Featuring Kelvin Ang, MPA Student (Part-time), SMU Masters ASEAN Scholarship Recipient, and Vice President, Group Treasurer at Sembcorp Marine
Kelvin Ang, a part-time MPA student and a recipient of the SMU Masters ASEAN Scholarship, has more than 12 years of work experience in the banking and finance industry. Outside of work, Kelvin is an avid footballer and father to a rather energetic 6-year-old. An active volunteer, he is also the Management Committee member of a grassroots organisation that serves the community in his neighbourhood.
In this article, Kelvin shares what inspired him to join the MPA Programme, and how MPA could help him in his personal and professional development.
What inspired you to join the MPA Programme?
Being an Engineering graduate, I always had the intention to further my studies in Accountancy as it would complement my work as a finance professional. I felt that immersive classroom learning would be beneficial to my studies in the long term. In SMU, we could engage in robust discussions with well-qualified academics and interact with my classmates. This would bring a new dimension to my overall learning experience.
How is the MPA programme beneficial to you?
In quite a short period, I find that I can already contribute more meaningfully during accounting-related discussions at work. I have also become more open-minded in adopting new technologies. For example, when Associate Professor Gary Pan shared that a high proportion of accounting undergraduates are trained in analytics dashboards such as Tableau, Qlik, etc, it made me realise that I needed to pick up new and essential skills that will become commonplace in the finance functions. It also means that a growth mindset is critical if we wish to stay relevant and contribute meaningfully at work. Other than the technical knowledge, learning about the latest trends and issues in accounting would also contribute to my personal and professional development.
What are the challenges that you faced throughout the programme and how did you overcome it?
Juggling the various demands of work, studies, family and community service is certainly not easy! I am extremely fortunate to have a supportive wife Gwen, who can independently look after our boy and allow me to pursue many of the school activities. I am also grateful to have a supportive employer who encouraged me to embark on the MPA programme.
Share your SMU experience.
Having gone through one full semester and amid my second one, I especially relish the interactive nature of every seminar. Being a practitioner, I enjoy comparing and challenging the theories against what I have encountered at work. SMU Accounting Professors have a wealth of experience and are able to reconcile between the textbook knowledge and actual market practices. For example, our Financial Management class is taught by Assistant Professor Yuanto Kusnadi (recipient of Teaching Excellence Award 2019) who is very well organised and extremely well prepared for every lesson.
An interesting anecdote – As a teenager, I used to read Larry Haverkamp’s “Dr Money” articles in the newspapers. Attending his Economics & Statistics class was a fan-boy’s dream come true! With his sense of humour, he was able to make a potentially boring topic so much more enjoyable.
SMU MPA is not all about studies and no play! We formed a class committee to organise social activities outside of the classroom. As President of the Class Committee, I want our foreign classmates to know Singapore better and to have fond memories of their time here. We have held mini competitions at SuperPark, played games at Cafes and met up for hotpots and BBQs. We help each other in school, and we take care of each other.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Actively contributing to the community in any shape and form!
Any tips for candidates who want to join the MPA programme?
Just do it! At any moment, you could be just starting your career, getting married, having your first child, changing jobs. There is no perfect time to commence your post-graduate studies. Lifelong learning is the way to go and the knowledge you acquire in school would empower you at any stage of your life.
Do you know?
The SMU MPA/MSA Global Excellence Scholarship, offered by the MPA/MSA Programme, aims to encourage outstanding applicants of any nationalities to pursue the MPA/MSA programme to develop expertise in the professional accounting domain.
Four scholarships valued at S$10,000 will be awarded for each Academic Year.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To be eligible for this Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Applicants must matriculate into the SMU MPA/MSA Programme (no deferment)
- Excellent academic background
- Not a concurrent recipient of any other SMU-funded scholarships
