Lessons learnt abroad

Sunday December 6, 2009
Lessons learnt abroad
By ALYCIA LIM

It is not the learning alone, but the total experience that lures our students to foreign shores.
WITH the strong value of the British pound and the Australian and the US (United States) dollar against the Malaysian Ringgit, one would think that local parents will refrain from sending their children abroad for studies. However, this does not seem to be the case.
There are already about 23,000 Malaysian students currently studying in Australian institutions of higher learning, over 13,000 in the United Kingdom (UK) and another 6,000 students in the US.

These numbers are poised to grow even further despite the bleak economic outlook. StarEducation spoke to education consultants, counsellors, students and parents to find out the “pull’’ factor and what attracts the ever increasing number of Malaysian students to foreign universities.
With so many institutions to choose from, Tony Tan, managing director of education consultancy Studylink says that he always asks students what they are looking for when they decide to study in another country.
“Some people may want to live in a city, but others may like to be in a quieter place. Of course, the cost factor plays a big role as well when deciding on where to go.”
Tan says that he has met many businessmen and executives who can afford to pay for their child’s education abroad, but when it comes to the crux of the matter — that is on deciding on the institution itself — they rely on word-of-mouth from friends and relatives, to get a better idea and to be assured.
Unfortunately, this may not always be the best option for the student, as university rankings may be misleading at times, especially when a student is already interested in a particular course.
“Instead of looking at the rankings, what is more important is for students to know what they want, and find a suitable institution that best fits their needs,” he says.
Parents and students often enrol in an institution based on the university’s ranking, but often end up feeling shortchanged as they do not experience what they had hoped for.

Studying Down Under
One of the most popular study destinations amongst Malaysians is Australia.
Australian Education International education counsellor Louise McSorley says, “Australia is a popular choice amongst Malaysians because of its close proximity to home.
“Parents may also feel more comfortable and assured knowing that their child is only a few hours away by flight.”

She adds that there may also be a sense of familiarity amongst Malaysian students, because there are already many Asians in Australia and students may be able to assimilate better into the community without going through too much of a culture shock.
For Conie Wee, 22, a pharmacy student in the University of South Australia, her decision to study in Adelaide was made after careful consideration.
“Coming from Kota Baru, I wanted to experience studying in a different environment while still living in a laid back place.
“I decided to come to Adelaide in Australia, because apart from the environment, I also felt I was more used to the Australian education system as opposed to the US education system. The UK was not an option at all as it was quite expensive at the time I applied for a place in university.”
Fortunately for her, fitting into the study environment in Adelaide was smooth sailing, as she was lucky enough to meet people who helped her find her footing.
“All I had to do was to ask, and the people around were more than willing to help.”
Tan says that instead of looking at rankings alone, students should decide on finding an institution that fits their requirements.
Living in Adelaide turned out to be a pleasant experience for C. Kughan, 21, who believes that the greatest advantage one has in studying in the city is the fact that it is close to home.
He adds, “I love the laid back culture and the beaches here are beautiful!”
As for living costs, both Conie and Kughan say they spend about A$1,200 (RM3,740) per month on living expenses, including rental.
But over in the state of Victoria, Tasha Amir, 24, who currently studies in the University of Melbourne, pays much more for her city life.
Living in a studio apartment, Tasha forks out A$1,200 (RM3,740) for rental alone each month, plus about A$700 (RM2,180) for food, transport, and entertainment.
In response to the high lodging cost, Louise says, “housing is getting more expensive, but it is not just the students who are paying a lot to live in the city. The economy is booming, and more people are drifting to urban areas, so it is advisable for students to sort out their lodging before they leave.”
Albeit the high living costs, Tasha’s father, Amir Hassan, who is an IT consultant says: “Studying overseas really helped me as it opened my eyes and made me see things from a different perspective. I was lucky to get a government scholarship then because my parents could not afford to send me overseas.
“Since I can afford to send my children overseas, I want them to share and enjoy that experience.”
Asked if he wants his daughter to live in Australia, Amir says he sent her overseas not only to get an education but to let her see the good and bad sides of both countries.
“No place is perfect, and by going to Australia, I hope she gains all the exposure learning about a different culture, and eventually come back to Malaysia to be an element of change here for our country,” he shares.
What about the US?
Dr Coffman: The US is seen as an alternative because tuition fees have not gone up.
With such high costs involved in sending their children to Australia, many parents are also now looking at alternatives.
According to Open Doors 2009, an annual report on student mobility, there has been a 9.5% increase in the enrolment of Malaysian students to the US since last year. Malaysia ranks 21 in the order of countries sending their students to the United States. Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange executive director Dr James Coffman says, “More Malaysians are looking at the US as an alternative for their tertiary studies because tuition fees have not gone up as much compared to the UK and Australia. He adds that accommodation costs are much more affordable, ranging from US$300 (RM1,020) to US$1,500 (RM5,000) per month, although students who are keen on studying in bigger cities like Boston, New York and areas in California will be incurring higher rentals and expenses.
Student Edeleen Lunjew, who is currently doing her undergraduate studies at North Dakota State University majoring in Psychology, decided to try the best of both worlds.
Taking a 2+2 American Degree Programme in a local private college, she managed to get some experience studying locally, and moved to the US in her final two years of study.
Wanting to experience what her parents experienced, Edeleen says that she decided on going to the US as her parents had lived there while her father was pursuing a Masters degree.
Edeleen pays US$290 (RM980) each month on rental and bills and about another US$300 (RM1,020) for other expenses.

UK still attractive
According to the British Council, Malaysians are present in all parts of the UK, although most students prefer larger cities like London, Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham and Liverpool due to familiarity.
There has also been a sudden increase in the student intake last year due to the weakening of the British Pound.

Statistics from the British Council’s Higher Education Student Data showed a jump in numbers, from 11,870 students in 2007, to 13,390 students in 2008.
University of Portsmouth Masters degree student Kingston Liu, who lives in a student dormitory that costs £85 (RM475) a week, says he spends about £500 (RM2,790) to £600 (RM3,350) each month on his total living expenses.
Having recently completed his undergraduate degree in Melbourne, Australia, Kingston says that meals served in restaurants do not vary much from those in Melbourne, but adds that groceries, clothings and books are much cheaper in the UK.
It is also to experience a different lifestyle with the locals and international students, says this friendly and outgoing lad.
However, it is the reverse for 22-year-old Ooi Kean Shean, who says there is nothing like bringing that experience back home.
Currently in his fourth year, Kean Shean, did a twinning programme at Penang Medical College with the Dublin Royal College of Surgeons Ireland.
“I plan to start working in Malaysia, so it is much better to finish my course here and familiarise myself with the types of diseases in this region.”
Although he wished he could have stayed in longer in the UK, the soon-to-be doctor says that he is happy to be back for he can now focus on his studies and “let go of the little things such as household chores so that I can focus on my studies”.

Employment
For many students, the biggest reason for going overseas to complete their tertiary education is to enhance their employability prospects.
But working professionals say that a new graduate should be able to prove that he is competent and has the soft skills.
Tan says that “going overseas may help a student build his self-confidence, but that is not a guarantee that an overseas graduate would be better than a local graduate.”
S. Chan, a human resource officer from a leading accounting firm, says that when hiring graduates, what matters is not so much the institution they graduate from — rather, it is their attitude and the recognition they get in their respective fields that matter.
Chan adds that for specialised fields like accounting, it is more important to be certified by an accounting professional body, and successful applicants are usually those who are able to speak and present themselves well.
Futurestep ASEAN client development leader Lee Beng Khim says that while most multinational companies may require candidates to have minimum qualifications like a diploma or a degree, the candidate’s work experience typically plays an important role.
“Some multinational companies may prefer candidates from foreign universities because of the perception that they are typically more exposed to different nationalities and cultures and have better communication and interpersonal skills, enabling them to cope better in a matrix organisation.”
At the end of the day, Lee says that motivation is the fundamental factor.
If a candidate has all the relevant experience but is not motivated or does not have that ‘drive’ to do the job, then he or she will not be successful, he adds.