26-year-old International Tourism Management undergraduate, Lee Jia Yan, will be poised to enter the workforce with a solid foundation of skills and contacts, gained through leveraging on the full suite of networking and learning resources at TMC Academy. For Accounts Executive, Doris Woon, who is in her fifties, furthering her studies part-time towards a professional diploma in Accounting and Finance, allows her to upgrade her skills and remain competitive in the industry. Both share more on their journeys.

Lee Jia Yan
Undergraduate
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in International Tourism Management (Top Up)
University of Northampton, UK
Higher Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management, TMC Academy

Jia Yan, what is it about TMC Academy that attracted you to pursue higher education with them?

TMC Academy’s curriculum was attractive and relevant to my industry of choice. It offers its students a multitude of learning and networking opportunities by scheduling lectures by industry experts and guest speakers from overseas universities like the University of Northampton (UN) from UK. Relevant short courses are also offered to further hone your skill sets. Hospitality and Tourism Management Higher Diploma students have the option to participate in an internship programme, which will prepare us when we enter the workforce in the future.

Doris, what inspired you to return to school and why was TMC Academy your choice institution?

I found that my job opportunities were stagnant and the knowledge I had was insufficient to keep up with the fast pace of today’s technology and trends. Hence, I decided to take up part-time studies to upskill and enhance my knowledge. I want to prove that, even as a mature student, I can still perform as well as my peers in exams.

TMC Academy promotes lifelong learning as they offer part-time courses and self-study options for selected courses. The professional diploma will also allow me to fast track towards a UK honours degree that is accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and one that I can complete in just two years.

Doris Woon Jing Ting
Accounts Executive
Currently pursuing Professional Diploma in Accounting and Finance
TMC Academy

Share with us your education experience at TMC Academy so far.

Jia Yan: In terms of networking opportunities, I was extremely pleased to have met two of my lecturers from UN. I have also engaged with the Honorary Secretary of the Association of Bartenders and Sommeliers Singapore (ABSS) as a guest lecturer. Additionally, during one of our final projects, students had the opportunity to liaise with general managers from various hotels and hospitality establishments.

The fondest memories I have of the school are of my lecturers. The lecturers at TMC Academy strive to ensure that students understand the lecture material and assignments, and they are supportive academics who go above and beyond to help students cope with their studies. Throughout my time at TMC Academy, I have grown to respect them as my mentors, and as my friends.

Doris: The academy is situated at a central location and is easily accessible from both home and work. The library is fully equipped with reference books that I need for my assignments. There are also very supportive academics who dedicate their time in helping us cope. For example, my lecturer always starts an hour earlier for mature students to catch up and also prepares extra assessments for us to practice on. These extra hours of lessons allow me to excel in the course. We have even set up a chat group so that we can share our queries on assignments, as well as work out solutions with course mates.

Looking into the future, what are some of your career goals? How does TMC Academy help prepare you to meet them?

Jia Yan: Having a bachelor’s degree opens up many career options. I feel amply prepared to enter the hospitality industry from the training and knowledge that my lecturers have imparted to me.

Workshops such as the Junior Achievement (JA) Programme have taught me soft skills and prepared me for job interviews, thereby allowing me to integrate seamlessly into the workforce. The school also has a career advisor service to help students and graduates prepare for job search and employment.

Doris: This course empowers me with a better understanding of my job requirements. I can perform better at work as I am more confident in analysing my reports. Moving forward, I will have more choices in the job market.