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Name: Adrian
Tan
Country of Origin: Malaysia
Place of Study: Singapore Polytechnic
Looking back, I can see that my family played
a big part in influencing my choice of higher
education. Civil engineering was a natural choice
because my father, who worked in this line all
his life, made it sound so interesting. My elder
brother, the Chief Engineer of a large shipping
company, had graduated in Marine Engineering from
Singapore Polytechnic, while my sister had also
studied Biotechnology there. Both of them were
living in Singapore. So after completing my secondary
education in Malaysia, I decided to enrol in the
Civil and Structural Engineering diploma course
at the Singapore Polytechnic.
Coming to Singapore opened up a whole new experience.
Life was very different from Alor Star in the
north of peninsular Malaysia, where I grew up.
Suddenly, I was plunged into a large campus of
14,000 students in a fast-paced, bustling city.
It was an exciting time.
The polytechnic offered lots of opportunities
that I had never dreamed of. Just after my first
semester, some of us were selected to take part
in a model bridge building competition organised
by a Malaysian institution. Our four entries bagged
the first, second and two consolation prizes.
I found my course interesting and the lecturers
were approachable and supportive. There was one
in particular, Mr C. H. Sia, who motivated us
not only in studies, but also to do well in competitions
like the Singapore River Raft Race, featuring
home-made rafts constructed out of scrap materials.
It was a wonderful feeling when our team, led
by a Taiwanese student, came in first, and several
rafts from our department also won prizes.
I became very active in the International Students
Interest Group and was elected Vice-President
in my second year. Some of my closest friends
today came from this group, which provides a focal
point of activities for all the international
students on campus. We played together, studied
together, laughed together, shared happy and sad
times, outings, meals and lots of fun and memories.
Among the highlights of my three years at Singapore
Polytechnic was the student exchange programme
in Japan. Thanks to Kanazawa Technical College,
one of the polytechnic's international partners,
each year some lucky students got the opportunity
to spend two weeks in Japan, hosted by KTC. We
were showered with so much warmth and affection
from our host families that it was so hard to
leave them. I spent nine unforgettable days with
my hosts, and we still keep in touch until today.
All of us had to do two periods of internship
as part of our course. I spent the first period
of eight weeks with a construction company back
in my hometown, learning about site supervision
on a housing project in a nearby town. For the
second eight weeks I was attached to Singapore's
Land Transport Authority, working on road design
projects. The internships provided good experience
and we were able to earn some money too.
Studying at the polytechnic was a very fruitful
and fulfilling experience, not only academically,
but also because it gave me the opportunity to
try many new things. I completed my course in
1998, graduating with a Diploma with Merit. Despite
the economic downturn at that time, I was fortunate
to find a job almost immediately. For the next
year I worked as a site supervisor in charge of
building several blocks of public housing. I accepted
the offer of Permanent Resident status in Singapore.
Then I decided to enrol in the National University
of Singapore last July. With my polytechnic diploma,
I was given direct entry into the second year
of the Civil Engineering degree programme. I expect
to complete my degree in two years' time. Civil
Engineering really interests me and I am looking
forward to practising as a professional engineer.
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Name: Shradha Chowdhury
Country of Origin: India
Place of Study: 2004 Graduate, College of Asia Pacific Studies. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
 After completing high school in Delhi, looking for unique opportunities outside India, I decided to go to study at an international university by the name of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Japan. I still remember how apprehensive I was, making undoubtedly the hardest decision I had ever taken: leaving my family and loved ones behind in the country I had lived in all my life, for a country I did not know. My fears were compounded by the fact that APU was a brand new university with no history and hence no reputation. But that was a gamble I decided to take in the hope of a challenging university life, an enriching experience and attractive returns in the future.
There was no end to my anxiety when I would think of studying in a totally new environment, with students and faculty from all over the world, speaking languages I had never heard before. Apart from the language barrier, I had to come to terms with not only one, but several new cultures. The style of teaching and learning so very different from what I had been accustomed to, made me extremely nervous about how things would pan out. After four years at APU, would I emerge a success? Would I be able to leave behind something of significance? Would I be able to become a global citizen? There was no end to the number of questions waiting to be answered. Now, two years after graduating as a topper from APU, I can confidently say that the gamble has paid off, and that I am more than glad of the decision I had taken 6 years back.
The very challenges that were of concerns initially, taught me more than anything else in my university life and helped me grow as an individual. APU taught me the importance of communication. Moreover, I learnt that more than the 'language' itself, it is important to have the desire and patience to understand other people. In a world with innumerable cultures, I learnt that it is crucial to have an open mind, with a curiosity to learn new things everyday. And it is no surprise that these important lessons that I learnt at APU have molded me into a person with a global view, flexible thinking, challenging spirit and excellent communication skills - making me an ideal candidate for firms both in and outside Japan. APU has helped me carve a unique niche for myself in the global market. I am confident that the knowledge and skills I have gained at APU will make me an even more successful player on the global stage in the future.
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Name:
T. Omar Haji
Country of Origin: London, England
Place of Study: Tokyo Japan
Most everyday, I find myself commuting 2 hours
from the north to the largest official amalgamation
of people: Tokyo. One stop from the main business
center of Otemachi on the subway line and one
stop from electric-city, Akihabara on the JR line,
ENPC-Tokyo beckons. When I arrive, I am jokingly
referred to as inaka-bei or country-boy, and have
to field a variety of questions such as 'was there
wet snow last night?' 'have the trees blossomed
yet?' blah-blah-blah. This morning, conversation
obsessed with the weather is certainly ironic
considering that I was born in London and have
spent most of my time in the Pacific Northwest.
Why then do I find myself in this current state
of abuse?
To say that I got married last June to Nobuko
would not suffice, would it? To say that I was
caught-up by the wave of MBA expansion in Asia
would not be sufficient either. Though I was working
in international affairs in Japan and teaching
and finance related jobs in Canada, it was not
until very recently that I sniffed out my calling
in life: to build trust, help others become even
better while demonstrating leadership and benevolence.
Perhaps, if someone offered an advanced degree
in becoming a super-hero, I would have applied
for it. Instead, I am a willing participant in
this grand experiment at ENPC-Tokyo, and focusing
on strategic management change with all its sweeping
implications.
Currently, I am negotiating further Pacific-Rim
exchange possibilities both in North America and
Argentina this summer. Soon, I will be engaged
once again with the inaugural full-time candidates
and the international faculty that fly in to deliver
the modules while enjoying access to the vast
electronic library and global contacts. Whoever
said that MBA schools were an impersonal or staid
affair? Balancing my affairs between newlywed
status and this start-up, international offshoot
all in a faraway land makes for an interesting
adventure. I wouldn't have it any other way, and
it certainly makes for good reading on the train.
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