As the pandemic continues to impact higher education institutions and its students, students like Mohammed Sadman Shahriar Rafi continue to push the throttle on their academic dream by refusing to allow the pandemic to deter them from achieving their goals.
Mohammed Sadman Shahriar Rafi managed to continue furthering his studies in Macquarie University, despite the global pandemic.
After completing his Diploma in Business in INTI International College Subang during the lockdown in Malaysia, Sadman wanted to continue pursuing his dream of furthering his degree in Australia, so that he could become a full-time accountant and eventually take care of his parents.
He shared that he was able to enrol into Macquarie University, one of Australia’s best universities, thanks to the help of INTI’s lecturers and staff, after months of toiling through documentation approvals and application processes during the several Movement Control Orders in Malaysia.
“Macquarie’s graduate employability rankings, along with its rankings in the Times Higher Education’s (THE) 2020 World University Rankings made me feel more hopeful about accomplishing my dream. I am also grateful that its partnership with INTI allowed me to smoothly transfer my credits, which resulted in me only having to complete my degree in a year and a half as opposed to the usual three!” said the Macquarie scholarship recipient who shared that his family was just as relieved about the duration of his degree as he was.
Currently pursuing his first semester classes online through Macquarie’s learning management system, i-Learn, from his hometown in Chittagong, Sadman says that he is enjoying the orientation process and learning experience ‘in Macquarie’ and cannot wait to head to the campus in Australia once he can.
“I was not overwhelmed in my first few weeks thanks to the helpful assistance of Macquarie’s staff and senior students and even if I do come across any challenges, I am comforted that there are programmes such as the peer mentorship programme where I can reach out to my seniors from the same course for any guidance or support,” expressed the futsal aficionado too.
Si Xin (middle) with her parents Yeap Teik Chuan (left) and Tan Poh Ai (right) at the University of Minnesota when Si Xin transferred over to U of M.
Similarly, Yeap Si Xin, an INTI American University Programme alumna who transferred over to the University of Minnesota (U of M), US, shares that she is relieved she is able to continue her classes online from the safety of her own home in Penang and that it will not delay her graduation.
“I am currently pursuing my Psychology degree in U of M and I was worried about my parents’ safety when the pandemic started hitting, as they were for mine. Now that I am back with them, I can peacefully continue my classes without worrying about its impact to my future,” shared Si Xin.
When asked about what prompted her to choose the THE’s 2020 World University Ranked institution, Si Xin shared that the institution was known for its strong public research and psychology programme.
“I think they owned their ranking when they placed at 79th because they have a vast amount of academic opportunities available for students. Throughout my time with the university, I also found my lecturers to be very experienced and knowledgeable in their field and I am constantly encouraged to express myself and to speak my mind when it comes to discussions,” expressed Si Xin, saying that her time in U of M is encouraging her to grow to be independent and self-reliant when it comes to determining the course of her future.
Tan Lin Nah, Chief Executive Officer of INTI International University & Colleges, shared that she is happy to hear that alumni like Sadman and Si Xin are thriving in universities abroad despite being in trying times right now.
“INTI has many partnerships with universities who are ranked in THE’s 2020 Top 100 World University Rankings and Top Young Universities, and these partnerships allow our students to smoothly transfer their credits over to the university of their choice. Macquarie and U of M are a few of them,” said Lin Nah.
She continued, “Thanks to the rapid digital transformation and adoption of digital skills happening in universities today as a result of the pandemic, students are able to continue pursuing their academic dream virtually without having to put a halt to their plans,” said Lin Nah.