Noor Zaidi Bin Mohd Noor – Revolutionizing Education Industry

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1. Kindly brief us in short about you and your journey since the beginning of your career.

I started my career as a teachers at a prominent Boarding Schools in Malaysia in 1991 and has been in the education field ever since. After 6 years at 2 government schools, I ventured as a pioneering staff in setting up a private Sixth Form College, Koley Yayasan UEM – that was modeled after Winchester College, England in 1998. I grew into the educational management position fairly rapidly and had international education exposure, strategic planning as I moved into the tertiary and higher education with Sunway Education Group in 2008.

Sunway Education Group (SEG) was instrumental in shaping my understanding of the transition between the secondary school to tertiary education, up to the highest PhD level. As Government and Corporate Liaison Head for all 7 institutions under SEG, I became very familiar with the government’s policies and procedures governing the Private Higher Educations in Malaysia as well as its aspirations / strategies to make Malaysia an Education Hub in the region.

This experience brought me into another venture to set up a private education institution – KYS Business School (KYSB), Ayer Keroh, Melaka – this time on the foundation of transnational education. KYSB was set up in collaboration with 3 leading NZ Universities – University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Canterbury, Christ Church in 2013. Some 800 students went through the Chartered Accountancy Pathway Programme by the time I left the College in 2019.

And now I am heading Melaka International School as Principal that could be my last formal employment before retirement.

2. How do you use technology in the classroom?

For various obvious purposes which include:

1. Communication with students and parents;
2. planning and designing learning experiences;
3. as tools for the teaching and learning processes;
4. up-to-date resources for worldwide research work/project;
5. assessments – especially formative after the Pandemic

Since technology now is the driving force behind all advancement, it is critical that students are exposed to and trained to develop their skills with the availability of technological tools for life-long learning purposes, hence the ‘how’ of using technology in the classroom is almost unlimited.

3. What has been one of your greatest contributions to the institution you have worked in for their development?

I feel the opportunity for institutions and their students to transfer overseas – in particular to NZ Universities while I was at KYS Business School was one of the highlights of my career. Not only there is a transnational educational collaboration with tremendous benefits for participating universities, but it also exposes students to new educational philosophies and systems, social and economic situations, and cultures of different nations. Earning a degree is one, but more importantly, growing up holistically and optimizing the new ‘world’ invaluable experience helps stretches an individual’s true potential and talent.

4. Please tell us about your organization in brief.

Melaka International School was set up in 1993 with a Vision of Every Student A Success Story – one that deeply touches me. I truly believe in this slogan and we are trying our best to be as inclusive within our capacity and resources to accommodate a vast variety of mixed ability students at MIS. We aspire to educate students so that they could achieve their own individual potential – and NOT necessarily score As’ in all examinations – education truly for growth and personal development that is life-long in nature.

5. How have you dealt with challenges, and what are some ways you have resolved them?

Challenges, more often than not, carries along opportunities. The obvious challenge we have all faced over the last 2 years was confronting the Cov-19 Pandemic. Based on this situation alone some of the ways that have been employed to mitigate the difficulties include the following in brief:

1. Effective and affective communication with all stakeholders;
2. being flexible yet practical and sensible in the management strategy;
3. putting in place SOPs that are manageable and focused in managing challenges;
4. collaborate more closely, seek advice form main partners such as curriculum provider – Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE);
5. learning from best practices from other schools / institution – alternatives to existing practices;
6. benchmarking our institution with the standards that we aspire to achieve during the tumultuous time, and
7. emphasizing transparency and teamwork and in achieving aims and goals.

The above in many ways has brought along changes in the management and organization of the school that would prepare MIS for more of the same in the future.

6. What motivates you?

The success of students, staff and the institution at large. Small successes should spur on more progress as well as highlighting our strength as a strategy to give confidence and motivation to all involved. SUCCESS must be shared and celebrated to create the positive growth mentality and motivational impact in any organization.

7. Being in the industry for a long time, enlighten us with the educational scenario of your country and the ever-changing education sector.       

Technological advancement, strategic educational planning as well as national HR planning all critically affect the landscape of education in Malaysia. While the strategic educational planning takes much consideration the needs of the HR for the future of the nation, educational foundations and philosophy of knowledge acquisition and individual growth MUST remain a priority. Individual must be allowed and provided with the opportunity to thrive in an environment that supports both the STEM as well as the humanities and social sciences domain of knowledge.

Needless to explain, while technology develops so will the gap in the provision of sophisticated delivery of education between the rural and city expand. Political commitment on the provision of the IT infrastructure, training of teachers, building of more modern, self contained schools in the rural areas are but some matters that need desperate addressing.

And of course there is the issue on the standard of education that is available in Malaysia at all levels. I feel, and as we can observe in the more developed nations, the link between the universities and the industry must be improved, enhanced to ensure that researches that are carried out at the academia is directly relevant to the present world and marketable for the benefit of all.

8. Who has most influenced you to become an educator/administrator, and how did they influence you?

My parents and teachers.

To make a difference anywhere, you must first make a difference in the people… the nation is built through honest, sincere teachers /educators who help produce leaders..

9. What are your professional goals for the next 5-10 years?

To continue contribute in the field of education in particular early childhood and primary education. These are the areas that I have not been really exposed to, and had the opportunity to delve in deeply over the years.

10. What message would you like to portray the student across universally?

For all to enjoy the endeavor of seeking knowledge for its own sake and for a true understanding of the world around them. Perhaps also aspire to push the frontier of knowledge for the betterment of themselves, their community and the world at large.