Nelson Jia Jun Ng MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2020

Investment Analyst, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Malaysia

How did you get your current job?

I was blessed to have received a full scholarship provided by my current employer. Hence, I am delighted to serve my service with my sponsored company.

What are your major responsibilities or duties in your current job?

I am working as an Investment Analyst in the Public Markets team. My main responsibilities are researching and analysing the performance of sectors in various regions.

What is the best part of your job?

Coming from a non-finance background, I believe it’s essential to expect a steep learning curve ahead and be ready to embrace it. Currently, I am striving to learn the fundamentals of finance and investment by doing, a paramount skill that my engineering degree has prepared me for.

I have to give full credits to Year 3 Individual Project & Year 4 Group Design Project which have developed my research skill. Besides, I genuinely appreciate the problem solving and critical thinking skills developed during my engineering degree. These are important skills for me to make independent decisions in my daily work.

Why did you choose the University of Southampton Malaysia?

UoSM is one of the few universities in Malaysia which offered Aerospace Engineering undergraduate degree.

What were the best things about studying at the University of Southampton Malaysia Campus and the UK campus?

I am truly passionate about education, social entrepreneurship, technology, and their intersections to create sustainable impacts to the community. I initiated and work on several passion projects, including ProjectEd and Social Hero.

ProjectEd is a student-led non-governmental organisation (NGO) which strives to tackle education inequality in Malaysia by empowering underprivileged students to pursue their higher education dreams. We provide scholarships and knowledge about higher education pathways to students from financially deprived backgrounds.

Social Hero is a podcast which discovers the story of innovative social-driven organisations with sustainable impact in Southeast Asia. We interview leading social innovators, entrepreneurs, changemakers, thinkers, and doers who share insights, ideas, & inspirations.

I believe I wouldn’t have had the incredible exposure to like-minded people (entrepreneurship & community projects) if I did not pursue my studies in the UK. Without the support from Southampton’s Social Impact Lab, I would not have been recognised with The Diana Award for my involvement in community work.

What did you most enjoy about your degree programme?

I truly enjoyed being the only Malaysian in the university, ISAE SUPAERO, actively promoting the beauty of Malaysia to my fellow friends. Besides, I loved my backpack traveling in 15 European cities, fulfilling my desire to understand the world as a global citizen.

I remember arriving in Toulouse airport knowing only one French word (Bonjour!) and leaving Toulouse tour guiding my parents in France 4 months later. I was willingly “forced” to speak French in daily life, which drastically improved my French language.

How did the University help prepare you for employment?

The problem solving skill and the ability to learn and adapt quickly.

What advice would you give to current students to help them secure their first job?

Always explore different fields and understand where your interests are.