His job is linked to healthcare but Mr Brian Benitez wanted to expand his expertise and decided to pursue a degree programme that was more business-related.

Mr Benitez, 32, who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Business Management awarded by Northumbria University, UK, specifically to learn more about business in organisations.

The programme includes modules such as personal and organisational development, business performance management, applied business ethics, strategic management and leadership, marketing management strategy information management, international business finance and trade, and strategic supply chain management.

Graduates of the programme can work in careers in business and management and a wide range of organisations and companies.

Mr Benitez, an SAF military medical expert, joined the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) after his O levels and later obtained a Diploma in Nursing from Nanyang Polytechnic in 2007.

He said: “I chose a part-time private degree as applying for sabbatical leave to study at a local university was not financially ideal then.

“As for the reasons for this course of study, I wanted to diversify my knowledge in how to set up a business and be more versatile in other functions beyond my medical expertise.

“I chose Kaplan Singapore after reading a JobsCentral survey in the newspaper that stated the majority of Kaplan graduates had higher satisfaction ratings compared to those from other private education institutions. That assurance, and the excellent location led me to choose Kaplan.”

Although his family members were concerned as to why he did not pursue a nursing degree, they supported him.

Mr Benitez liked the strategic management and leadership and marketing management and strategy modules as they taught about business success, and the case scenarios were based on real examples.

He said: “International business finance and trade was the most difficult module to understand as financial numbers are not my forte.”

Mr Benitez added that the lecturers talked about their industry and life experiences with the students.

He said: “I used my annual leave to set aside time for my assignments, and I also set aside time for writing when I reached home after work. My classmates were my biggest source of inspiration as we pushed one another to complete the assignments on time.”

After graduation, Mr Benitez hopes to contribute to the SAF with his business knowledge and improve on healthcare-related issues.

He said: “If anyone wants to embark on part-time studies, I recommend that he watch a YouTube video by Dr Guy E. White titled How To Write A Literature Review. The lessons from that video helped me save a lot of time in writing my assignments and dissertations.”

Article by Arul John
Source: The New Paper© Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.