Northumbria University was my top choice because of the Degree programme’s industry relevance – learning the essentials of business strategy and management, as well as understanding how supply chain processes can be optimised, adds value to my current role as a continuous improvement lead.

As a leader, I can deliver better results for my organisation through the Japanese concept of kaizen, or continuous improvement, and the application of lean management. The effectiveness of my training programme has also improved with my new wealth of knowledge.

Another reason for my choice is due to its location – the University is in central Singapore, which made it optimal for my part-time study efforts. The overall travel time was not excessive.

I was driven to pursue an MBA as I felt stagnant in terms of my level of knowledge and desired a breakthrough in terms of my professional network. The in-depth and stringent MBA programme broadened my knowledge in managing the business with a practical approach, allowing us to apply knowledge learned through the assignments.

Networking is the best part about taking up an MBA. In my cohort, there was a surgeon from a public hospital and there were many students in senior positions in large companies from various fields. This helped me to grow my connections.

My advice to those who are thinking of taking up an MBA is: Don’t think, just do. Taking up an MBA is not just a career-propelling act, but has taught me to prioritise the things I do daily while advancing my knowledge and challenging what I thought I knew, having managed a business for a decade. Furthermore, have an open mind and practice good time management while learning, re-learning and challenging yourself to greater heights.

With a growing percentage of the population holding at least a Bachelor’s Degree, it is imperative to have an MBA to stand out among your peers. From middle management executives to busy business owners like myself, taking the time and effort to achieve an MBA qualification will bring you a new skill set and mindset. Because Kaplan offers a manageable timetable for the programme, it is not difficult, speaking as a married man with three kids, similar to many peers in my class.

I decided to study with Northumbria University at Kaplan in Singapore as it is among the top 1% of elite institutions worldwide*. I was also attracted to the largely assignment-based learning, which allowed me to better plan my time around my work schedule to complete and submit assignments. As for my choice of major, I chose it as it is related to my current job and I wanted to enhance my knowledge in the field.

The programme has helped to strengthen my job performance. With its assignment-based curriculum, it gave us a more practical education, allowing students to apply the knowledge learned in classes through the assignments given, which were similar to projects assigned at work. In addition, all the research done based on real companies or situations gave me much exposure to current market sentiments and trends, to learn and improve on some “outdated” practices.

Given the good reputation of Kaplan and its collaboration with reputable universities, taught by very knowledgeable lecturers, I would recommend Kaplan.

*Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

I had worked full-time at the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities Senior Activity Centre for three years and recently started working as a Programmes Executive at YWCA. Here, I aim to equip young women and mothers from marginalised backgrounds with work skills to improve their lives through employability.

I find it meaningful to work with the elderly and devise interventions to help with their gradual memory impairment and physical limitations. I am also passionate about reaching out to people in difficult situations and making a difference in their lives.

These reasons motivated me to pursue my education with Kaplan, first with a Foundation Diploma, followed by the Diploma in Psychology. This then gave me exemptions to pursue my Bachelor’s Degree with Northumbria University, where I chose to study the Bachelor of Arts in Guidance and Counselling.

The Degree is well-suited to my goal of becoming an asset to organisations that strive to improve the welfare of those in need. Northumbria University is well-recognised for its outstanding teaching, so I feel confident about achieving my Degree here. The lecturers, who are experts in their respective professional fields, also share their experiences and knowledge with us.

The programme may serve as a stepping-stone for those who aspire to expand their career opportunities in the sector and work with people from diverse backgrounds. All the modules covered have been comprehensive and applicable to my job scope.

After I have completed the programme, I plan to further my education with a Master’s Degree in order to be empowered to care for and understand how to work with people from diverse backgrounds.

I previously worked in sales before joining the People’s Association. I then decided to pursue a Degree in Guidance and Counselling to enhance my career and improve my conversation skills in order for me to guide and counsel others more confidently and professionally.

By applying the knowledge that I have gained from the programme, I am now able to counsel individuals across different levels. I am also able to efficiently collaborate with my colleagues and stakeholders to serve the community more effectively. The Mending the Gap: Collaborative Learning with Service Users module was applicable in terms of helping me bridge the gap between people. By learning and applying techniques that I have learnt, the community would feel more comfortable sharing their concerns with me.

I will recommend this Degree programme as it can be completed in 18 months on a part-time basis and is suitable for people holding a full-time job in the day. During my course of study, I was even promoted from Assistant Manager to Manager.

In order to upgrade myself and advance my career, I decided to further my studies with the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Business with Logistics and Supply Chain Management (Top-up) programme. Through modules such as Applied Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Strategic Supply Chain Management and Supply Networks, I was able to gain an in-depth understanding of Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

This Degree programme may be completed in 16 months, a comfortable duration which allows me to study at my own pace while working. With this Bachelor’s Degree, I feel more confident at work as I am able to better understand my job scope and the demands to be met. In addition, I was given the opportunity to progress in my career by taking on more responsibilities after attaining my Degree.

I would definitely recommend Northumbria University. In fact, one of my friends is already studying here and she is enjoying it!

Northumbria University 1st Class Honours Graduate (2019)

What attracted me to the programme was its focus on assignments and group projects. They were relevant to my course of study in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, instead of the usual textbook and exams-focused learning experience found in other programmes.

The campus and administrative support were well-equipped to help maximise our learning experience. Our lecturers understood that we were fatigued adults attending class after work and made efforts to make classes interesting for us. The assignment-based curriculum also took learning out of the classrooms by encouraging us to be independent in our studies.

Through the discussion and research, I was able to deepen my understanding of the concepts, acquire relevant industry knowledge and also improve on my social skills. I would definitely recommend this programme to anyone who wants to open doors to career and progression opportunities.

Being a customer-centric professional and having a passion for the logistics industry, I chose to study for a Business with Logistics and Supply Chain Management Degree.

My work in the oil and gas industry is very demanding, which means I often work long hours. During class hours, I had to leave the classroom to answer calls from clients and calls about work operations. Having to do this while the class was in session was not easy as it meant missing a fair bit of what the professor was teaching. However, the programme’s assignment-based curriculum, comprising self-paced research and project work, enabled me to get through this period of struggle and learn more effectively. Despite the difficult circumstances, I eventually completed my programme with Second Class (Upper) Honours.

On the whole, the programme has taught me several important lessons, including the need to collaborate well with clients so as to nurture better working relationships. The knowledge and skills that I acquired through the programme have helped me to build a strong rapport with my clients and established a more credible and trusting relationship with them.