Having turned down Peking University’s scholarship offer and chosen to study at Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) instead, Ong Sui Chang, a Class of 2020 graduate who is currently pursuing his master’s degree at Xiamen University (XMU), shared his story with XMU and XMUM.

Ong Sui Chang

Born in 1997, Ong Sui Chang spent his earlier years in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. After graduated from Chong Hwa Independent High School, he turned down the admissions offer from Peking University and joined XMUM in February 2016, as one of its first batch of degree students.

"Xiamen University is a prominent university in China that I have longed for. I am very happy to be able to study here without having to leave my hometown, " said Ong Sui Chang in an interview.

After four years of study, Ong Sui Chang graduated from XMUM in 2020 with a Bachelor's degree in New Energy Science and Engineering. To explore his research interests, he stayed on as a research assistant and was admitted into Department of Chemistry, Xiamen University in 2021 to pursue a master's degree in physical chemistry.

Currently, Ong Sui Chang's research focuses on the simulation and theoretical analysis of PVS (Particle Velocity Sensor). In his words, it is a technology for precise measurement, capable of detecting the trajectory of moving objects, which can be used in both military and civilian fields.

"Opportunity is only for those who are prepared," Ong Sui Chang said, "I don't know what the opportunity exactly is, but I’ve always been preparing and waiting for it to come."

Ong Sui Chang received 2016 Cihnese Ambassador Scholarship

Ong Sui Chang has set the goal of pursuing further study during his undergraduate years. Hence, he has been familiar with the tiredness of staying up late. "I did feel anxious from time to time," he admitted, "but with the help of my friends, family and lecturers, I decided to stick with my choice."

His first exposure to research came in his junior year, when he started to work on his final year project on fire simulation in green buildings with PARASIM. Under the guidance of his tutor, he read the literature, conducted experiments, did simulations, make comparisons, and drew his own conclusions.

His internship was also related to his final year project. In the R&D department of the company, he was responsible for simulating fire trends.

“These exercises taught me a lot. No matter which field we are in, the ways of scientific thinking are similar.”

Ong Sui Chang said he had many options after graduation. But he thought his current research field both promising and interesting. It only took him a few weeks after getting his HSK results to complete the submission of all his documents for postgraduate study application. 

Compared to undergraduate courses, Ong Sui Chang believes that postgraduate courses require more self-discipline - "You can't take classes just with your ears." In his opinion, the fundamentals play an extremely important role at the postgraduate level, and all his good learning habits have been developed during his undergraduate years.

Ong Sui Chang at Xiamen University Siming Campus

Apart from research, for Ong Sui Chang, the most rewarding part of his undergraduate life was three “different”: Different perspectives, different ways of thinking, and people of different lives.

"The most interesting course I have taken was English Drama with Dr. Song Jiayang," Ong Sui Chang recalled. He and his classmates put on make-up, learned to read lines and sing musicals. He once hid in the bathroom to practice Mamma Mia, and staggered around the stage like a drunk, experiencing a life very different from his daily routine.

He also remembered the silver medal he won at the 3rd “Internet+” Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition with teammates. As a sophomore student, his project was among that year’s top 10 finalists. On the podium, all he could think of was "my university life is so fulfilling". 

Serving as the President of Maths Club, involving in new student orientation, serving as student assistant for different offices, attending various talks... Ong Sui Chang spent many of his vacations on campus. "It was very busy. But it was worth it. If I go back to XMUM, I might recall a thousand stories behind even a tiny corner," Ong Sui Chang smiled.

He summed up his four years at XMUM: "One’s knowledge of the world would be very limited if he only knows academic things. But here, I learned different knowledge, saw different things and met different friends, many of whom I still keep in touch with to this day."

Ong Sui Chang with his friends

Ong Sui Chang says his goal today is to pursue his PhD studies, to find a teaching position at a university so that he can explore the frontiers of technology with his colleagues. But he also says that this is only what he has in mind for the time being, as he is still young, and there are many possibilities.