Graduation 21 April, 2013 - Dewan Tunku Canselor Universiti Malaya

Final CGPA of 3.89 out of 4.00! Project Paper got an 'A-'! Not bad! You may view my project paper "HSDPA Performance in Basic E-Learning - A Preliminary Study in East Malaysia" from www.academia.edu. You can choose to search under my name 'Yan Sun, Thomas Sim', or 'HSDPA'.

Together with 3 other MICTM graduates, 4 of us were the first batch of MICTM graduates of Asia e University. It had been a long struggle of 3 years for me with En Yusuf, as we were enrolled in the first semester, June of 2009. My matrix number C60406090001 indicated C604 as the code for the MICTM course, 0609 refers to semester 06 year 09 and I was the 0001 student registered, its first student!

By right, I should have finished the program in 2 years, but it got delayed to 3 years due to  my commitment to run two regional/national scientific events in 2011, namely SIOG2011 on Jan 22-23, 2011 and 9MSH2011 on Apr 29-May 1, 2011. SIOG2011 (International Society of Geriatric Oncology Annual Scientific Meeting 2011) was an international event with SIOG Europe, organized by Department of Radiotherapy, Oncology and Palliative Care, Sarawak General Hospital senior consultant oncologist Dr CR Beena Devi. It took us 8 months to plan ahead for the event which was attended by more than 500 delegates and speakers from more than 10 countries.

The 9MSH2011 was the IXth Malaysian Society of Haematology Annual Scientific Meeting - a meeting of National Level in Malaysia. It was held at Pullman Hotel, Kuching and attended by 450 delegates and more than 15 regional speakers from throughout Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and other countries. It was headed by both Dr Lau Lee Gong, Consultant Haematologist of Normah Medical Specialist Centre and Dr Chew Lee Ping, Consultant Haematologist of Sarawak General Hospital.

For both the above events, I was in the secretariat, as organizing secretary. The preparatory work was immense, and therefore, I had to put down all the coursework and concentrated on the events. Only in June, 2011 I started back with the MICTM program and cleared all coursework papers towards end 2011. It was within two years I completed the coursework papers. Then I was left with the mini project - a research paper.

In order to finish it without further delay, I proposed the topic to Dean of the School of ICT Prof Dr Syed Malek around Dec, 2011 which was about E-Learning. However, as I wanted to do some measurement on 3G accessibility in the region, my methodology needed peer support. It was not heading anywhere at first as nobody had done this before in Malaysia, or at least not presented in a research manner before.

Stress and obstacles in project paper was always a norm. I had it during my undergraduate project with biochemistry of liver enzyme in hypertensive rats. In that thesis for undergraduate, I was knocking against the wall on methodology in membrane extraction, and now the issue on methodology again! What a life?

Then, as all things have to come to an end, I finally got some good reference on similar methodology from Sweden and Taiwan, and thereafter, I started collecting data in Feb, 2012. By May of the same year, I finished collected data from Sibu, Bintulu, Miri, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Kuala Lumpur and Kuching. When came Gawai, 2012 I started writing up the project paper. It took me a few months in editing and sending for comment by my mentor, Prof Dr Syed. Luckily, there was no major errors minus some changes in format and language of writing.

I remember, my last submission was just after Hari Raya Aidilfitri, 19 Aug, 2012. And I got it reviewed by Assoc Prof Dr Zurinah sometime in Sept, 2012. So, in September Semester of 2012 I graduated.

All in, it was a three years duration I took to complete the MICTM program. If I did not have to commit to the two regional and national medical events as event organizing secretary, I guess I could have done it in two years.

In the near future, I am applying to study for UTM MSc program in Real Estate*, it is likely a two-year program part time. However, I am not sure if I can be accepted as I do not have a related undergraduate degree in real estate or property management. If I can be accepted, I will try to complete in 2 years at the same time sitting for the Real Estate Agent Examination set by Lembaga Penilaian, Pentaksir dan Ejen Hartatanah Malaysia (The Board of Valuer, Appraisers and Estate Agents, Malaysia).

*Plan had changed as Real Estate Studies part time is only offered by UM and UTM Space in Main Campus and KL. Even UTM Space does not offer Estate Agency course in Kuching.

Instead of spending money on the degree programme, I took up the Public Board Exam for Estate Agency. This is a professional examination leading to the practice of Estate Agency in Malaysia. As of now (29 Nov, 2017) I have cleared Part 1 of the Exam and awaiting results of Part 2. Instead of being limited to Degree Programme on campus, I have started an online E-Learning System to study for Professional Examination to be qualified for registration with the Board of Valuers, Appraisers and Estate Agents, Malaysia.