Alicia Kabay
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Master of Communications and Media Studies (2014)
1. Full name / age / nationality.
Alicia Kabay / 25 / Swiss
2. If you are working, who is your current employer and what is your role?
I currently work as a customer service executive at a department store chain called Manor AG. My daily tasks include; a) Handling and resolving customer inquires and complaints via multiple communication channels - face to face, telephone and email; b) Directing requests and unresolved issues to the designated resource within the company; c) Communicating and coordinating with all internal departments; d) Creating and handling customer accounts of the Manor Privilege Card Program and handling the daily book keeping and printing of price tags for display.
3. Why did you choose Monash Malaysia?
The main reason I chose to join the Master of Communications and Media Studies program in Monash Malaysia was because it allowed me to obtain an Australian degree from a world renowned university at an affordable rate. It also fit into my desire to be located not too far away from my family, which was based in Sri Lanka.
4. If you were a postgraduate student, why did you choose to do a postgraduate degree? What were the benefits and challenges that came with studying in a postgraduate course?
I chose to do a postgraduate degree because after a year of not finding a suitable internship, I was fed up of wasting time so I decided to apply for my postgraduate studies. There were actually not many major challenges that came with studying in a postgraduate course. The biggest challenge was completing the Thesis in time in a more than satisfactory manner.
The benefits of studying in this postgraduate course was that since it was a basic Master's course, it allowed anyone, even those students without any prior knowledge to the course, to quickly grasp the course topics and the learning materials.
5. If you were an international student, how did you adapt to life in Monash Malaysia and Malaysia in general? Were there any particular pleasant experiences or challenges?
Life in Monash Malaysia was very simple, I didn’t really need to acclimatise much. I was on campus for class and for projects, the rest of the time I was off campus. Malaysia in general didn’t necessarily require major acclimatisation as I already grew up in Asia so I was more or less accustomed to their way of life. The most pleasant experience I had was moving off campus and being able to live alone and not have to worry about curfews and rules and regulations. The most challenging thing I would say was travelling around in the taxis.
6. As an international student, how did you find the support networks here? Would you have some tips for other international students, especially from your country, intending to study in Monash Malaysia?
The few friends I made here became my support network. I made sure that I socialised in and outside of class in order to have a balance of school and personal life. The tips I would have for international students, especially postgraduate students, would be to live off campus. It allows us mature students to be more independent and not rely on sharing accommodation with undergraduates who have different schedules and priorities than we do.
If someone from Switzerland would intend to study at Monash Malaysia, I would advise them to first live on campus and partake in multiple clubs and class activities in order to create a support network.
7. What is your goal/dream in life, where are you headed to in the future?
My goal/dream in life is two sided. One would be to be an editor either at a major marketing firm/ at my own start up company and the other would be to raise a family.
8. What is your advice to current Monash Malaysia students?
My current advice to Monash Malaysia students would be to explore all the opportunities that are given to them and to always strive to do more than they think they are capable of doing.