Promoted by Monash University Malaysia

The future of business is international with Monash Business

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Business today knows no borders. Marketing, sales and processes cut across different countries, while people, products, ideas and money cross national borders every minute of every day. How does a business student prepare to thrive in this fast-paced, interconnected environment?

One proven way is through getting a truly global education by studying abroad. At Monash University Malaysia’s School of Business (Monash Business), students stand a mighty chance of increasing their exposure, personal growth and employability through the highly-ranked School’s Study Abroad program.

The world is your oyster at Monash Malaysia

International students on an exposure tour in Sekinchan

As Professor John Benson, Head of Monash Business, says: “We welcome students from all over the world at Monash University Malaysia. During their time with us, our exchange students not only enjoy a unique campus life in Asia, but the new friends they make, the places they travel to, and the experience of living with a different culture will prove to be a major step in becoming a truly global citizen.”

Located in Kuala Lumpur’s Sunway City (the country’s first sustainable township), the University’s campus is home to a student cohort where as many as a third of its students are international. Its cosmopolitan community consists of students hailing from 71 countries including India, Denmark, the Maldives and Indonesia.

“The best part about studying here at Monash is that I get to collaborate with people of different nationalities and cultures,” says Memetaz Jahan Benezon, an international student from Bangladesh who is currently pursuing a Master of International Business at Monash.

Here, students from Monash’s partner institutions are classified as international exchange participants and can benefit from a streamlined application process and seamless integration to the Monash way of life. If your university is not a Monash Abroad partner, you can still exchange to Monash Malaysia as a fee-paying study abroad student and make use of existing academic support and services available to Monash students – a big score considering Monash is ranked in the top one per cent of world universities – 80th in the world – according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2017-2018).

Students at a hot air balloon festival as part of their exposure tour

Anette Kihlgast, an international student from Denmark, is currently pursuing a Master of International Business at Monash Business, a program that pays special focus to global aspects of enterprise – including cross-cultural competencies and leadership – vital skills to learn to meet the needs of today’s multinational companies. And with a look towards Asia and emerging economies, the time is ripe for more aspiring business minds to get as global an education as possible.

After all, a survey by the Financial Times published in August this year found the “ability to work with a variety of people” and the “ability to build, sustain and expand a network of people” to be among the top skills leading employers want from MBA graduates today.

Master of International Business student Anette Kihlgast, originally from Denmark

Khilgast certainly got herself a global education. The postgrad business student not only describes her time at Monash as “different, challenging and exciting” but also rich in diversity and giving her the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds who have inspired her.

Go abroad for success

The benefits of an international experience during the most important years of our lives – university – are well documented. Student mobility is encouraged by governments all over the world, from China to the UK. Those who go abroad are nine per cent more likely to earn a first-class or 2:1 degree and 24 per cent less likely to be unemployed, according to a recently launched report, Go International: Stand Out, by Universities UK International.

Monash Business wants this same advantage for its students, providing an Exchange Program with more than 100 partner universities across the globe, as well as Monash South Africa. Partner institutions that offer business courses include Canada’s Carleton University, France’s ESSEC Business School and the UK’s University of Warwick.

Another option is to pursue an Intercampus Exchange at Monash Australia or a Faculty Overseas Program (FOP) short coursework experience, allowing you to complete a Monash University unit intensively overseas.

Malaysian students who choose to go on an exchange program in Melbourne, home to four Monash Campuses, don’t only get to live in Australia’s best city for students according to QS Best Student Cities, but also continue to receive credit to put towards their Monash degree with all units appearing on their academic transcript. Best of all, they continue paying regular fees to Monash Malaysia in their home country’s currency.

Anders Budde, an exchange student at Monash Australia from Denmark, had this to say about his experience: “I’d recommend coming to Monash anytime. The campus facilities are really great, everything is well structured and the academic level is good. And the best part – Monash is located in incredibly cool Melbourne.”

Cher Minn Tiong (front right), student of the double degree Bachelor of Business and Commerce (Management) and Bachelor of Communications on an exchange at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands

As for FOPs, which take place in the form of study tours and field trips, students get to take up an immersive core or elective unit in overseas locations. This is perfect for those who cannot fit a semester-long program into their degree or for those who worry about having the funding for this semester abroad.

These short programs could be anywhere from the tropical paradise of Fiji to the Asian superpower China, even halfway across the world in Chile and Rwanda. The programs, which typically take two to four weeks, run during semester breaks and may include multiple stops in multiple locations.

One popular overseas destination is the Monash Prato Centre in Italy, capitalising on its a strategic European base for education and research collaborations. Close to the cultural, intellectual and industrial wealth of Europe, more than 15,000 students, staff and visitors from around the world have come to Monash Prato since its establishment to attend courses, conferences and events.

For Rachel Kamath, who was studying towards a Bachelor of Engineering/Bachelor of Arts, her one month in Monash Prato in 2012 really helped her with her unit in Italian language. “I enjoyed the conversation exchange which happened every week. I had the great opportunity to meet up with locals and to try to learn Italian and speak with them, so that was very interesting,” she says.

For Nadali Dayananda, a Monash Business student, her time at Monash Prato in July 2013 has been described as “such a valuable learning experience”.

“My education has been unbelievably enriched by this program. What an excellent option other than a semester abroad.”

For more information on the programmes and experiences offered by Monash Business, please visit monash.edu.my/business, and follow Monash Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Weibo, Instagram and LinkedIn