Educational organizations normally conjure up images of young people immersed in studies, listening to wizened educators as they hope to become successful in their post-graduate careers.
The hard reality is that while students plunge into their studies, educational institutions must constantly focus on such unglamorous educational topics as bottom lines or face financial distress, as was the case with Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences. The institution, which is in the city of Cyberjaya just south of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, enjoyed great success throughout the 2000s until the global recession took hold. Facing financial distress, Malaysian firm SMR Group bought a majority stake in the ailing institution.
SMR immediately instituted a phased overhaul that focused on compliance and fiscal responsibility, returning to profitability and perhaps most importantly a strategic approach to HR planning.
“Initiatives to improve governance and instill a more competitive spirit among the workforce was significantly harder as it involved a change in organizational culture,” said Julian John, senior manager of corporate affairs, via email. “It was for this reason that the new leadership framed this as a people-focused HR initiative instead of a purely cost-focused business initiative.”
The business challenge was both regulatory and financial, especially after the Malaysian Ministry of Education hit the organization with severe penalties in 2011.
SMR carefully selected its new university leaders, who then rebalanced staffing by emphasizing academics.
“We identified several key influential staff who, once convinced of the rationale for change, became ardent supporters and promoters and in turn helped convince others,” John said. “Once a tipping point was reached, the change management process improved and became rapidly accepted by the university staff.”
John said that the new leadership feels gratified when longtime staff began to appreciate the turnaround operation.
“Parents of existing students have also joined in the chorus as the future and education of their children has been secured,” he said. “The university continues to serve its role in the community as a committed provider of quality education at an affordable cost.”
For its successful efforts to turn around a high-quality medical educational institution, Cyberjaya University College is the gold 2015 Optimas Awards winner for Managing Change.
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