Dear Friends,

We would like to share a story of success of Matthew - GHRM English MBA Program Alumnus.

Mr. Matthew Hopkins is from a city north of Seattle called Everett, Washington, USA. He has graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from The Evergreen State College in 2011.

He has been living in Kaohsiung since 2013. Matthew and his wife are expecting a baby girl at the end of October, they also have two dogs Jasper and Kona. Besides being a caring husband, Matthew enjoy exercise: he lifts weights three days a week before work; loves running and cycling;  reading (especially enjoys novels, short stories, as well as histories and biographies); plays piano and guitar; has a little garden on his balcony; still studies Chinese, and trying to improve his cooking skills.

Matthew will be a guest speaker in Director Wang's Seminar in Business Management class on November 8th. He will be discussing some tips about working as an international in Taiwan and sharing some project management knowledge. Everybody is welcome to join the class and get some insight about being an international professional in Taiwan!

Here are some questions we asked Matthew and his responses:

• How did you find out about NSYSU, what influenced your decision, why GHRM Program?
• I found out about the MBA programs at NSYSU through my friends Stew and Tom who were both studying in the IBMBA program when I met them.  I had considered pursuing a Master’s degree in the United States but decided against it after having a look at my bank account. I made the decision to join the GHRM program after my first meeting with Cindy, who was extremely helpful in guiding me through the admissions process and really throughout the entire course of my studies at NSYSU. I thought that GHRM was a really interesting program in the sense that it enabled you to receive an MBA while also specializing in a particular field. And even though I don’t work in HR now I still feel it was really worthwhile. 

•  What is the best thing you like about studies at NSYSU?
• There were a lot of things I liked about studying at NSYSU, but the best part was all the people I was able to meet. The international MBA programs are really diverse, and there are also many exchange students attending the same courses, so it gave me the opportunity to meet, work, and forge friendships with people from literally all over the world. More specifically, I think the experience of working in cross-cultural teams for class projects and presentations was really invaluable.

• What was/is your favorite subject? Why?
• I thoroughly enjoyed Seminar in Business Management. I had a lot of great classmates in that course and I also really enjoyed Professor Sung. Having a different guest lecturer every week to share their own experience, perspective, and expertise was really stimulating, and Professor Sung always invited them to give us an in-class project or presentation that we would have to finish very quickly, which was challenging but really fun.  I think everyone in that class came away feeling like they really gained something, whether it was more confidence in public speaking, more industry-specific knowledge, or improved teamwork skills.

I also must mention the Chinese classes at the Chinese Language Center. My Chinese ability, particularly my reading ability, greatly improved as a result of taking those classes. I had a variety of teachers with a variety of styles, but they all helped me a lot.

• What are the difficulties you faced when started the studies? What/who helped you to overcome these difficulties?
• I have to admit I didn’t really face a lot of difficulties doing my studies at NSYSU. Balancing my full-time job with full-time studies was certainly challenging and often stressful, and I never really got enough sleep, but I got through it.  I think if you show up to class every week and put forth a good effort, you won’t encounter too many difficulties. There were a couple headaches with regard to class schedules conflicting with work schedules (for myself and other students) but those were largely addressed and remedied.

• What general advice would you give to students who plan to enroll in our program?

1. If you are someone who is going to need to work and study at the same time, you are inevitably going to run into time conflicts, whether it be with class schedules, group work, or other program functions. This can be extremely stressful, and it can be tempting to resent your classmates who are not working, or the program staff, or your professors. Do not do any of these things, as they are all both foolish and unproductive. In my experience, a solution to work/school conflicts can almost always be found, and they are found much easier with a patient and considerate approach.

2. Take the Chinese classes! As an international student you are offered weekly, well-taught, and absolutely free Chinese classes. Even if you aren’t planning on working in Taiwan or another country where Chinese is commonly spoken, why miss out on the opportunity to learn the most widely spoken language in the world? It’s a no-brainer!
3. Put yourself out there and enjoy it. The program is only four semesters and it goes by very quickly.  Don’t be in the same groups with the same people for every class.   It’s a unique opportunity to meet people who are from different places and learn about their countries and cultures, so talk to your classmates and make connections with people.  Eat lunch together. Have a beer together. Make new friends.

• Did you have working experience before you came to NSYSU? Where and what position?
• I was working as a high school teacher at a private high school here in Kaohsiung when I started at NSYSU, and I continued in that position throughout the time that I was studying. In my college days I worked very long hours in restaurants to support myself through my studies. I started my first job delivering newspapers when I was 10 and I did that until I was old enough to get a “real” job at 15, when I was hired at a local music shop to sell, service, and repair guitars and amplifiers.

• Do you work now? If yes, where and what position?
• I currently work for a company called ZMI Electronics, and the title of my position is International Sales Executive. I predominantly work with our customers in North America and Europe. ZMI is an electronics manufacturer that specializes in OEM and ODM medical equipment for medical device and physiotherapy companies worldwide.

• How do you feel your career opportunities changed/will change with obtaining the NSYSU Diploma? Did/Will obtaining Master’s from NSYSU increased your chances to find a job?
• I definitely feel that my career opportunities changed significantly after receiving my Master’s degree. Having an MBA and being able to put those three letters next to your name on a resume is a good thing, and it will help you to land interviews. That being said, the degree itself will not get you a job. No one is going to offer you a position upon graduation just because you have the piece of paper. It’s up to you to go out a find a position that will allow you to start to build your career.