EVERY year, hundreds of degree graduates enrol into postgraduate programmes in the local universities. Reasons for furthering their studies beyond a bachelor’s degree vary, but primarily they are for professional and personal development.
Some university graduates may undertake postgraduate study to specialise after doing a more general undergraduate degree, gain professional recognition, increase the depth of their knowledge and expertise in their chosen field, or because it is a pre-requisite for a particular occupation. A post-graduate qualification also allows one to do high-level work that is stimulating, challenging, and ultimately more rewarding.
Whilst undergoing post-graduate studies, students will have opportunities to meet accomplished professionals, researchers and contacts along the way, and also like-minded individuals who are equally ambitious and passionate about what they do.
Postgraduate studies can also be quite demanding and fast-paced. Students must be ready to give their full commitment, determination, dedication, discipline and be passionate to complete the course.
Inevitably, some form of financial and time investment are required to pursue a Master’s or PhD degrees. In most cases, the return from getting a higher qualification and having better job prospects can outweigh the initial investments. Nevertheless, it is a decision that should not to be taken lightly and one must be clear about his or her motives.
Haji Mohd Khairuldini bin Haji Metali, PhD student in Environmental Engineering
Zatil Ridh’wah binti Darot, an MSc student in Management and Technology
Zahid Naeem Qaisrani, an MSc student in Water Resources Engineering. – PHOTOS: UTB
In Brunei, opportunities to pursue postgraduate studies are offered by local institutions of higher learning.
Three graduate students shared their studying and research experience at Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), which offers both Masters and PhD programmes:
Where did you do your undergraduate study?
Zatil Ridh’wah binti Darot: I received my Bachelor of Business (Honours) in 2015 with First Class in Business Information Technology from UTB.
Haji Mohd Khairuldini bin Haji Metali: After finishing my HND at UTB, I was selected to join the second year of the Civil Engineering degree under the twinning programme between UTB and Queen’s University of Belfast, and then completed my Masters in Civil Engineering at the same university.
Zahid Naeem Qaisrani: I did my undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), Quetta, Pakistan.
Did you work before joining UTB? Where and what was your responsibility?
Zatil Ridh’wah: After completing the final semester of my degree in May and while waiting for graduation in October 2015, I worked as a Research Assistant to Dr Ulaganathan Subramanian, Programme Leader for Accounting in UTB.
A research assistant is expected to contribute in many ways to a research project within a well-defined guideline, with typical responsibilities including conducting literature reviews, analysing, summarising and organising collected data.
Haji Mohd Khairuldini: After completing my HND, I worked with My Space Gallery Sdn Bhd for a few months as an admin/sales/technician. Then, I worked as a Project Management Officer at TSL Sdn Bhd to monitor on a day-to-day basis, the ‘S’ curve of each activity in a major project.
Zahid Naeem Qaisrani: Before joining UTB, I worked as a process engineer in the chemical industry in Pakistan and as a lecturer at BUITEMS, Pakistan. The core responsibilities of my jobs were: process control at the plant and delivering lectures on various technical subjects in the Faculty of Engineering at the university.
Why did you choose to further your study at postgraduate level?
Zatil Ridh’wah: Personally, since high school, I have the ambition to earn a PhD, and Masters is a stepping stone to achieve the dream. At the end of my undergraduate study, I still had the desire to learn and satisfy my intellectual curiosity.
My parents want me to receive the education they never had. They taught me that I could achieve anything with good education, solid goal and an unfaltering determination. As a daughter, when the time comes, I hope to make my parents proud.
Haji Mohd Khairuldini: During my Master’s study at Queen’s University of Belfast in 2015, I was informed by my UTB lecturer that there was a project on water quality in Brunei Darussalam. I was interested in the project and it was relevant to some of the modules that I had learned, especially in the areas of environmental engineering.
Apart from that, I wanted to gain more knowledge and experience in research before I proceed to pursue my career as a Chartered Engineer and lecturer.
Zahid Naeem Qaisrani: As an academician, it is my core responsibility to equip myself with updated knowledge for the development of the nation. So, postgraduate study is my best option to obtain experience from expert supervisors and people of different backgrounds and cultures.
How is the postgraduate study different from your previous experience at the undergraduate level?
Zatil Ridh’wah: The amount of time it will take to complete a taught Master’s degree is one year, compared to the three or four years for undergraduate studies. It means that postgraduate study is a lot more intense than an undergraduate degree. Postgraduate course is more of a sprint than a marathon.
Throughout your education, you’ve gradually been given more independence with your learning, the idea is that you motivate yourself and learn independently. You’re expected to come up with your own original ideas rather than just learning about what other people think.
Haji Mohd Khairuldini: For undergraduate study, modules are taught by lecturers and the time is fixed. While for postgraduate study, most of the time is spent doing research. It comprises searching and reading for knowledge (journals, articles and conference proceedings), meeting with engineers from government and private sector; and, designing and monitoring experimental setup. Mostly, I work independently and the time is flexible.
Zahid Naeem Qaisrani: This is the platform where postgraduate students can connect with the world through writing research articles, presenting their work in different national and international conferences and joining different research labs and groups.
In UTB, I have been able to polish my writing and critical thinking skills in one-and-half year.
What is your advice to those planning to do postgraduate study?
Zatil Ridh’wah: If you’re coming to the end of your undergraduate study but still have the desire to learn and carry out research, a postgraduate course can satisfy your intellectual curiosity.
Postgraduate study gives you the chance to really specialise in your field and advance your knowledge. If you enjoy your subject of study then perhaps you have the motivation to move on to a higher degree.
In this economically difficult time, finding a job is a challenge. Of course, you don’t want to enter postgraduate study just to avoid looking for a job, but continuing on to further education while recruitment is at a low makes sense economically.
Haji Mohd Khairuldini: First of all, find a suitable topic that you are interested. Look for a good supervisor who can guide you throughout the programme. You must meet and have a discussion about the topic with the potential supervisor before you enroll in a postgraduate study.
Dedication, responsible, good time management, punctuality, good leadership, being respectful and being humble with other people, are the keys to be a successful postgraduate in the future.
Zahid Naeem Qaisrani: I strongly recommend new graduates to join postgraduate studies to fulfil their dreams. Whatever your background and interest are, go for a research in that field. You can make a change if you really want to. Think, decide and act before it is late. – UTB
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