Using CERVIE as a platform, Dr. Keoy plans to
contribute to Malaysia as a whole
Dr Keoy believes that the world of academic
is always full of excitement and new discoveries
Dr Keoy believes that the world of academic
is always full of excitement and new discoveries
Dr Keoy (far right) at a Gala Dinner
Research and development, one of the forefront causes
at UCSI University is getting a face-lift under the newly-formed
Centre dubbed as CERVIE (pronounced as Sir-vai) or Centre
for Excellence in Research, Value Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
With the inclusion of two important elements now under the
purview of the Centre: Value Innovation and Entrepreneurship,
a new Head for CERVIE was brought in. This month, the e-News
team talks with Dr. Alan Keoy Kay Hooi, Head for CERVIE,
and senior lecturer at the Faculty of Management and Information
Technology.
Always passionate about education, Dr. Alan Keoy graduated
with a B.Sc. in Computer Science, and almost immediately
became a lecturer at a private college in Malaysia. In 2001,
he received a full scholarship to pursue his Ph.D. at the
Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom in the
field of e-Business and Supply Management. Upon obtaining
his doctorate in 2006, he was offered a full-time post as
Research Assistant and Lecturer at Bradford University School
of Management. There, he researched the employment patterns
of various ethnic groups in the region. The bulk of his
analysis was later used in a large-scale Labour Force Survey
(SAR) and census data.
According to Dr. Keoy, he is very grateful to his two mentors,
Professor Khalid Hafeez and Professor Mohamed Zairi for
his eight years experience in the United Kingdom, both as
a student and as a researcher. “They nurtured and introduced
me to the world of research and discovery, and I was trained
to develop a critical mindset, since nothing is impossible
to be researched.” When faced with difficulties, he
believes wholeheartedly in Prof. Zairi’s words of encouragement,
“We are small in size, but significant in impact”.
Prior to joining UCSI University in December 2009, Dr. Keoy
was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) aof Business Support
International Services (BSIS) Sdn. Bhd., an IT Business
Solution Company based in Cyberjaya and a subsidiary company
of Zairi Institute Ltd., United Kingdom. BSIS is a catalyst
organisation for human capital development, entrepreneurship
and business transformation.
It was with careful selection and consideration that Dr.
Keoy next charted his career path. He felt UCSI University’s
commitment of four percent of its revenue for research and
development initiatives, demonstrated the University’s passion
to balance excellence in teaching with research. And with
the new setup of the CERVIE, Dr. Keoy felt that he could
truly contribute significantly towards promoting a research
culture at the University.
Dr. Keoy strongly believes in “Knowledge Infinity”. “The
academic world is always full of excitement and new discoveries.
I don’t believe in putting a “full stop” to any research
projects. There will always be a “comma” where future research
can be conducted to further enhance or improve the result
findings.”
Using CERVIE as a platform, Dr. Keoy plans to contribute
to Malaysia as a whole. “I am looking forward to developing
and establishing research excellence at UCSI University,
not only at the national level, but also at an the international
level as well. “With the support of the University’s Vision
and Mission, as well as passionate staff members, I am confident
that it can be realised.”
Armed with an extensive plan to revamp the research and
development activities at UCSI University, Dr. Keoy applies
a synergistic research policy based on strategic understanding
of the research environment at UCSI University to ensure
academic and research staff accept the changes and the new
approaches. The Centre also seeks to promote smart partnerships
between the University, the industry and the government,
in what it terms as the triple-helix model. Simultaneously,
it acts as an incubator for developing new ideas as well
as a centre that provides financial assistance for research
initiatives and its product commercialization.
CERVIE also aims to build “Internal Capabilities” within
UCSI University, by focussing on specific groups at the
University and developing each staff’s research capabilities.
Under Dr. Koey, CERVIE also hopes to implement “Enterprise
Value Solutions” to convert research output into generate
revenue with value-added solutions such as consultancies,
training and business solutions, for both the public and
private institutions.
For Dr. Keoy, team work is critical for success. “With team
work, positive outcomes can be produced in any project.
No work can be completed alone. A culture of team work is
essential to recognise each member’s contributions for purposes
of acknowledgement and ownership.”
