Knowledge is king
tIME management is essential if you are doing postgraduate studies,” says Mohd Hasif Rahmat, who is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Management at Nilai University (Nilai U).
“I have to thank my elder brother for covering for me, especially when I have classes during the day,” explains the 27-year-old who helps run the family building and landscape business.
“Even if you are lucky enough to do MBA full-time, there are plenty of classes and assignments to complete, so time management is crucial. This in itself is a valuable lesson,” affirms Mohd Hasif.
It is sound advice from the Sepang resident who has been a Nilai U student since registering for a pre-university Foundation in Business programme six years ago. He followed that with a degree in Business in Marketing and Management before deciding to go for a Master’s degree. Mohd Hasif chose to do his higher studies at Nilai U because it is near his home.
“I initially applied to some public universities but decided to study in Nilai U as it had the business programme I wanted and is minutes from my home,” he explains.
He believes that it is best if a student can do a Master’s degree straight after completing the degree, as “students will still be in learning mode”.
However, he encourages individuals, mature or otherwise, to pursue a master’s degree whenever possible.
“Learning is a life-long process and I firmly believe a Master’s degree, an MBA in particular, can hugely improve a person’s ability to be a better leader,” he says.
Mohd Hasif’s family was fully supportive of his decision to further his studies. Both his brother and retired military police father wanted him to be the first in the family to have a Master’s degree.
“Although I am running my own business, my brother and father believed an MBA would greatly improve my business acumen and leadership skills,” Mohd Hasif says.
Having spent a number of years at Nilai U campus, Mohd Hasif is in a good position to give an overview of the experience.
“The campus is quiet and peaceful. This is important, as it is ideal for studies. The lecturers here are experienced and helpful. These are among the reasons I stayed with Nilai U from my pre-university programme to postgraduate studies,” he states.
“The important thing is for students to make the most of the opportunity afforded to them. Don't worry whether your college or university is ‘cool’ and ‘happening’. I assure you employers are only interested in the skills and knowledge you have gained,” he says.
Mohd Hasif adds that in today's ultra-competitive environment, it makes sense for individuals who want to stand out from the crowd to go for an MBA.
He also stresses that an MBA is a useful tool for students from all disciplines, not just those from a business background. Students can now enrol in Nilai U with a commencement fee of just RM100 via an education loan scheme with a local bank.
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