost more than RM300,000 for 3.5 to 5 years? So, where does this money come from? Those PhD students are university staffs! They receive salary and stipend for studying PhD at overseas!

For instance, each staff receives

RM4500 salary + benefits + bonus + US$2000 per month stipend at overseas + US10,000 per year school fees paid to the foreign University

Calculate yourself how much Malaysian universities spend to produce a PhD!

You don't shoot the blank without knowing the reality!

You never know the reality.

Mind you, lecturer without PhD is called tutor; while lecturer with PhD is called LECTURER. How many people from Malaysia have got a PhD if the Universities do not send their tutor staff overseas for PhD? Oh yeah, the dean has to think about the money for the lecturers to pursue PhD study. Otherwise, all they could hire are tutors. Or maybe hire from overseas as expatriate at much higher cost.

Hiring locals with PhD like me at slightly higher salary, say an additional RM1000 is fair and square. I never spend a single cent from the University to pursue my PhD.

My PhD is from RMIT in Australia. Getting scholarships from overseas to pursue PhD at Melbourne University is extraordinarily difficult, unless one get scholarships from Malaysia. I admit RMIT is NOT an ivy league, but getting an overseas scholarships is VERY competitive. I hope you see how hard for many of us have been struggling, and this should translate into higher salary in my job application as lecturer.

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Added on February 28, 2010, 4:58 pmAt overseas, lecturer with PhD can earns side income from various sources:

1. Basic salary as lecturer (about 32,000 quid per annum)
2. Consultation
3. Marking PhD thesis from other universities
4. Adjunct lecturer
5. Online tutor
6. Research funding. The lecturer can earn, say 10% of the research funding.
7. Patent

All in all, lecturers with a PhD at 30s could earn up to 40,000-50,000 quid per annum.

This post has been edited by PhDExpert: Feb 28 2010, 05:04 PM

I wasn't critiquing your qualifications which I'm sure is fantastic. I was surprised at how you were incredibly internally-focussed in your thinking. How hard something was to acquire is not necessarily a measure of its value in the eyes of others. Maybe it is. Maybe its not.

You mustn't go around thinking you're entitled to whatever you think you're entitled to. People hate that. OTHER people hate that. It is a lot more helpful to think what others might want, and how you can provide it. I'm asking you to transport yourself into the minds of others. You are unaccustomed to this mode of thinking.

Another thing you absolutely need to keep in mind of is the concept of sunk cost. Every textbook on microeconomics treats this, and there is a very good reason for this: It is non-intuitive. If a Uni has sunk a fortune into someone, they will likely prefer him over another candidate they have not invested in.