FlexiMasters: Why is it for me?

Text: Junn Loh

1. You can test the water before taking the plunge

We get it. Going back to school after some time in the workforce is a huge commitment, especially when you may not be sure that what you’ve signed up for is truly to your liking. This is why it is beneficial to enrol in a programme that gives you the space to adjust to studying, and the flexibility to walk away in the event it’s ill-suited for your needs.

“It was a good dipstick for me to find out if I could manage my time and prepare for my studies, while keeping different learning pathways open,” said Tan Sini, an Educator at Singapore’s Ministry of Education who completed a FlexiMasters in Learning and Development.

“If the workload of the courses is manageable, there is a flexibility to continue completing FlexiMasters or to opt for a credit transfer to progress to the related master’s programme,” she said.

Malcolm Toh pursued courses in Supply Chain Engineering with a view on working towards a master's degree in the future.

Malcolm Toh was similarly drawn to the stackable nature of FlexiMasters. “This aspect allows me to have a flavour of NTU postgraduate courses and enjoy the flexibility of pursuing an NTU master’s degree at a later stage,” said the Senior Procurement Executive who pursued courses stackable to a FlexiMasters in Supply Chain Engineering.

2. It won’t break the bank

A big part of becoming a working adult is paying the bills. With rising costs, paying for continuous learning may not be your priority.

Thankfully, NTU’s FlexiMasters courses are highly subsidised, so you won’t have to break the bank just to upskill yourself.

Liang Jia Cheng, who completed a FlexiMasters in Materials Science and Engineering, said: “The courses are eligible for SkillsFuture Singapore funding, which relieves my financial concerns.” The deal is made sweeter if you are an alumnus of NTU, as you can utilise alumni course credits.

“As I was forking out money for my continuing education, the NTU alumni course credits, worth S$1,600, provided financial support in offsetting my courses fees, which greatly helped in reducing my financial burden,” said Ng You Pin, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree from NTU’s School of Materials Science and Engineering and went on to pursue courses stackable to FlexiMasters in Supply Chain Engineering.

3. It’s an opportunity to build your community and network

In a FlexiMasters programme, chances are you will be surrounded by classmates who are working in a similar industry as you or share a similar growth mindset. This makes it a great opportunity to build a supportive community and to grow your network.

“I had the chance to collaborate with fellow learners from diverse backgrounds, engaging in discussions, group projects, and peer-to-peer learning. This not only broadened my perspectives but also facilitated networking and the exchange of ideas,” said Kristin Tan, who completed a FlexiMasters in Supply Chain Engineering.

4. You won't be bored

Don’t expect to bury yourself in journal papers and textbooks. Taught by industry experts, the FlexiMasters courses are designed to help learners gain practical and industry relevant skills to thrive in their careers.

(Left) Apart from the knowledge gained from her course, Matilda Huang learned from her coursemates and lecturers, who shared their experiences openly and willingly.
(Right) Abdul Halim was surprised to find out how fun and relatable classes were.

Abdul Halim, who enrolled in a FlexiMasters in Project Management, said: “I was expecting a dull learning experience with heavy academic expectations. However, I had fun surprisingly. The lecturers were encouraging and knowledgeable. They shared their work experience during classes which made the learning seamless and relatable for working adults like me."

Matilda Huang, who attended a FlexiMasters in Early Childhood Education, was also worried about “not being able to fully digest academic journals”, and if her contributions in class were “not good enough”. However, her worries were put to rest when she realised that her coursemates were welcoming and generous in sharing their knowledge.

“Most of them were much more experienced than me and were very happy to share their knowledge and experience. This has been my biggest takeaway – learning from the experiences of my lecturers and fellow coursemates,” she said.

5. It will expand competencies for career development

In a constantly changing world, updating yourself with the latest competencies is key to remaining relevant. This was the case for engineer Chia Jie Xiang, who was motivated to sign up for a FlexiMasters in Power Engineering to gain knowledge beyond his main specialisation at work.

“The course has taught me how to inspect issues from an electrical engineering standpoint instead of from a purely mechanical angle. This has allowed me to gain a macro perspective, aiding my research projects at work,” Jie Xiang explained.

For human resources (HR) practitioner Jacqueline Ng, the business centric nature of the FlexiMasters in HR Thought Leadership helped bridge the gap in her knowledge and competencies.

“I got to learn about data management and analytics. There were hands-on workshops teaching us tools such as Python, Tableau and Knime. These were skills I could directly and immediately apply at work,” she said.

 

This article first appeared in issue 4 of U, the NTU alumni magazine.