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1. NUS Business School • School of Computing
Business Analytics Centre
in collaboration with IBM
For more information
email: msba@nus.edu.sg
url: msba.nus.edu
fb: www.facebook.com/nusmsba
NUS Business Analytics Centre
ICube I3 Building #03-11
21 Heng Mui Keng Terrace
Singapore 119613
Big Data Analytics Technologies
Consumer Analytics
Finance and Risk Analytics
Healthcare Analytics
Application for admission to 2017 intake is now open.
Register for Information Session at website below:
http://msba.nus.edu/events
Information Session
Statistical Analytics
Be The New Generation of
Leaders in Business Analytics
NUS Master of Science
in
Business Analytics
Date : 22nd January 2017
Time : 2.30pm – 4.30pm
Location : NTUC Centre,1 Marina Boulevard,
Level 7 (Room 701),
Singapore 018989
Apply for the Aug 2017 intake by 15 Apr
Sat, 14 Jan, 2pm to 3pm
National Library Board
100 Victoria Street
Register online at
www.iss.nus.edu.sg/PreviewTalks
PREVIEW TALK
NEW!
NUS-ISS Certificate in Digital Solutions Development
Leading to the Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis
A series of four stackable courses that you can take in your preferred sequence and pace. Take
advantage of the flexibility to plan your learning journey and stack your way into an IT career!
Find out more at our Preview Talk!
INDUSTRY-RELEVANT CURRICULUM
Learn about the real-world via
industry-tailored content through lectures,
workshops, laboratory sessions and projects
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Gain experiences through a 7-month
intensive training with project work, and a
5-month industrial attachment to
companies
RENOWNED TEACHING STAFF
Acquire cutting-edge IT knowledge and
skills from lecturers with global industry
experiences
SkillsFuture Credit & Mid-Career
Enhanced Subsidy applicable
for eligible students
Embark on a 1-year transformational journey
Tel: (65) 6516 2093 Email: issgdipsa@nus.edu.sg www.iss.nus.edu.sg/gdipsa facebook.com/iss.nus
INSTITUTE OF SYSTEMS SCIENCE, NUS, 25 HENG MUI KENG TERRACE, SINGAPORE 119615
SPECIAL | SPH CONTENT LABPOSTGRADUATE STUDIES I
MR ALAN Koo started his career
as an engineer, and over the years,
has honed his technical compe-
tencies through various courses.
The 43-year-old is a Certified
Operations Professional, Ad-
vanced Certificate in Training and
Assessment (ACTA) trainer who
holds several auditor ISO certifi-
cations.
But the manager at a govern-
ment-linked company realised
that he needed to broaden his
skill set beyond the technical as-
pect to progress to the next level.
So he decided to pursue a Mas-
ter of Business Administration
(MBA).
Mr Koo says that the decision
was in part inspired by a col-
league who had been working for
the company for 20 years, and lost
out on a promotion to a candidate
with an eight-year tenure. He felt
that an MBA qualification proba-
bly tilted the balance in the latter’s
favour.
He says: “I learnt a very impor-
tant lesson that day; it is essential
to equip yourself with the neces-
sary competencies before it is re-
quired. You never know when you
will need it.
“Success in life is equal parts
hard work, opportunities and luck.
With an MBA, I believe I stand a
better chance at competing with
other candidates to get promoted
and advance in my career.”
Broader perspectives
After researching various pro-
grammes available in the market,
Mr Koo decided to go for the MBA
programme awarded by Murdoch
University via Kaplan.
“The Murdoch MBA fits into
my overall long-term train-
ing roadmap to make me an
all-rounder well-versed in mul-
tiple disciplines,” Mr Koo says,
adding that Murdoch’s pro-
grammes offered good value.
The programme consists of
eight units and can be completed
in 12 months on a part-time basis.
Merging studies in business,
governance and sustainability,
the programme provides a multi-
disciplinary learning approach
that imparts expert skills required
for career advancement.
These include creating and
managing global businesses,
leadership, strategy, accounting
and finance as well as specialisa-
tion in management, marketing
or policy.
Mr Koo recommends the MBA programme awarded by Murdoch University via Kaplan to professionals who have been in the industry for several years.
PHOTO:KAPLAN
ESTHER TEO
Gaining a competitive advantage
flexibility to plan and study at his
own pace.
“As part of my learning style, I
like delving into subjects in great
detail.
“I need sufficient time to im-
merse myself in the concepts and
gain deeper knowledge on apply-
ing them at work,” he adds.
Mr Koo also liked that the lec-
turers at Kaplan were friendly
Mr Alan Koo believes that an MBA will help
him progress to the next level in his job
The Murdoch MBA
programme has
been one of the best
investments in my life.
MR ALAN KOO
manager
and approachable, constantly en-
gaging the students. By treating
the students as partners in their
learning journey, they instilled
the joy of learning.
“The Murdoch MBA pro-
gramme has been one of the best
investments in my life,” he says.
“It has helped me to make sense
of the world around me and re-
veals what is going on in the mind
of the management. I now know
how to create win-win relation-
ships with my stakeholders,” he
adds.
He recommends the pro-
gramme to professionals who
have been in the industry for sev-
eral years.
He explains: “It can help us to
reflect on what we have done in
the past, as well as review and
With links to the university’s
reputable Asian Research Cen-
tre, the programme’s units have
a strong focus on Asia’s main
growth markets.
Its global perspective is also
derived from Murdoch’s engage-
ment with communities around
the world through its alumni,
campuses, research and partner-
ships.
Students will get practical in-
sights and networking opportu-
nities through a range of industry
guest speakers and up-to-date
project work in collaboration
with external companies.
The programme is especially
suited to the working schedules
of professionals as it can be com-
pleted over a longer period of
time if preferred. There are sever-
al intakes each year. Students can
study units online or in class, and
choose day or evening classes.
Study at own pace
Murdoch’s MBA programme at
Kaplan provided Mr Koo with the
assess how to perform better if
we encounter the same situations
again.”
Mr Koo says studying at Kaplan
has also helped him feel young
and inspired.
“At the Kaplan campus, I got to
interact with the young leaders of
tomorrow. It gave me a nostalgic
feeling, I felt I was 20 and back in
university,” he adds.
Sunday, January 8, 2017 | The Sunday Times | 17