It was just a few years ago, when I graduated from Ngee Ann Polytechnic with a Diploma in Information Technology, specialising in Business Management. It was also during that period of time that together with my friends, we formed a technology-related startup company.
That came about, as I was counting the days leading to my national service enlistment. I was constantly presented the finite and whatever significantly little time that I had, as compared to my female counterparts.
Having fully grasped and finally understood the situation, I evaluated the opportunities around me and came to two realisations:
- As my interest had always been in building businesses, I wondered then if there was an education pathway for me to explore, which would allow me to focus on innovating products and services, with a clear understanding of managing frugal resources?
This would be in stark contrast with large corporations, where resources are usually and readily available, and where intra-preneurship is welcomed and strongly encouraged.
- I also realised that I needed to choose a further education programme which could build on my personal development, teach me how to effectively manage my commitments and to allow me to apply the skills and knowledge I learn in class, into the real world.
The programme should also enable me to continue investing and expanding my network of likeminded contacts, as well as to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams.
The Bachelor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship(BIE) programme is offered through Ngee Ann-Adelaide (NAA) Education Centre, by the University of Adelaide(UoA) which has been consistently ranked in the top 1 per cent of universities worldwide. Not only is UoA the state university in Adelaide, Australia, it is also a member of the prestigious Group of Eight, a coalition of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities.
Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the hallmark of excellence in business education which is awarded to less than 5 per cent of the world’s business schools, the BIE programme focuses very much on team projects and in applications, so as to expose students to the fundamentals of real-life business environment – this was one of the main motivating reasons why I decided on this programme to pursue my further studies in.
As there is never a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to searching for a further education pathway, I will focus on these aspects which you could take reference from, if you are on the lookout for a reputed university and/or a quality degree programme.
Be involved in communities that motivate you: Lecturers& Students
In the BIE programme, all of my lecturers are either business owners themselves or are angel investors with renowned global venture capitalist firms.
Some of my classmates have also been working for more than a decade and a few of them also aspire to be business owners one day.
Be it in class interactions or during project discussions, they are all generous to share and exchange their rich experiences, as well as how they intend to make significant changes in people’s lives with their business ideas and product offerings.
Constantly exposed to a wealth of knowledge, we are closely bonded by the same fiery passion for entrepreneurship, both lecturers and students alike.
Understand the dynamics of learning from different culture
Hands on, working in teams: Our first task during the first lesson was to buildthe tallest possible structure out of satay sticks together as a team with little time
My lecturers hail either from Australia, the United States of America or Holland. Their culture is pretty simple and straightforward – Get Up & Go. If my peers and I wanted something, we would have to step up to claim it. The delivery of lectures is designed to facilitate reasoning, to encourage strategic thinking and to evoke emotions from participants. There were many situations and instances, where we had to defend our work, share our opinions and even to accept criticisms.
The programme is designed to get students to interact intellectually, discuss and exchange concepts, as well as collaborate to put a business plan into action.
Succeeding through self-accountability & teamwork
This cannot be emphasized enough: most of the project assignments require a determined personal effort and the willingness to step out of the usual comfort zone to understand yourself, your teammates, leverage on their strengths, complement each other’s weaknesses, so as to achieve an eventual common aim.
To put it simply, it is utmost necessary for you to establish and maintain close relationships with your classmates; you never know where life takes you after graduation.
Pursue something you love; the returns on your investments may just prove to be worth your while10 or even 20 years later
The end is always a start of a brand new journey: University of Adelaide (Singapore), Alumni Homecoming 2016
Writer’s Biography
Jeremy Goh is an Entrepreneur, Communicator and Toastmaster. He runs FingerRun Pte Ltd – a social enterprise driven media agency and community, OneVocal. Previously, he advised many government, not-for-profit / non-profit organisations and private sectors in developing their marketing and product strategies, engaging their communities, building and bridging digital/ physical relationships and turning ideas into realities.
Not too long ago, he was also the Senior Advisor for the Youth Infocomm Ambassadors for the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), a government body which cultivates a vibrant and competitive infocomm industry in Singapore. The team of ambassadors represents the voices of many aspiring technologists in Singapore.
During his free time, he volunteers as a Grassroots Leader for his local community.
He has also led many marketing and outreach activities for various organisations, such as the Singapore Computer Society (SCS), People’s Association (PA), Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) of Singapore, Singapore Business Federation (SBF), Opera Software, BlackBerry (Research in Motion), Little Big Sound, TravelPac, Breadou, Get Singapore, ShowNearby/Global Yellow Pages, Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), etc.
His full disclosure of affiliations and the organisations he has worked with, can all be found on his LinkedIn page here, as well as on his blog here.
Jeremy Goh is also a current student of the Bachelor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship programme offered by the University of Adelaide, through the Ngee Ann-Adelaide Education Centre. Consistently ranked in the top 1 per cent of universities worldwide, the state university of Adelaide is also a member of the prestigious Group of Eight, a coalition of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities.
