The Best of Both Worlds
Two SMU Master of Science in Financial Economics (MSFE) graduates share what drew them to the dynamic programme and their personal experiences.
The financial sector is undergoing seismic shifts, with recent transformations precipitated by technology, regulation and world events upending how the industry works. Coupled with the rise of digital labour, finance and economics professionals need to be conversant in interdisciplinary, synergistic fields to be ready for the financial institutions of tomorrow.
One such unique programme that Singapore Management University offers is the Master of Science in Financial Economics (MSFE), which combines two of the school’s central strengths — econometrics and finance, in one. This was born out of a growing industry demand for professionals to be equipped with skills for deep analysis of increasingly complex financial problems in today’s era of dynamic policy and regulations.
We speak with two MSFE graduates on their journey and how the programme has helped in their careers.
A DEDICATION TO LIFELONG LEARNING
Like many who strive to upgrade their skills and gain new knowledge, Jean Loke embarked on the SMU MSFE programme in 2015 after gaining some work experience under her belt.
With her background in economics – she majored in the subject during her undergraduate education and was working at OCBC as a Trade Finance Premium Trade Service Manager. Jean sought a Master’s programme that would allow her to leverage her experience while helping her gain a better grasp of the financial markets.
According to Jean, she first learned about the MSFE programme through her research on Master’s programmes in economics that were offered by the three local universities. The MSFE programme offered “the best of both worlds”, allowing her to pursue her career goals while tapping on her prior background in economics. The knowledge that SMU was the only local university to offer a rigorous curriculum linking economics and econometrics to finance and the possibility of furthering her studies towards a PhD with the programme provided the push she needed.
“SMU is a university that emphasises not only the mastery of technical knowledge but also the building of soft skills and applying both the soft and hard skills in the real world,” explains Jean, who is currently an Assistant Vice-President at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking.
“This teaching approach was something I sought when I decided to pursue a Master’s programme as I wanted to pick up not just textbook theories and knowledge but to learn about its applications in the real world.”
And the programme certainly met her expectations, as the experience of working on various projects with course mates equipped Jean with a deeper understanding of the modules. Her prior working experience also came in handy as she put theory into practice.
In addition, she was able to transfer skills like statistical programming from the classroom to the boardroom by applying it in her compliance role; and critical thinking, problem-solving and presentation competencies, which have all contributed to propelling her career to the next level.
As Jean adds, “The MSFE programme [has given] me an opportunity to switch to a different function, which I feel allowed me more room for personal development and career growth.”
A FAST TRACK TO CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Unlike Jean, Yake Ma was fresh out of university in China when she signed up for the SMU MSFE programme.
“From what I had learnt during my undergraduate studies, I knew I had an interest in finance and wanted to explore it further.” says Yake.
Although she did consider joining the workforce after graduation, Yake always knew that pursuing a Master’s degree was part of her growth game plan. Besides developing domain expertise in finance and economics, the international student hoped to improve her English language skills while in Singapore. And SMU’s diverse student body — with 58 per cent of postgraduate students hailing from countries beyond Singapore, provided her with a vibrant and inclusive teaching and learning community.
“I feel grateful for my SMU experience. I learnt useful and professional finance and economics knowledge, experienced campus life and gained a clearer direction on my future career path.” quips Yake.
The competencies gained during the MSFE programme also helped her to secure a data analyst role at GIC, a global long-term investor managing Singapore's foreign reserves, after graduating from the MSFE programme. She delved into research, data management, and worked on assets-backed securities projects.
“The course has enriched my knowledge in econometrics, portfolio analysis, financial products and machine learning skills, which have been useful when dealing with research data,” the class of 2019 graduate adds.
“I recommend the SMU MSFE programme as it has helped me to grow both professionally and personally. It is a unique programme that combines both finance and economics and is suitable for students who want to get exposure in both fields.”
Last updated on 20 Sep 2021 .
