KUALA LUMPUR, Wednesday 16 January 2005 - For most students, the opportunity to study abroad is one that will not only enrich the quality of their education but also expose them to a diversity of cultures, ways of thinking and lifestyles. 

During their time abroad, students will have the opportunity to learn to be independent, disciplined and dedicated; perhaps on a more intense level than they would be in their home country.

For Ong Kok Hock, one of UCSI’s Bachelors in Engineering (Chemical) students, the news that he secured a scholarship to continue his studies in the University of Queensland, Australia, couldn’t have surprised and pleased him more. 

“It was good news for me and my family. We never expected it,” he said, with a beaming smile, when told of the news. 
Ong’s success is a testimony that inspires future students who want to go through the International Degree Pathway (IDP), which is being managed by the International Placement Centre at UCSI. 

The scholarship will cover half of his tuition expenses (AU$11,400 per annum) for the duration of 2 years of study towards his Bachelors in Engineering (Chemical) degree. The award of the scholarship was based on his cumulative percentage average of 81.16%.

From young, Ong said he had developed an interest in the field with a special emphasis on Chemical Engineering through his love for Mathematics and Chemistry. 

“I believe that it is an important field as it combines both theoretical and practical skills essential in doing research,” he said. 
The courses he has taken in this field include Engineering Mechanics which consist of Engineering Statics and Dynamics, Fluid Mechanics and Advanced Physics-Thermodynamics among others.

“I think the Engineering field can contribute much to human benefit, that is, to make people’s lives better. For instance, the invention of automobiles was designed for convenience in mobility and new ones keep getting created which are faster and better. 
Likewise, new apparatus or technology can be created over existing ones to make people’s lives easier, especially in light of the pollution and disasters in the world today,” said Ong.
According to him, one of the factors that contributed to his success in this field was the course structure itself, where each subject had enough chapters so that it provided a good understanding of the subject matter but not too many so as to confuse or intimidate the student. 
Additionally, he found the lecturers equally efficient in delivering the course material. To him, group discussions also played an integral role in making the learning process more interesting and exciting. 
“ I think the Engineering field is challenging in that it allows students to develop problem-solving skills. Most students find that they can’t afford to give up after encountering problems with just one question; They have to keep working at it and trying out more questions,” said Ong.
Other than academics, Ong has been active in co-curricular activities during his time at UCSI. He has been part of the Counseling Club which visited orphanage homes, the Music Camp and was also involved in the Green Tea musical organized by UCSI’s School of Music. 
In thinking about his future goals and ambitions, Ong said he cannot wait to complete his degree programme and contribute to society in whatever way he can, while gaining valuable experiences along the way.
“At this point in time, hands-on experience is more important to me than getting a Masters degree as I will be able to use what I have learnt for practical and useful purposes. Theory alone is not sufficient to be successful in this field,” he said.
After pondering for a minute, he adds, “My education at UCSI has helped me manage my time better and I think students should study harder to be above average and keep having an active interest in their field to keep them going. It is also important to enjoy university life.”

As for his preparations for studying abroad, Ong feels that there needs to be a lot of adaptation and adjustment on his part in terms of fitting into the Australian culture. He plans to go with an open mind and be willing to listen to views and ideas from the locals and not just mix with Asians in order to avoid discrimination and prejudice.