Lianhe Zaobao, 15 Sep 2019, Returning to study after working; Father & daughter receive Master degrees together (translation)
Aware of the rapid developments in science and technology, Anthony Yeo, who is engaged in cybersecurity research, decided to return to school at the age of 52, and spent the last two years taking up a part-time Master degree while working full-time.
Yesterday, he went on stage to collect his Master degree certificate as a graduate of the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).
However, he was filled with joy not only from reaping the results of his study, but also as a parent, as his daughter received her SUTD Master degree on the same day too.
Anthony Yeo’s daughter, Shireen Yeo (24) graduated with a Master of Architecture (M.Arch). Previously, she was unable to complete her M.Arch at SUTD due to her less than ideal results. After working for two years, she did not give up on furthering her studies, and gained admission into the school with her accumulated work experience to take up a one-year full-time Master degree programme. Her spirit of not giving up is believed to have been inspired by her father.
Shireen’s undergraduate degree is in architecture and sustainable design. After graduating in 2016, she joined an interior architectural design company, followed by an architecture consulting firm. In those two years, she had the opportunity to conduct field trips and participate in design work, which helped to open up her design perspectives and views on architectural design in a more comprehensive and practical way. “Work experience allowed me to assimilate what I learnt more quickly. Like for one of the Master's classes, we had to learn about contract law and I could quickly understand the material as I had experience with this while I was working."
That both father and daughter could attend each other’s graduation ceremony the same day was particularly meaningful for Shireen. She also thanked her parents for leading by example and being an inspiration to her and her younger brother.
Anthony Yeo (54) is a researcher at ST Engineering Electronics-SUTD Cyber Security Laboratory and his office is located at SUTD. Two years ago, he was encouraged by his family to enroll in the Master of Science in Security by Design programme. Twice a week, he had to go for classes after he finished work. He previously obtained a Master degree in Engineering from the National University of Singapore, but decided to return to being a student after he turned 50. He had to cope with homework and special assignments. The process was ‘hard, but happy’.
When interviewed he said: “No matter the age, I feel it is necessary to keep upgrading, especially in the areas of science and technology, which is developing very quickly. Even if you may have heard of some technologies, if you do not take the time to study and understand it, there will be many things that you can’t keep up with.”
He admits that studying today is quite different from before. “In the past, the information provided by the lecturer is adequate. Now, the lecturer will guide, but the students must also do their own research, self-learn and ask questions. So I’ve also learnt to ask questions with a thick skin. Fortunately, my fellow coursemates are very helpful towards one another. The most important thing for people our age to go back to study is to have courage and to learn with humility.”
Almost 70% of students found jobs even before graduating
This current batch of SUTD graduates number at 581, with 431 undergraduates and the rest consisting of masters and PhD students. Around 70% of the undergraduates had already found jobs prior to graduating, or will be pursuing further studies or entrepreneurship activities. Around 20% of those who found jobs had return offers from their internship companies. This batch of graduates includes the first batch of students from the SUTD Technology Entrepreneurship Programme and the Master of Science in Urban Science, Policy and Planning.
