Curtin Malaysia’s School of Professional and Continuing Education offering new short courses for upskilling

Miri – 13 January 2022 – The School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPACE) at Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) is offering four new online short courses this February for those working in relevant fields who would like to upskill or acquire new knowledge and skills in a relatively short time.

They include a two-day GIS Data Analytics course from 11 to 12 February 2022 for professionals who want to advance their data analytics skills to enable efficient management and planning, thus building their decision-making power and turn data into a competitive advantage for their organisations. Essentially, they will learn how to collect, process, analyse and communicate large geographical data through a variety of handy practical sessions using real-world case studies.

According to course trainer Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu, who is Curtin Malaysia’s Dean of Engineering and Science and a geospatial scientist by training, this course is ideal for anyone dealing with location data, whether from the private or public sectors. It includes those in the energy, environment, business/market analysis, construction, urban planning, agriculture and forestry sectors, as well as university students who may need to acquire GIS (Geographical Information System) analytics skills for research.

For those working in information and communications technology (ICT) related fields, particularly in computer systems and networking and want to upgrade their knowledge and work towards professional certification, they can consider joining the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Ver. 7.0 training course from 14 to 19 February 2022.

“Learning networking technologies might seem daunting at first, but our CCNA training lays it all out for you, focusing on the essentials to help you develop a comprehensive foundation for designing, securing, operating and troubleshooting modern computer networks,” remarked trainer Foad Motalebi, a CCNA instructor and lecturer in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science at Curtin Malaysia.

Foad said the CCNA Version 7.0 curriculum actually consists of three courses that make up the recommended learning path. The courses emphasise hands-on learning and essential career skills like problem solving and collaboration and are ideal for those seeking entry-level jobs in the ICT industry or those wanting to fulfil prerequisites for pursuing more specialised ICT skills.

From 24 to 26 February 2022, those interested in honing their data analytics skills can join the ‘Analyse Data with Python’ course. The course, which will be taught by Curtin Malaysia lecturer and CISCO Academy Trainer Suresh Reuben Balakrishnan, will take participants through the fundamentals of Python language and the process of data analysis, from reading and visualising data from multiple sources to processing them into shareable data dashboards.

Suresh has vast experience teaching computer programming, network security, software engineering, computer networking, database systems, operating systems, data structures and algorithms, and Android mobile application development. He has also been involved in various projects for office process digitalisation and system automation at the Faculty of Engineering and Science.

Meanwhile, those who would like to gain valuable insights into mental health issues in the workplace and the associated costs can consider taking the ‘Safeguarding Mental Health in the Workplace’ course on 18 February 2022.

The course highlights safeguarding employee mental health and wellbeing to nurture a healthy environment and is suited to team leaders, supervisors, executives and managers who want to understand and safeguard mental health in the workplace. Psychological theories will be used to help participants develop insights into their personalities and resilience factors, personal stress management, and ways of coping and developing work life balance. Members of the public can also join in the interests of safeguarding individual mental health.

The course will be conducted by Curtin Malaysia’s Director of Health, Counselling and Disability Services and mental health expert Dr. Adeline Wong, who has been in the training and education field for more than 27 years. Her areas of expertise include mental health, counselling, stress management, behavior modification, parenting, and women’s self-esteem. She was chairperson of the Mental Health Association Miri for many years, and was also on the Sarawak State Mental Health Association Executive Committee. She is currently Vice Chairperson of the Sunflower Centre for Special Children.

Early bird discounts on the fees are being offered for all the courses and those interested are urged to register right away to take advantage of them. Most are also HRD Corp-claimable courses. The deadlines for registration and early bird discounts are as follows: GIS Data Analytics: 7 February 2022 (early bird: 28 January), Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Ver. 7.0: 9 February 2022 (early bird: 31 January), Analyse Data with Python: 21 February 2022 (early bird: 9 February) and Safeguarding Mental Health in the Workplace: 15 February 2022 (early bird: 8 February).

SPACE is a HRD Corp-approved training provider and offers SBL-Khas training programmes and tailor-made courses for companies and organisations, either on campus or at the clients’ facilities.

To find out more, visit the Curtin Malaysia School of Professional and Continuing Education website at cmspace.curtin.edu.my, send them an email at cm.space@curtin.edu.my, or contact them via WhatsApp at 019 870 6099.

Online short courses for those who want to upskill or acquire new knowledge and skills in a relatively short time.