lawkingdom: My Career

Showing posts with label My Career. Show all posts

ASLI

ASLI conference started yesterday with a rather broad theme ''Law in a Pluralist Asia: Challenges and Prospects". The conference's presentations were divided into several plenary sessions and posters presentations. I think there's just too many interesting papers running at the same time, it's simply unfair for participants. I had the chance to sit in the Family & Children plenary session. I felt the time given to presenters was rather limited, imagine 1 hour for 5 papers of different gists and another 30 minutes or so for Q & A. Maybe I am rather naive, but that kind of arrangement defeated the main purpose you presented in the first place - sharing knowledge. I was also suprised that I didn't meet more familiar faces there, except for several of my former lecturers. Anyway, it was nice to see old friend Sonny, Kak Sham and also Ustaz (Dr.) Naim eventhough it's just a short chat between them.

The Family & Children Plenary Session

Kak Sham with all her Australian friends ;-D

Dissecting the Oxymoron in 'Study Leave'

Study Leave...How can one be on leave and studying at the same time? Being on leave always have the connotation that you are free to do what you don't normally do when you are not on leave. Be it, taking a break or rest from work, go on holiday, enjoying the company of your family, etc..etc.. And I doubt study or in the postgraduate sense, research(ing something) is considered something you would want to freely/readily do during your leave ;-P

It gets worst & frustrating when others around you tend to have this misunderstanding that you are free to do whatever you want or feel like doing during your study leave. Only those in the same PhD hole would know that is a whole lot of BS! It makes you want to just wear a T-shirt plastered with "I may look like I am on leave but my brain is running up & down trying to finish my PhD!!" every time people ask you, how long are you going to be on leave or asking you to do something because they thought you are free to do them?

Being on a ‘study leave’ also, has the connotation that you are suppose to be on leave ‘more’ instead of studying. It does not reflect the fact that you are given the leave for a serious business - pursuing your study. It may also tricked you into thinking that you have all the time in world to finish your research, since you are on ‘leave’. And walla! Suddenly you have run out of your entitled leave, the fun part - ‘the leave’ is gone, yet the serious part - ‘the study’ has not been completed! :-(

I believe the term 'study leave' is somewhat inaccurate and has more negative connotations than positive ones. It should be changed into some other phrase/term, for instance perhaps ‘study exemption’ or some other phrase/term that rhymes closer to the reality of those being on study leave, especially PhD. So...any suggestions?

NUS, Singapore

Four days in Singapore brought another perspective in my life; as a person, as a researcher, as a Malaysian. Maybe I will deal with it specifically some other time. I'm in no mood to report anything, other than my paper presentation went smoothly. I met with several friendly and interesting people and can't wait to be back some other time soon, Insya Allah. Suffice to say, NUS especially Asian Research Institute conducted a very well organised program! Not only that they invite you to participate, but they also pay you to come. Where on earth can find such programs nowadays....

Me - In the middle of promoting Dell PC ;-)

From left - Dr Maznah Mohamad (ARI Fellow - Malaysian), Prof Nurul Ilmi Idrus (Indonesian), next to me, Associate Prof Dr Rumaya Juhari (UPM, Malaysia)

First Paper...in PhD Life :-))

Alhamdulillah, my paper co-written with Kak Dayah entitled "Child Custody and Maintenance Decisions: A Case Study of Selected High Court Judgments in Malaysia from 1998-2008" was finally submitted last Wednesday, 2 days over the due date. I spent the Easter holiday, 2 of those days with Kak Dayah, completing the final draft. I personally felt that more could be done, but time is a major constraint and I had rather underestimate the resources that I need to finalise the paper. We went with it anyway, since I was given a grant to attend the conference & workshop by the organizer.

Thanks to Kak Dayah for some tips and ideas that sometimes did not cross my mind while rearranging the flow of the whole content. We are now in the midst of drafting the slides in preparation for the presentation in May at the National University Singapore. I will be presenting on behalf of both us. Hopefully we will be able to share & exchange ideas with the paper & the presentation, Insya Allah. Singapore....here I come! :-D

Professional Communication and Interpersonal Skills

This workshop brought me to a journey of self discovery. Always has been an assertive person in communication and stand, my career years in an "Asian" culture organisation has definitely mellowed me. Adding to those years, with the time spent in Australia, striving for a PhD has somewhat 'make' it even worst! I am no longer 'proud' to be assertive, instead slowly regressing into a passive aggresive kinda person , ouch!

The 3 hour workshop made me rethink of various aspects of my personal and professional life. I assume a lot things, which is dangerous. A good researcher, good worker, good person must not assume, all conclusions must be based on facts not hearsay. My PhD must not be based on mere assumptions. My career must not be sacrificed solely based on hearsay. My life must not hang in the balance of my 'negative' preconceptions.

Attending this workshop is not merely in preparation for my next task, it's a soul searching avenue for me, because in less than 2 years, I'll be back 'out there'. May I turn into a better person, worker and researcher, Insya Allah.

Penyeragaman Tindakan Ganti Rugi bagi Pensyarah IPTA yang ditaja melanjutkan pengajian

Intipati Keputusan KPT 6 Januari 2009:

Mesyuarat Ketua Setiausaha Negara dan Naib-naib Canselor/Rektor telah bersetuju bagi menyeragamkan tindakan ganti rugi bagi pensyarah2 IPTA yang ditaja untuk melanjutkan pengajian. Maka perkara2 berikut telah dipersetujui:

1) Unsur penalti perlu diadakan bagi memastikan komitmen calon sentiasa berada pada tahap komitmen yg tinggi

2) Bagi tujuan penyeragaman, perlulah dibezakan antara calon yg GAGAL setelah terbukti berusaha sedaya upaya mereka dan calon yg dikategorikan sebagai CUAI, sama ada yg tidak menunjukkan kesungguhan @ mempunyai masalah displin sehingga membawa kepada kegagalan mereka

3) Bentuk tindakan pula dibezakan antara pensyarah berjawatan tetap dan tutor/felo yg belum dilantik ke jawatan tetap (like the UiTM TPM @ Fellowship scheme in USM)

Bagi kategori GAGAL tindakan berikut akan diambil terhadap calon:

Pensyarah Tetap
(i) Diarahkan kembali melapor diri bertugas dan diberi peluang menyambung pengajian di universiti tempatan secara separuh masa sehingga berjaya mendapatkan PhD dalam masa 2 tahun tanpa sebarang penajaan
(ii) Tempoh kontrak perkhidmatan bermula dr tempoh melaporkan diri
(iii) Tiada tuntutan ganti rugi dikenakan dlm tempoh 2 tahun semasa calon menyambung Phdnya secara separuh masa
(iv) Jika masih gagal selepas tempoh tersebut, maka tindakan ganti rugi boleh dikenakan berdasarkan kepada perjanjian, tetapi tidak termasuk gaji yg dibayar semasa tempoh penajaan. Walau bagaimanapun, pihak yang meguatkuasakan perjanjian perlu memberi pertimbangan bahawa tindakan tuntutan tersebut adalah lebih berbentuk pengajaran dan bukan hukuman.

Tutor/Felo/Pensyarah Sementara
(i) Diberi peluang menyambung pengajian di universiti tempatan secara separuh masa sehingga berjaya mendapatkan PhD dalam masa 2 tahun tanpa sebarang penajaan
(ii) Tarikh kuatkusa tempoh kontrak perkhidmatan digantung sehingga beliau berjaya dilantik ke jawatan tetap sama ada sebagai pensyarah atau apa2 jawatan di IPTA berkenaan
(iii) Tiada tuntutan ganti rugi dikenakan dlm tempoh 2 tahun semasa calon menyambung Phdnya secara separuh masa
(iv) Tuntutan ganti rugi akan dikenakan berdasarkan perjanjian tetapi tidak termasuk elaun/gaji yg dibayar semasa tempoh penajaan.

Bagi kategori CUAI tindakan berikut akan diambil terhadap calon:

Pensyarah Tetap
(i) Dikenakan tindakan ganti rugi mengikut perjanjian
(ii) Jika didapati calon yg 'cuai' ini boleh dikenakan tindakan tatatertib, maka proses tindakan tatatertib berdasarkan akta & peraturan yg berkuatkuasa perlu diambil
(iii) Jika seorang pegawai dikenakan tindakan tatatertib dan dijatuhkan hukuman, tindakan tuntutan ganti rugi spt di atas hendaklah terus dilaksanakan

Tutor/Felo/Pensyarah Sementara
(i) Ditamatkan perkhidmatan dan dikenakan tindakan ganti rugi termasuk gaji/elaun yg diterima semasa pengajian

Comments:
It's 'good' when policymakers are trying to make objective rules. But just like doing your Phd, the implementation of this rule is always going to be bogged down with subjectivity...At least at the end of the day you know where you stand.

Performance Appraisal

It's that time of the year, but made earlier because of my study leave...

Academic Writing Workshop

Today, I'm supposed to attend a 2 and 1/2 day "Academic Writing" workshop. The contents & speaker are excellent, but my mind was not really relating to the programme. I do have less than 9 days to clear my office & settle my house for the movers.

On top of that, I do feel the urge to socialize a lot, since these few days will be my last here. Next week classes will start & I won't get to catch most of my friends for a chit chat.

But I do anticipate to write a book soon...on Introduction to Legal Research. In fact I have a manuscript already. But it needs to be updated & properly referenced. I wonder if I could do that along with my PhD. Well..you never know. Maybe I could. Have to cut down on socializing, then...duh..

EXAM QUESTION

There are a lot of things I needed to do today, and setting 2 sets of exam questions is not one of those things. More so for government & politics paper. I'm leaving soon and this paper is still taunting me!

Is it really necessary for lecturers to set examination questions? Shouldn't it be left to the likes of tutor to set them? Maybe students should not sit for exams at all..but then again, some argue how do we actually assess the progress of our students. How about projects then? Hmmm.. very subjective...

Actually there's no use arguing. Simply said...I'm just so not inspired to have anything to do with examination questions right now. Maybe in the next three years, I'll feel much better about it.

OPTION TIME..

Hari ini ada taklimat opsyen pencen. Semua pensyarah (dan staf2 lain) kena pilihlah nak kekal pada umur persaraan 56 @ nak sambung sampai 58.

Bagi aku, keputusannya adalah amat terang lagi bersuluh. Bak kata kwn2 yang lain kalau adalah opsyen 45 @ 50, pasti aku akan pilih yang terendah yang ada. Bukan malas nak kerja..kerja tetap kerja. Sampai mati pun aku akan tetap bekerja, cuma jumlah shj yang akan membezakannya. Kualiti kerja sepatutnya bertambah baik sesuai dgn pertambahan tempoh bekerja ( Sepatutnyalah...)

Aku pilih nak bersara pada umur 56, supaya aku bebas membuat perancangan masa depan aku dan keluarga tanpa terikat dgn pekerjaan rasmi. Lagipun, simpanan yg datang bersekali dgn pencen bulanan pasti memudahkan perancangan tersebut.

Pencen bagiku tak kiralah brp pun umurnya bukan bermakna pencen bekerja...tu takde pun dalam kamus istilah kehidupan ku.

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