Graduates excel in Asia

Recent offshore graduation ceremonies in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong highlighted the University's outstanding calibre of international students who are excelling in their chosen fields. Reporter Candy Gibson interviewed three of them for this issue of Lumen.

A leading Malaysian scholar is paving the way for teenagers to become more proficient in the English language

Nadzrah Abu Bakar, who is a lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, has just completed her PhD at the University of Adelaide, studying the use of computers for teaching English to secondary school students.

For the past three years, Nadzrah has worked under the supervision of University of Adelaide linguistics experts Dr Peter Mickan and Professor Peter Mühläusler, studying the best methods to help Malaysian secondary school students at Malaysian "Smart Schools" improve their English.

Her PhD at the University of Adelaide has shown that computers in the classroom can be beneficial tools to teach English, the country's second language.

"But in order for the integration of computers to be successful, the education system in Malaysia needs to change and become less exam oriented," Nadzrah said.

"Teachers have very little time in the classroom at the moment to use computers. They are too focused with the syllabus and need to be freed up to use computers as a valuable teaching tool."

While all Smart School students have computers in the classroom, most Malaysian schools do not.

"Eventually every school in Malaysia will have one, and I hope my PhD will help encourage this."

Nadzrah was born in Seremban, Negri Sembilan. She received her first degree (BA in English) from the University of Western Illinois, USA, and her second degree (MA in TESOL) from the University of Northern Iowa, USA.

She taught in a secondary school for seven years before joining Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia as a lecturer. The University and the Malaysian Government have sponsored her PhD in Adelaide.

Nadzrah graduated with her PhD in Humanities and Social Sciences from the University of Adelaide at an offshore ceremony in Malaysia on Sunday, 23 April.

Singapore's Hartmut Dongus does not do things by halves.

The 38-year-old banker heads the Singapore credit department of one of Germany's largest banks, Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW), which has total assets of more than EUR $400 billion.

He has just completed an MBA from the University of Adelaide, studying part-time and in a foreign language.

Despite the language difficulties and the enormous pressure of his work and study, Hartmut received the Ngee Ann-Adelaide Prize for the Most Outstanding 2005 MBA Student when he graduated in Singapore on Saturday, 22 April.

Apart from his recently acquired MBA, Hartmut holds two German degrees, one in business administration and the other in banking and finance.

For the past 15 years he has worked for LBBW in the area of credit control and risk management, moving to Asia more than 10 years ago.

His list of achievements in the Singapore banking world is impressive. He has responsibility for the branch's credit facilities to corporate customers, its syndicated loans and project financing, as well as loan restructurings.

"Keeping it simple, looking outside the box--and doing, not listening" is his recipe for success.

Hartmut selected the University of Adelaide for his MBA because it offered good value for money.

"I had to pay the fees entirely myself since my first two studies were already company sponsored. I was looking for a good university and a highly respected MBA program at a reasonable price--I found it in the University of Adelaide.

"My German degrees are not well known and recognised in this part of the world, so I wanted to overcome this with the MBA.

Hence, I was looking for an established and recognised university in Asia, since I intend to stay in this region. Many lesser known US and British universities were ruled out, leaving me with the Australian ones.

"I liked the idea of dealing with the University directly through the joint venture with Ngee Ann. Other universities often go through agents here in Singapore, which can cause problems."

Hartmut said the flexibility of the MBA course at the University of Adelaide also appealed.

"Most other universities have very rigid schedules, whereas this MBA offered a lot of flexibility. The composition of the students--a mix of senior and junior managers--made for a more interesting course as well."

Hartmut credits the MBA with giving him new ideas to apply to his job. "I have gained a lot of new insights into areas such as knowledge management, which has helped me restructure things and make improvements everywhere".

The University of Adelaide counts some illustrious Singapore alumni in its ranks, including Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Tony Tan, and OCBC Chairman and former Singapore Airlines CEO, Dr Cheong Choong Kong.

Hong Kong businesswoman Angela Huang works for the world's largest household cleaning products company (excluding laundry detergents), Reckitt Benckiser. She also happens to have an MBA from the University of Adelaide.

Angela was one of 64 MBA students who graduated from the University of Adelaide at an offshore ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Hong Kong, on Sunday, 30 April.

Along the way, the Taipei-born scholar collected the Hong Kong Institute of Housing Prize for Managing Contemporary Organisations and another prize for Strategic Management.

As the commercial controller for Reckitt Benckiser's Hong Kong operation, Angela is responsible for managing its business systems, including planning, forecasting and analysis. Globally, net revenues for the company exceed $A 9.6 billion.

The Hong Kong business cluster, including Taiwan, was the company's best performing country in East Asia for 2005.

Seeking an edge on her business contemporaries, Angela applied to study for her MBA through the University's offshore program at the Hopkins Training and Education Centre.

"I obtained my first degree--a Bachelor of Commerce--in Australia 10 years ago and I wanted to do my MBA at Adelaide because I believe Australia offers the world's best quality of education.

"In order to remain successful in Hong Kong's competitive marketplace, I wanted a course which gave me superior leadership skills and top-notch decision-making abilities. Without professional qualifications or postgraduate studies, there is very little chance of getting promoted in Hong Kong.

"The Adelaide MBA program features a curriculum that prepares students for the emerging knowledge economy, emphasising the latest concepts, modern practices and relevant skills in today's rapidly changing global marketplace.

"Its weekend mode of lecturing also offers a flexible study pattern which enables MBA students to concentrate on their week day work without missing any lectures."

Angela credits the MBA with helping to develop her leadership skills and to plan ahead in business.

"Although the course was a lot of hard work, I am really seeing the benefits--and not just in dollar terms. I am now more equipped to take up the challenge of growing to the next level.

"Moreover, the University of Adelaide has an extensive alumni connection, providing excellent networking opportunities among current and former students," Angela said.