“Building bridges for a Lifetime” is the motto for Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM)’s MBA programme. With the spirit of forming a close-knit community of faculty, staff and students, in September 2021, the University celebrated the graduation of its first batch of MBA students.

“My classmates all came from different backgrounds. Although we are so different, we get along with each other very well and the discussions are always inspiring, covering a wide range of topics,” said Ivan Yap Soon Hong, an MBA graduate of Class 09/2021.

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Moon Festivival Celebration

The diverse student profiles bring forth a unique dynamic to the class. With an average age of 30, the students come from various industries, including Oil & Gas, government, banking, healthcare, accounting, etc., and are in different stages of their career, from recent graduates, entrepreneurs, senior executives to C-suite leaders. 

This is a true depiction of the working environment, according to Dr. Tee Keng Kok, the Director of the MBA Center. “When you work in an organization, it is key for people of all ages to work well together in a team to deliver their best,” commented Dr. Tee.

When asked about their learning experience, Chin Jing Yi (MBA graduate of Class 09/2021) recalled that the intensive case studies analysis conducted by lecturers with strong industrial experience truly helped students like him - with minimal working experience - to understand and dive deep into real-world data and issues.

“Throughout my past years as a student, I have never imagined that learning can be so much fun,” he exclaimed.

Meanwhile, what impressed Ivan Yap Soon Hong most is the activities outside the classroom. Sharing on Networking Days, meeting people of different backgrounds, joining industry visits, and seeing how commercial institutes really work... In the past two years, he has achieved great improvement in critical thinking, communication and strategy management.

These fun and improvements are the results of the holistic learning approach upheld by the MBA programme since its inception. As an education movement with roots in the 1960s, holistic education aims to cultivate and develop student’s physical, emotional, moral, psychological, and spiritual attributes, in order to nurture the student into a holistic talent.

For students at the XMUM MBA programme, the holistic learning experience is formed by 3 pillars, namely formal learning, informal learning, and non-formal learning.

Formal learning is when students learn in a classroom setting. Experienced academics from XMUM School of Economics and Management, as well as handpicked part-time lecturers with a wealth of industrial experience, synergistically conduct courses such as Management Communication, Financial Analysis and Decisions, Strategic Management, Managerial Economics, Business Model Innovation, Operations Management, etc.

According to Chin Jing Yi, these courses help part-time students like him better understand tasks in the workplace, integrating theories with practices.

MBA Centre also introduced the Industrial Lecture Programme, bringing experts from different domains into the classroom, as a supplement to the existing courses.

To enrich the Business Model Innovation course, MBA Centre invited Mr. Tham Keng Yew (Founder of SupplyBunny) into the classroom, depicting how the different Digital Business Models were adapted by businesses across industries to thrive or survive during the pandemic. Similarly, the blockchain pioneer Mr. Tan Aik Keong (Founder of Agmo Studio and President of Malaysia Mobile App Developer Associations) joined the classroom of Strategic Management, to enlighten the students on Blockchain applications.

Due to the practical nature of the MBA curriculum, students are encouraged to discuss the challenges they encountered at work in the classroom, and apply what they have learned to their organizations. For this, Ivan Yap Soon Hong commented: My current job requires me to utilize communication and public speaking skills, as well as appropriate strategies to solve workplace conflicts. These tactics have all been covered in classes.

Meanwhile, both informal and non-formal learning happen outside the classroom.

Non-formal Learning activities bring students to visit corporations and factories or to join a study trip to China. As MBA Center believes, the cycle of learning, unlearning and re-learning which propels well-rounded growth would help students to become agile leaders and adapt to the ever-dynamic environment.

As an informal learning activity, Networking Day is one of the signature events organized by MBA Centre since its inception, featuring panel speakers sharing information on the cutting-edge development of the industry. The Networking Day continues amidst the pandemic, as the MBA Centre moved the event online shortly after MCO came into force.

Throughout 2021, three Networking Days were held successfully with themes of “Fintech The World of Opportunities”, “Blockchain: The Decentralised Future” and “Entrepreneurship: The Spirit that Drives Change”. Other popular informal learning activities include Artisanal Chocolate Appreciation, Mindfulness Workshop, Self-Care During Pandemic, etc. 

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Networking Day

Since Informal Learning activities are open to the public, students are given the opportunity to network with like-minded participants from various industries, as well as to learn about unconventional industries and the impact of the SMEs on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). 

To give students first-hand experience of commercial practice, MBA Center has also launched Business Mentoring Programme, inviting successful entrepreneurs to work as business mentors with the MBA students. Currently, there are a total of 14 business mentors, including Dang Tai Luk (Founder of myNEWS.com) and Yeoh Chen Chow (Co-Founder of Fave), guiding students with their personal experience.

Every student has a different reason for pursuing the MBA degree. Chin Jing Yi wished to know the skills needed in the commercial world, Ivan Yap Soon Hong aimed to get high academic credentials and market-oriented courses, while many others wanted to give themselves a second chance.

After committing to the 16-24 months MBA journey, most of them find themselves having achieved more than what they had expected. Some of them have been promoted; some have found better jobs in other companies; some even shined in the academic conference and competitions like IEOM Conference and PPM Regional Business Case Competition.

Speaking of future prospects, Ivan Yap Soon Hong said that working in China would be his first choice. As the second-largest economy in the world, China has become an important destination for study and work. Meanwhile, degree certificates from Xiamen University, study opportunities, and XMU alumni resources have further enriched his MBA journey.

Recently, MBA Center established a partnership with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, forging cooperation in terms of training and career development. In collaboration with the Department of Chinese Studies, MBA Center has also started to offer courses on Fundamental Chinese, Chinese Philosophy, Chinese Infrastructure, and Chinese Law System, enabling students who wish to pursue further career development in China to have a thorough knowledge of the country, with Xiamen University Malaysia as a starting point, connecting countries, peoples, and cultures.