“Education”. A word so commonly used and so important in our 21st century, yet it has a different meaning to each one of us. Looking back at my past 2 years studying the MBA course, I am filled with gratefulness, mainly for the privilege to expand the knowledge and skills which are applicable and relevant in my vocation. Being a full-time working adult while taking an MBA was no easy task as I needed to find a new momentum in my daily routines. However, it is through these challenges that I am also thankful for the meaningful experiences and professionalism that Murdoch University at Kaplan has offered.

The curriculum and pedagogical approaches adopted by the University throughout my MBA course have made me re-evaluate the guiding principles behind my perspectives. Education is more than attaining a qualification. It is, for me, the platform offered by an educational institute to individuals who want to make a positive impact on both their personal lives and society. Education challenges your own assumptions and questions your own thought process, which helps to form new knowledge.

I believe that education is also about learning to appreciate diversity in our society. This is important to me as I meet people from all walks of life daily in my work. Being able to help them meant that I first needed to upgrade my skills, and this was what motivated me to pursue the MBA. Equipping myself with these new skills has helped me to better engage my team and clients.

Many have said that networking is the best part of the MBA programme and I agree. The friendships forged and the discussions we had enabled me to broaden my perspectives. I particularly enjoyed the Leading the Engaged Enterprise module. As a team lead, I find myself always aiming to inspire and nurture my team to fulfil their highest potential. The insights gained from this module have definitely helped me with that.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest “. Some advice I will give to those who are considering a Postgraduate Degree is to be certain of your reasons for doing so. Take some time to list them down and talk to experienced individuals. Of course, once you have decided to do so, you need to be ready to make some sacrifices, but know that it will be worthwhile.

Thank you, Murdoch University and Kaplan, for providing me this life-changing opportunity to study your MBA programme. I am confident that it will expand my horizons and carry me through life.

I have advanced my career in the medical industry over the past 16 years, working in both regional and local subsidiary roles, and in different functions. Through my experiences, I felt compelled to enhance my knowledge. A Master of Business Administration programme would enable me to do so as it allows one to learn beyond their own trades, with the lecturers educating us about the challenges faced by other industries.

Seeking to expand my horizons, I decided to study this programme with Murdoch University. My responsibilities as a working parent of two meant that Murdoch’s flexible study schedules were necessary for my education, allowing me to balance my time spent on work, study and family.

The quality of the education itself was ensured by the experienced and knowledgeable lecturers, and their vast knowledge regarding sustainability, global business and leadership has influenced my thinking and values. Overall, the programme has made me rethink the concept of leadership, taught me to refocus on people, as well as helped me understand the importance of financial planning in business. I’ve learnt how to engage others and lead a team as well, and this information has supported me in my job. My exchanges with participants across various industries have also provided me a fresh perspective on business strategies to succeed in the market.

Upon completing the programme, I was able to secure my current job with Alcon Singapore. I believe Murdoch University offers an industry-relevant education, and its specially selected lecturers ensure the quality of its students’ learning.

Having worked for 15 years, I aspired to continue improving myself and to remain relevant as a HR professional in this competitive employment climate. As I often strive to do my best, I felt that acquiring a Double Major would be a good choice. As such, I decided to study a Bachelor of Business in Human Resource Management and Management Degree programme with Murdoch University as they are a renowned world-class institution that offers various facilities and study-support services that aid my education.

Being a working mum of 4 who juggles a full-time career with part-time studies wasn’t easy, especially when I had to reschedule my business trips to not conflict with my lessons. However, the flexible study schedules made it easier for me to manage my commitments. I also appreciate the supportive and professional lecturers who provided helpful study materials to students. They are professionals in their fields and shared real business examples that helped us to apply to our work.

Following the completion of my Degree, I found more employment opportunities in the Human Resource field, moving from the Engineering sector to Oil and Gas. This eventually culminated in my current role with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) as Divisional Head in HR Shared Services, where I manage a team of professionals to provide HR expertise to the university.

I find that the programme has improved my job performance overall. The additional management specialisation complements my background as a HR professional, expanding the scope of my understanding from human resources to business as a whole.

With its recognition and established reputation, I do recommend Murdoch University. I believe that students should consider its Double Major Degree programmes as they are an optimal time investment that ensures you get the best out of your studies.

I am no stranger to the field of logistics, having previous working experience related to this sector. To further grow in this industry, I chose to study with University College Dublin with Kaplan as I believe it is highly-ranked by the QS World University Rankings while also offering a shorter programme due to its short term breaks.

I appreciate how studying this programme has enabled me to better understand the relationship between supply chain management and business. I have also made many great friends throughout this experience. Now that I’ve graduated, I am committed to keeping my skills sharp and applying what I’ve learned to my career for the foreseeable future.

My main source of motivation during my studies was to remind myself that the only easy day was yesterday, and I advise my fellow students to aim to enjoy their studies and school time as I did.

Royal Holloway, University of London 1^st Class Honours Graduate (2019)

My Degree has provided me with a holistic learning experience as modules like Global Marketing and European Business have sharpened my analytical skills, which are practical and applicable for Management roles.

The lecturers are very knowledgeable in their areas of expertise and often share real-life anecdotes based on their experiences, which are complemented by Kaplan’s conducive study environment and the array of educational assets available, including resources via the Moodle course management system.

Overall, I feel that the Degree has granted me a wider range of career opportunities, and that this has been a fulfilling educational journey that goes in-depth to help one understand the global market better.

Royal Holloway, University of London 1^st Class Honours Graduate (2019)

I am interested in international business and how the global economy functions as a whole. Therefore, I found the Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL) curriculum appealing, and I chose to further my education with them due to their strong standing and reputation.

The programme modules, such as Strategic Management and Multinational Enterprise, are relevant to the current global market climate, and I feel that my Degree plays an important role in validating my standing and credibility with clients and future stakeholders in the finance industry. It also acts as a stepping stone for me to pursue further studies should I decide to do so. In addition to the conducive study environment and flexible schedule, the programme’s helpful lecturers were always around to clarify my doubts and answer questions.

I would recommend this programme to my peers as it provides industry relevant information, and helps develop critical management skills which are crucial for individuals to embark on senior roles.

Royal Holloway, University of London 1st Class Honours Graduate (2019)

What attracted me to Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL) was its reputable ranking within the UK as well as worldwide. In-line with the prominence of the University of London name, Royal Holloway is renowned for its impeccable education standards as well as the quality of its teaching in the Marketing field. Another selling point of the programme is its healthy mix of assignments, tests and projects used for grading and assessments.

In addition to my academic achievements, I have learned to work with people of contrasting personalities, understand various cultures and deal with issues in lieu with work attitude mismatches.

As every module comes with different lecturers, both local and RHUL flown-in, this brings a variety of teaching methodologies and expectations in assessments. This has pushed me to be adaptable in approaching my studies, seeking to not only score well but to benefit from the knowledge as well. I feel that I have become more analytical and far-sighted in everything after studying here.

Royal Holloway, University of London 1^st Class Honours Graduate (2019)

One reason why I chose to study with Kaplan was its centralised location, with 6 nearby MRT stations, it is very convenient for anyone. In addition, its wide range of programmes from various well-established Universities sparked my interest to learn more, eventually prompting me to enrol.

Among its various University partners, I decided to study at Royal Holloway, University of London due to its reputable global ranking as well as it being one of the most prestigious universities in the UK. The Degree takes about 18 months to complete, which allowed me to accumulate more working experience sooner compared to my peers who studied at local universities.

Both the Kaplan and University faculty lecturers were very helpful and responsive, assisting me whenever I had doubts or enquiries about my assignments. Also, Kaplan facilitated my education with a conducive study environment.