Studying while working is an extremely daunting task.
Work responsibilities are enough to weigh us down, let alone having to attend to academic ones at the same time.
However, upgrading oneself remains an important pursuit, and has become more vital than ever.
The future of the economy is uncertain, and pursuing a qualification is one of the few ways we can ensure that we remain relevant and have an advantage over others in the field.
Double the edge
Take Chelsea Goh, for example.
In 2019, the 24-year-old decided to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies and Marketing Double Major Degree programme at Murdoch University at Kaplan while working as an air stewardess.
Photo courtesy of Chelsea Goh
Goh saw the degree programme as an opportunity to leverage her past experiences from her Mass Communications diploma that she received previously at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
Not only did it mean that Chelsea could be exempted for certain modules in her degree programme, she realised that having a double major would give her a competitive edge over others in the future.
Goh appreciated the extensive range of modules that Murdoch University offered, along with the combinations that are available, something she finds unique to the institution.
Besides allowing herself to remain connected to the working world, Goh chose to study and work at the same time as she wanted to make sure that she could independently support herself through university.
I chose to work and study simultaneously because I wanted to be able to finance my studies independently, while maintaining financial freedom. I did not want to be tied down by school loans or have all of my savings be drained by tuition fees. At the same time, I wanted my headspace to remain in the working environment. Thus, I decided to embark on [my studies while working].
While Goh was eager and especially interested in learning more about marketing, it wasn’t a simple thing to juggle both work and studies at all.
Given the nature of her work, Goh had an irregular working schedule.
She had to find time to study and submit assignments, while constantly travelling for work.
As a result, she had to juggle work, studies and rest, often across different time zones.
Murdoch University’s flexibility in lesson planning was therefore a big plus for her. Goh was able to take just two modules per trimester, which meant that she would only need to take two three-hour lessons on alternate weeks.
Meanwhile, her other classmates chose three to four modules at a time.
Now that she is not travelling much due to the pandemic, Goh is also able to increase the number of modules she is studying this trimester to maximise her time.
I enjoy the flexibility that [Murdoch University at] Kaplan provides me, in terms of choosing the number of modules to take per trimester and which days to have lessons. Especially with a job that involves an irregular schedule, this was an important factor to me.
Accommodating and supportive
Besides module planning, Goh recounts how the school did their best to accommodate her needs to carry out online classes for her, even when it was not yet a norm in the early stages of the pandemic.
To protect her fellow classmates and lecturers, Goh had informed the university about her situation, and the university proceeded to make arrangements for her online learning soon after.
Although there were initial teething issues such as the set-up and use of a teleconferencing tool, Goh noted that Murdoch University adapted quickly to significantly improve the online learning experience for their students, by making full use of technology to provide students with a full learning experience at home.
Right now, we use Blackboard Learn which is a platform similar to Zoom. However, it allows the lecturer to form breakout groups for discussions, hold polls, and even have a shared “whiteboard” for students to draw/write our discussion points. It’s a very effective platform for online learning.
The university and her dedicated lecturers were “particularly understanding and empathetic” towards her situation, and Goh said that they went “over and beyond” to assist her with her studies during that period of time.
Accredited and recognised
Like Goh, many students have benefited from Murdoch University’s flexibility in allowing students to chart the course of their studies while managing other responsibilities in work and life.
The various courses bring about an excellent range of topics and relevant industry information that help students graduate with not just a piece of paper, but armed with the latest information and knowledge to tackle the industries they go into.
Besides being suitable for working adults and their hectic schedules, students can also study with a peace of mind knowing that Murdoch University is accredited and highly-recognised. As one of the World’s Top 100 Global Universities under 50 years old, various degree programmes are accredited and recognised by official associations and institutions.
Murdoch University Singapore Office’s teaching staff also comprises both industry experts and academics with PhD qualifications, allowing students under them to gain practical insight and skills relevant to the industry of their choosing.
With a robust and supportive educational ecosystem, there’s no better time to start your educational journey, and upgrade yourself.
For more details, visit Murdoch University (Kaplan)’s website here.
This sponsored article is brought to you by Murdoch University at Kaplan, one of the world’s Top 100 Global Universities under 50 years old, according to the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2019 – Top 351 Global Universities under 50 years old.
Top image courtesy of Chelsea Goh