Sri Lankan students’ journey Made Possible by Melbourne

Now Director of a cargo company in Sri Lanka, when Haseem Khan came to the University of Melbourne to complete his Bachelor of Commerce, followed by a Master of Finance at Melbourne Business School, he wasn’t sure what to expect. Going to Shanghai for an intensive subject certainly wasn’t on his radar.

Khan participated in Melbourne Business School’s highly competitive Global Business Practicum (GBP) subject, which sees teams of students undertaking real business consulting projects for host companies overseas in destinations like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and of course, Shanghai, where Khan and his team were working on a assignment for a bank.

“(The GBP) allowed me to apply the technical skills acquired in the classroom, into practical applications within a real organisation. Being exposed to a new work culture (in a foreign country) was such an enriching experience.”

Khan feels it was unique opportunities like the GBP, as well as getting involved in student life at the University, which helped him land a coveted graduate role at strategy and consulting giant Accenture in 2014. While his studies had given him indepth business knowledge, enriching his degree through his involvement in University clubs, helped him build up his soft skill base, which Khan feels was invaluable during his time at Accenture, “As I worked mainly in project-based teams, being able to motivate, delegate and work dili- gently to drive the desired outcome was crucial.”

‘Building your network’ may sound like business jargon but Khan is a strong believer in making connections that count, “One of the most valuable things I gained during my studies were the friendships I made, both with my peers and academic staff. They served as my support circle – from helping me solve case studies, to career advice, to simply providing motivation – and I am proud to say these connections have continued on after graduation.”

Recent University of Melbourne Sri Lankan graduate, NimhaPathirage, agrees with Khan. Now an Analyst within Deloitte Australia’s Audit and Assurance team she feels the combination of her Bachelor of Commerce degree and participation in extracurricular activities, set her apart in a competitive job market.

“The Bachelor of Commerce, developed my key technical knowledge. I have also been able to nur- ture soft skills such as communication, leadership and teamwork, both through tutorials and assignments but also by being involved in University clubs and societies.”

Pathiragealso enjoyed the structure of the Bachelor of Commerce degree as it allowed her to learn about all aspects of business while specialising in accounting and finance with a double major. Since starting work, the up-to-date and relevant nature of the course to the business-world is something she views as highly valuable. One of the ways the Bachelor of Commerce connects to business is with its Global Management Consulting subject.

Similar to the post-graduate GBP offering, the consulting subject is an overseas intensive run at hostorganisations. Current student, Eranga Chamal Gomes, from Sri Lanka, went to San Francisco in January for the Global Management Consulting subject and described the experience as the ‘best opportunity.’ Gomes says he may not have had the chance to undertake the subject without the support of a Faculty scholarship, which awards top students like Gomes, Travel Grants. “Being awarded this scholarship greatly encouraged me to move out of my comfort zone and push my bar even higher. It has helped me to maintain a constant high academic performance.”

Business and economics students have a vast array of opportunities awaiting them at the University of Melbourne, both inside the classroom and out. What will you make possible at Melbourne?

The University of Melbourne offers a comprehensive range of business and economics programs for prospective students from the Bachelor of Commerce to Melbourne Business School’s graduate degrees in Accounting, Actuarial Studies, Economics, Finance, Management and Marketing. Learn more > coursesearch. unimelb.edu.au

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