He had always wanted to study business.
But Mr Josiah Newman Leong, 27, also has a love for flying.
Balancing these choices seemed impossible until he found out about Kaplan.
Kaplan’s flexible programmes enable him to pursue his studies and keep his job as a flight attendant.
Mr Leong, who has been working with Singapore Airlines since 2010, obtained his A-level results in 2009.
He enrolled in Kaplan’s Diploma in Commerce (Business Administration) programme in September 2015 and graduated in April last year.
Due to his positive learning experience at Kaplan, he enrolled in the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Management with International Business programme awarded by Royal Holloway, University of London.
He is expected to graduate in October.
Students of the programme learn strategic decision making and analytical skill sets in a global context.
They also explore key areas of management, such as accounting and business statistics, the global economy, multinational enterprise and sustainability in business.
Career prospects for graduates include employment as business analysts, management analysts, financial analysts, management consultants, entrepreneurs, brand managers and operational executives.
Mr Leong said: “Having been a flight attendant for almost seven years, I am accustomed to flight schedules that are released only one month in advance.
“Standbys often render our schedules unpredictable, making it difficult to get time off on class days.
“I chose Kaplan because its school portal logins made self-study more convenient and lessons are spread out evenly over the week. This helps me to schedule my time .”
Mr Leong said his course is broad and all-encompassing, leaving room for job flexibility and open career prospects.
He said: “My favourite module was Asia Pacific Business because it involved detailed research into my favourite country, Japan.”
He said: “Weekday classes are mostly held at night, after working hours.”
“We often have to stay late, but I always remind myself that sacrifice is an integral element of studying.”
When Mr Leong made the decision to further his studies, his loved ones were his strong pillars of support.
He said: “My parents were elated that I decided to further my education and my girlfriend always encourages me to persevere in my studies.
“My classmates also recorded lessons for me when I had to work due to unforeseen circumstances.”
After graduation, Mr Leong aims to continue flying.
He added: “But if opportunities come my way, I will consider them because they will aid my career.
“I believe that one should continue studying while there’s momentum and drive.”
Article by Arul John
Source: The New Paper© Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.