Going beyond the conventional route

Despite being able to make it to a local university, Ms Jasmine Lu chose to further her studies at University College Dublin.

To reach her career goals, 21-year-old Ms Jasmine Lu opted to pursue a relevant course of study, a Bachelor of Business Studies (Hons) in Management, from the University College Dublin (UCD), offered by Kaplan Singapore.

Her decision to continue her education at private educational institution, Kaplan, surprised her friends as her polytechnic GPA of 3.72 was good enough to enable her to enter a local university.

Says Jasmine: "There are many successful people who did not study at a local university but are just as capable and are carving out a career for themselves."

A prestigious degree

A career in the Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions & Exhibitions (MICE) industry as a wedding or events planner has always been her dream job.

She chose UCD School of Business as it is one of the top 1 per cent of universities in the world*. UCD School of Business is one of the 69 elite business schools in the world to hold the prestigious triple-crown accreditation status, which benchmarks UCD against the top Universities in the world#.

Triple-crown accreditation refers to a business school that has earned the three most distinguished accreditations from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) and Association of MBAs (AMBA).

She also researched UCD's history, ranking and portfolio, and confirmed that the institution is reputable, with many UCD graduates working in the government sector and MNCs.

Moreover, with over two decades of successful partnership between UCD and Kaplan in Singapore, she was also sure that she would get the best and most authentic education at UCD and Kaplan.

Bringing out her best

Her parents were convinced of her choice when she evaluated and affirmed that UCD was an established and reputable institution.

Says her mother, Madam Theresa Tan: "I learned about Kaplan when my daughter introduced it to us and shared with us the courses and degrees offered there. After her research, we agree that choosing Kaplan suited her goals."

"We were very supportive about her plans, so we trusted that she knows what would be best for her," says her father, Mr Louis Loo. "I hope she can develop a lifelong career that suits her interests and potential."

The Kaplan course consultant helped clarify some of her parents' doubts about the course and university. They were also impressed by the facilities at Kaplan and believe it is a conducive environment where she could excel.

Jasmine (extreme right) with her parents and sister.

A quality experience

The UCD course at Kaplan gives students the opportunity to study at the UCD campus in Dublin, Ireland, for 10 days for an on-campus experience, at no extra cost.

Lecturers from UCD also fly in frequently to teach and students can access UCD's online portal for resources, revision support and teaching materials, which students in Dublin also receive. This ensures students receive the same quality of education as on-campus.

Her 18-month degree programme is condensed from a three-year course through reduced term breaks, allowing her to be ahead of her peers. She is expected to graduate with a good class honours.

Organisation Knowledge, Creativity and Innovation, and Project Management are some of the modules she enjoys as they provide a real world perspective that she feels would help in her career.

She says: "It has been an enriching and enjoyable experience, and a never-ending learning journey. I am constantly challenging myself and perfecting my skills through the class discussions, assignments and projects lines up in each module."

Adds her father, Mr Loo: "I believe a credible degree combined with a person's potential and capability on the job are stepping stones to a successful career."

Visit ucdatkaplan.com.sg for more details.