Aden Yap

Aden successfully completed the Bachelor's Degree in Business, majoring in Banking and Finance.  He then went on to study the MITD and graduated in 2010.  Here is what he had to say:

"The Masters of International Trade and Development (MITD) program has opened up a lot of new opportunities for me in my pursuit for a career in international business and foreign affairs. After graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Business majoring in Banking and Finance, I was keen to enhance my practical knowledge in the areas of international trade law and policy making under the multilateral framework, which I feel is essential for managing the dynamics of globalisation with a more holistic view. In going through the program, I found that the multidisciplinary approach of the course not only further developed my skills in critical thinking and strategic planning. By incorporating economics, law and politics in the subjects, I was able to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the various forces affecting world trade and economic development. This course has definitely built my confidence in navigating through the vast source of information generated by intergovernmental agencies, as well as in conducting critical assessments on trade and economic policies.

What I like most about the course is that the issues we looked at are interesting and most current. I think this owes largely to our lecturers' engagement in research and consultation services for various bodies at the institute, as well as their extensive experience in the field. Another aspect of the program I feel most happy about is that I had the privilege to learn from a diverse group of at least twenty guest speakers throughout the year, ranging from senior executives of high profile private firms to former directors of government and intergovernmental agencies. They all proved to be very inspiring and had contributed to a rich learning experience with their invaluable knowledge and intellectually provocative in-class discussions.

For this I thank all the lecturers, guest speakers and the staffs of the institute for their strong dedication and continuous support in providing an excellent course that I would recommend to anyone who wishes to further develop their skills in managing global businesses or policy making in international development."

  Zhiya (May) Chen

With a Bachelor of Business Degree majoring in Financial Management from China, May went on to study the MITD and graduated in 2010.  Here is what she had to say about the MITD course:

 "With a degree in Bachelor's of Business majoring in Financial Management from China, I was hoping to obtain a postgraduate degree to improve my competency in the Chinese services sector. Being aware that the China-Australia trade relation is ever growing in importance, I made Australia my choice of destination. When I first discovered about this course, I was immediately attracted to the interesting subjects offered, which I felt would help develop the knowledge and skills required by today's multinational companies. The intensive nature of this course also appealed to me as I was hoping to complete a postgraduate degree in the shortest time frame. My satisfaction with this course has definitely gone beyond my expectation. The subjects prove to be very interesting and useful for my understanding of the emerging trends and issues of global trade and economic development. What I found most interesting about the course is our strong focus on analyzing the trends and issues of the developing world and how trade and economic cooperation can help global development.

I feel that I am very lucky to be taught by some of the most qualified professionals in the field who have firsthand experience in WTO trade negotiations and international trade law. This exemplary group of lecturers and guest speakers include WTO visiting fellow members from Geneva who can share their working experience and the most up-to-date development of the Doha Round of negotiations. Other guest speakers include the CEO of one of Australia's most successful food producing company based in Adelaide, as well as former managing directors of global firms and intergovernmental agencies. I am especially proud that I have had the privilege to learn from professionals who have led Australia's trade negotiations with China before its accession to the WTO in 2002. With the completion of this course, I am now more confident with my critical analysis skills and formal report writing. I have since learned about many other career choices made possible by this postgraduate degree and am looking forward to begin work in China. "