Success doesn’t always come easy. From studying for an undergraduate degree to graduating with a doctorate, persistence and hard work is key to achieving success.
Committed to helping students
Masters and PhD thesis management expert Dr Mohd Khairul Nizam Zainan Nazri said that many students struggle to finish their thesis on time.
“They fail because they are not skilled in thesis management and studies,” he opined.
Dr Mohd Khairul, the founder of 2M World Sdn Bhd and better known as Dr Roket, has been actively conducting Masters and PhD thesis management seminars in Malaysia for the past few years.
Since 2016, over 70,000 Masters and PhD students have benefitted from Dr Roket’s online and offline seminars, learning the skills to manage their thesis-writing with their hectic lifestyle.
Early establishment
Dr Roket’s seminars started on a medium scale with only five staff, including himself and his wife, Dr Mardiana Mat Ishak, who was also a PhD student at the time.
Their first ever seminar, attended by only 50 participants, was free. And they only managed to collect RM50 from the sale of books they authored together.
However, Dr Roket soon became a household name when he actively reached out to the community via travel programmes throughout the country.
Faced with ridicule
Gaining the community’s trust did not come easy for Dr Roket.
In 2017, he faced criticism on social media when he was slandered for operating fraudulent and poor-quality programmes. He was also accused of offering absurd advice to students, telling them they could complete their thesis in under six months.
As a result, his reputation took a hit and he was also not allowed to run his programmes at universities.
However, undeterred by these developments, he continued to serve the community.
Presently, he offers his services to postgraduate students, indirectly helping supervisors, universities and the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) by producing many high-quality Masters and PhD holders.
Successful times
Dr Roket’s name soared when he qualified to represent the Selayang district at the Selangor State Innovation Awards 2018 (AINS) finals.
He was recognised for introducing thesis management systems for students, namely the Roket Research Diary (RRD) and the Advance Roket Master PhD Chart (ARMP Chart).
RRD and ARMP Chart are the first ‘tools’ in Malaysia and in the world to assist Masters and PhD students in thesis management, as well as provide a more structured form of academic and life governance.
In 2019, Dr Roket’s programmes received a warm response, including the Mudah Siap Tesis (MST) seminar, GEMPUR seminar now known as Nak Ubah Tesis (NUT), Roket Intensive Class (RIC) 1 and RIC 2, VIVAlicious, Roket Inner Circle Meeting (RICM) and Master PhD Roket Coach (CRMP) certification.
Over 1,200 students attended the GEMPUR seminar, while more than 150 Dr Roket Platinum participants attended the RIC 1 and RIC 2 seminars.
He also has a 7.45am segment called the “Morning Doc” on Dr Roket’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Student sharing
Sharing the experience of attending the MST seminar, Diplomatic Administrative Officer (PTD) Mohd Fauzi Mohd Said said he sought Dr Roket’s help after encountering trouble with his thesis-writing process.
“After two and a half years of pursuing a PhD in engineering at the University of Cambridge, I was only able to complete 50 pages of my thesis even though the data was readily available.
“After attending this seminar, my mindset shifted. I was taught a new routine that undergraduate and PhD students should practise. It’s a simple practice that I wasn’t aware of all this time.
“I am thankful that my thesis draft has reached 1,707 pages. It is an incredible and extraordinary achievement,” Fauzi said.
According to Fauzi, he thoroughly enjoyed studying for his PhD as did his friends, who he considered family.
“Even while abroad, the term ‘lonely journey’ did not apply to me,” he shared.
Another MST participant, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Penang senior lecturer Dr Nur Ashikin Marzuki said that the knowledge shared by Dr Roket helped her throughout her PhD studies at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
“The most memorable thing was my Viva presentation process.
“The Viva presentation, which is usually nerve-racking, turned into an enjoyable discussion session where the panel of evaluators and I exchanged views and thoughts. It was engaging and interesting,” she shared.
Apart from Dr Nur Ashikin, other Dr Roket Platinum participants who went through the Viva sessions from 2020 to 2021 in various fields and specialties, shared the same sentiments.
Dr Roket also advised each of his students to prioritise furthering their studies.
“Without precise intentions and goals, continuing one’s studies will be a challenge.
“Most importantly, never be afraid because the opportunity to carve a name for yourself is a valuable experience to be proud of, as postgraduate students are a valuable asset for the future of the country,” he said.
Targeting 60,000 PhD holders
Masters and PhD students can attend the MST seminar which will be held virtually soon.
Through increased support for the programme, Dr Roket expressed his commitment and determination to help produce more PhD holders in the country.
“By 2023, I am committed to helping at least 60,000 more PhD holders, thus realising the target of the Ministry of Higher Education.
“This seminar is recommended for those who face trouble completing their thesis and for those who plan to or are continuing their Masters and PhD degrees,” he said.
Users can also receive an e-book guide by Dr Roket for more tips on writing a thesis quickly here.
This article is sponsored by Dr Roket.
Written by: Mohammad Asyraf Khalib
This article originally appeared on Harian Metro with rights to be republished on Free Malaysia Today.