Aside from existing programs like SLAB/SLAI, NSF etc., anybody got any leads on any new schemes that the goverment will be introducings through the 10MP regarding PhD fundings? I heard on the news there would be funds allocated towards increasing PhD holders in the country.

there's plenty of Malaysian PhD holders. problem is, they're not in the country

Increasing numbers of PhD alone wouldn't be sufficient...they would end up in other countries as well if there isn't much opportunities in malaysia, or the salary are pathetically low..

PhDs for me i think its more like an achievement in life. Its something you can feel very proud off when you retire and start to look back on what you have done with your life.

Tom, Dick and Harry has Degrees on the street, you can't say the same for PhDs.

It also has its own cons though, I have a friend who just got her PhD, came back here looking for a job. But all companies turned her down because she's "over" qualified a.k.a they can't afford her or something like that.

Sad but true.

as for me, having a PHD doesnt mean u are good enough... old folks always think that by having master or phd, u will become someone that are better than others... what make u think like that???

yes u are better than others.. but, only on the fields that u are in... if u have a PHD in banking & finance, it wouldnt make u answer each and every question on the other fields such as religious, sports or even science...

if i were given a chance to further my study up until the PHD, its because i wanted to be an expert on that fields and makes something that have a big impact on human being & earth....

+1..
Masters and PhDs are human...not the almighty walking wikipedia...
but Masters and PhDs should live up to their title..such as PhD with BSc Chemistry should have strong fundamentals in chemistry and should be able to answer basic questions..

your degree is biochem can your phd be physiology/anatomy/pharmacology?

Personally, I want a PhD because then I'd get that awesome title of "Doctor".

Then, I can walk into a room and go..

"Hello I'm the Doctor".

And then wave a sonic screwdriver about and go "wibbly wobbly timey wimey".

Dead serious.

Haha. Maybe some people do their Masters so they can go:"And I'm the Master!".

cue evil laugh.

Pharmacology yes....pharmacology is part of biochemistry...not so sure about anatomy and physiology though..

i want a PhD so that my wife can play the nurse.

not patient?

patient is another woman

Oh I guess I can already do that!

By academic convention, only MD (medical doctors) are allowed to use Doctor before their name. Phd holders are not suppose to use the word Doctor before their names. Even Mahatir knew this and told NST during an interview prior to his retirement when asked about bogus Phds in Malaysia. Go to any reputable university and call a Phd holder a Doctor and listen to him quickly tell you about the convention. Of course, if its not a reputable university or someone who desperately wants to show off his Phd (real or bogus), then you find out the wannabes.

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Added on June 23, 2010, 7:40 pm

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Added on June 23, 2010, 7:45 pmTo Highwind85, interesting to hear that you started a phd in biochem. If I were you, once you finish, look overseas for work and opportunities. Malaysia is still a ulu place for science research and industry. My brother in law had his phd from Imperial/Cambridge as it was a joint effort between the universities for his phd. He's a professor in NUS now and informs me that when it comes to many areas of science research, Malaysia does not publish enough papers internationally or is gearing its efforts to capitalise on science. Singapore does and is classed as developed world standard for such research and industry. Join the Brain Drain!

This post has been edited by xenotzu: Jun 23 2010, 07:45 PM

it depends on where you are. western phd holders often insist to be addressed by their first name. try doing that to a phd-degree holding lecturer in malaysia. i call my supervisor dr. something-something anyway. how else are you going to address them?

PhD holder can put the title depending on where they are going and it's their preference...Westerners wants students to call them by their 1st name..But doing so, it's more humble and friendlier..Still, they will use the title for official purposes...On the other hand, academics in malaysia prefer students to address them with the correct title...Dr, Assoc Prof and Prof...even my previous supervisor (senior lecturer) address his colleague as Prof...so it's the culture i guess..

And yeah...one of the reasons why malaysia has less publications is because PhD holder work as lecturers directly after graduation, whereas PhD holders cannot work as lecturers yet in more developed countries...they have to undertake 1 or 2 postdoc positions 1st before starting their own research group...Post docs are almost non-existent in Malaysia except a few institutes...

I remember when I applied to do a Phd part time at Malaya Uni, the dean, librarians and my supervisor asked my why I didn't go overseas to do it since I was a UK graduate. Curious and a bit shocked, I asked them why and they replied that facilities and research was better overseas and far superior then MU anytime. After a few months, I understood why.

if degree in food science and tech
phd can be in wat?

If you consider the main Pros and Cons, the reason you're going PHD is either for the fame, Dr. or the knowledge. Doing a couple years of study to increase my salary doesn't seem to outweigh working for a few years and becoming a CEO. For me at least.