Turn your creativity into a career at Management and Science University

Choosing a creative path — whether it’s culinary arts, fashion design, event management, or tourism — isn’t always easy. For many international students, there’s a lingering worry: can I make a living doing what I love?

It's a question that weighs heavily, especially when family expectations and job market realities enter the picture. But just outside of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at Management and Science University (MSU), that worry fades fast. Here, passion always leads to a paycheck — a statement backed by a 99% graduate employability rate. 

Through its School of Hospitality & Creative Arts (SHCA), MSU delivers an education that is internationally connected, industry-driven, and grounded in real-world skills. Dean, Azizul Jamaludin, and his team, are dedicated to shaping learners into leaders for some of the world’s most people-focused industries through various methods.

Leadership built on experience

Over the past six years, Jamaludin has led SHCA’s dedicated academics and administrators through notable accomplishments, including two consecutive recognitions as Best Faculty at MSU. This reputation is fuelled by deep insight. Jamaludin himself brings over two decades of experience in hospitality to his current role.

His professional journey began in food service and hotel banqueting before joining MSU in 2010 as an assistant lecturer. While supporting course content development, he completed his master’s degree and was soon promoted to lecturer. His natural affinity for teaching and student development propelled him through multiple leadership roles — including Programme Manager and Deputy Dean of Student Affairs — before assuming the position of Dean in 2019.

Centrally located at the main entry point of Shah Alam's educational hub, this green campus hosts comprehensive training, seminars, and symposia, often featuring experts in the field, to raise awareness and equip MSU’s entire community with the tools needed to integrate SDG principles into their work. The SDG Committee plays a key role in this, creating and enacting a strategic framework across all faculties and departments.

Each academic team member under Jamaludin is guided by clear KPIs and role expectations. Regular one-on-one meetings support professional growth and open communication, while empowerment and team-based collaboration are actively encouraged.

“Teaching is my dream profession,” he says. “I am pleased to have an exceptional team as well that is equally dedicated to achieving excellence.”

At most universities, career preparation begins in a student’s final semester — but at MSU, it starts the moment you step foot on campus. For example, SHCA facilities include a professional kitchen, a fashion hallway, a travel agency, a spa, and a beauty outlet.

First-year students further immerse themselves in the industry through company visits, guest lectures, panels, live projects, and course-integrated evaluations. The school’s network is vast, with nearly 600 industry partners in hospitality, tourism, and creative sectors, backed by the university’s 2,000-strong corporate network across multiple fields. “These connections help build knowledge among students regarding the actual industry in which they will engage locally and internationally,” says Jamaludin.

In fact, many students gain placements in destinations like Singapore, Japan, the UAE, Qatar, and the Maldives — and for some, these internships lead to job offers before graduation.

Competitions are just as effective in evolving students into household names. “We encourage our students to participate both locally and worldwide,” explains Jamaludin. This competitive spirit has led SHCA students to gold-medal wins in culinary contests across Türkiye, Tunisia, Indonesia, the Maldives, and more.

Courses shaped by the real world

SHCA works closely with the University Industry Advisory Panel (UIAP) — a group of experienced leaders handpicked to represent the industry’s voice — to keep its programmes relevant. They provide insight on emerging trends, skills in demand, and evolving challenges. 

This feedback fuels an annual curriculum review, ensuring every programme stays aligned with market needs. Beyond shaping courses, MSU strengthens its industry bonds by offering short courses, training, and reskilling programmes to employers, creating a two-way relationship that ensures SHCA students graduate with precisely the skills companies want.

Since academic performance is hardly enough these days, MSU embeds co-curricular development into the student journey. Through the Graduate Employability Skills (GEmS) framework, students must complete activities in competitions, clubs, community service, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) projects, industry linkages, professional development, and the Personal Enrichment Competency (PEC) programme before they can graduate.

And with this level of exposure, it’s common for students to feel unsure of where their career will lead. For them, SHCA offers a mentoring programme that entails being paired with a faculty mentor who tracks academic progress, guides personal development, and provides career advice tailored to each individual’s goals.

Practical career preparation is equally prioritised, with targeted workshops on resume building, interview skills, professional etiquette, and industry networking.

“These activities mould our students to be competitive, empathetic to the communities, and alert in environmental issues,” says Jamaludin. “They shape our students to be marketable in the industry.”

MSU’s commitment to quality has earned it a 36th global ranking and 2nd in Malaysia for Hospitality and Leisure Management. But success doesn’t stop SHCA from increasing its impact.

“We are going to improve constantly,” says Jamaludin. “My objectives for the school are to enhance our research output in top journals, to include all faculty members in providing excellent education and innovation, and to actively collaborate with numerous industrial and institutional partners globally.”

National surveys like the Talentbank Graduate Employability Index confirm that MSU graduates are among the most sought-after by Malaysian employers — a reputation built on the school’s TVET-integrated curriculum, extensive industry partnerships, and proven track record.

With more than 200 accredited programmes, flexible study modes (full-time, blended, or adult learning), and financial assistance options, this is a university that opens the door for tomorrow’s professionals to truly transform their lives and enrich their futures.

Work towards your dream career at Management and Science University.