At the 35th Convocation Ceremony, Management and Science University (MSU) proudly celebrated the achievements of its graduates, including international student Xue Dongsheng, fondly known as Richard.
Hailing from China, Richard reached a significant milestone by completing his Doctor of Philosophy in Management at the Graduate School of Management. His journey in Malaysia was more than just academic, it became a meaningful and memorable chapter of personal growth, cultural discovery, and lasting connections.
After completing his master’s degree in Thailand, Richard decided to take the next step by pursuing a PhD.
Malaysia stood out to him. The cultural familiarity, presence of Mandarin, and a significant Chinese community made adapting easier and more comfortable. However, it was MSU itself that ultimately won him over.
“When I visited the campus, I was drawn to the atmosphere, the professionalism of the staff, and the support offered by the faculty and my future supervisor. That convinced me to join MSU for my PhD journey.”
“Coming to Malaysia was a completely new experience for me,” he said. “The culture and the academic environment made everything feel fresh and different.”
Upon his arrival, he shared how he was struck by the uniqueness of Malaysian culture. Once he began his studies, he received tremendous support and guidance from the University’s staff which helped him adjust and grow personally and academically.
His time as an MSU student was filled with meaningful moments. One highlight was overcoming the challenges of publishing academic papers.
“With the guidance of my supervisor, I took on new subjects like Advanced Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods for Business Research,” Richard said, adding that these topics were completely new to him. “I started from scratch and learned step by step, but completing my WCS (World Completion Senior) and VIVA were major milestones that made me feel all the hard work had paid off.”
His research focused on the career commitment of educators, examining the factors that influence it such as teaching advocacy and family support. Emotional and rational commitment served as mediators in this context.
“I wanted to understand what drives people to stay committed to their careers, whether studying or working,” he said. “This research has been deeply meaningful to me, and the support from MSU, especially from the Postgraduate Centre and my supervisor, has been invaluable.”
Richard praised MSU’s extensive library collection, noting it as one of the most helpful resources during his time as a student.
“The facilities at MSU supported my academic journey and made my learning experience more effective,” he said. “The librarian was incredibly kind and guided me on how to use the virtual library, how to find academic papers, and how to refer to past theses. These resources, including external databases like Elsevier, were crucial to my research.”
For Richard, receiving the academic award at the 35th MSU Convocation Ceremony was a defining moment.
“It wasn’t just about the award,” Richard said. “It represented all the hard work, the support from lecturers, tutors, and supervisors, and the personal growth I experienced.”
“That moment made me realise that my journey at MSU wasn’t the end, but a new beginning.”
He explained that completing his PhD also helped him discover himself.
“There are two significant moments in life: the moment we’re born and find out why.”
“After this journey, I feel I’ve found my purpose,” Richard said. “I want to continue in academia and perhaps as a lecturer, supervisor, or researcher.”
“I want to explore the academic world fully and share what I’ve learned with future students. My research has shown how variables like education, age, and job experience influence career commitment, and I hope this can contribute meaningfully to the field and community.”
His advice to students is to never limit themselves and to step out of their comfort zones.
“Your journey at MSU isn’t just about reaching a destination, it’s about discovering your purpose and creating meaningful experiences. Every moment here is valuable.”
He added that if one door closes, another will always open. Learning as a student at MSU becomes part of a lifelong journey.
“We only live once, so make the most of it.”
At the 35th Convocation Ceremony, Management and Science University (MSU) proudly celebrated the achievements of its graduates, including international student Xue Dongsheng, fondly known as Richard.
Hailing from China, Richard reached a significant milestone by completing his Doctor of Philosophy in Management at the Graduate School of Management. His journey in Malaysia was more than just academic, it became a meaningful and memorable chapter of personal growth, cultural discovery, and lasting connections.
After completing his master’s degree in Thailand, Richard decided to take the next step by pursuing a PhD.
Malaysia stood out to him. The cultural familiarity, presence of Mandarin, and a significant Chinese community made adapting easier and more comfortable. However, it was MSU itself that ultimately won him over.
“When I visited the campus, I was drawn to the atmosphere, the professionalism of the staff, and the support offered by the faculty and my future supervisor. That convinced me to join MSU for my PhD journey.”
“Coming to Malaysia was a completely new experience for me,” he said. “The culture and the academic environment made everything feel fresh and different.”
Upon his arrival, he shared how he was struck by the uniqueness of Malaysian culture. Once he began his studies, he received tremendous support and guidance from the University’s staff which helped him adjust and grow personally and academically.
His time as an MSU student was filled with meaningful moments. One highlight was overcoming the challenges of publishing academic papers.
“With the guidance of my supervisor, I took on new subjects like Advanced Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods for Business Research,” Richard said, adding that these topics were completely new to him. “I started from scratch and learned step by step, but completing my WCS (World Completion Senior) and VIVA were major milestones that made me feel all the hard work had paid off.”
His research focused on the career commitment of educators, examining the factors that influence it such as teaching advocacy and family support. Emotional and rational commitment served as mediators in this context.
“I wanted to understand what drives people to stay committed to their careers, whether studying or working,” he said. “This research has been deeply meaningful to me, and the support from MSU, especially from the Postgraduate Centre and my supervisor, has been invaluable.”
Richard praised MSU’s extensive library collection, noting it as one of the most helpful resources during his time as a student.
“The facilities at MSU supported my academic journey and made my learning experience more effective,” he said. “The librarian was incredibly kind and guided me on how to use the virtual library, how to find academic papers, and how to refer to past theses. These resources, including external databases like Elsevier, were crucial to my research.”
For Richard, receiving the academic award at the 35th MSU Convocation Ceremony was a defining moment.
“It wasn’t just about the award,” Richard said. “It represented all the hard work, the support from lecturers, tutors, and supervisors, and the personal growth I experienced.”
“That moment made me realise that my journey at MSU wasn’t the end, but a new beginning.”
He explained that completing his PhD also helped him discover himself.
“There are two significant moments in life: the moment we’re born and find out why.”
“After this journey, I feel I’ve found my purpose,” Richard said. “I want to continue in academia and perhaps as a lecturer, supervisor, or researcher.”
“I want to explore the academic world fully and share what I’ve learned with future students. My research has shown how variables like education, age, and job experience influence career commitment, and I hope this can contribute meaningfully to the field and community.”
His advice to students is to never limit themselves and to step out of their comfort zones.
“Your journey at MSU isn’t just about reaching a destination, it’s about discovering your purpose and creating meaningful experiences. Every moment here is valuable.”
He added that if one door closes, another will always open. Learning as a student at MSU becomes part of a lifelong journey.
“We only live once, so make the most of it.”