MITRANS Postgraduate Research Programs in Transport and Logistics: Program Outcomes Survey

Abstract

All tertiary academic and postgraduate programs had successfully adopted the outcome-based education (OBE) curriculum design in Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia. Program outcomes survey needs to be carried out when the programs have completed one full cycle; however not much attention is given to OBE evaluation for postgraduate programs by research mode; and more so when these programs are delivered in a research center. The Malaysia Institute of Transport (MITRANS) offers two postgraduate (hereafter PG) programs: Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Transport and Logistics. Henceforth, the objective of this study was to assess the programs learning outcomes at the end of 3 years. Nineteen respondents took part in a survey carried out in 2013. SPSS V18.0 analysis revealed that the PG program outcomes were achieved satisfactorily. Evidences of demonstrated knowledge, critical thinking analysis skills were evident. However, in pursuit of academic quest, findings showed that the PG research students were facing lots of challenges in the course of their studies. Findings of the study recommended that the research-learning environment, financial and family support, and communication need to be improved to ensure graduation on time. In conclusion, postgraduate students by research have to be mentally and emotionally prepared, possess perseverance and readiness not only to pursue the programs per se but also need to develop oneself in maturity and accountability. MITRANS hopes that the research postgraduates would become credible scientists with excellent research capabilities to further develop the transport and logistics industry for the country.