Singapore Education Services Centre

WHEN he first arrived in Singapore in 2005, Indonesian student Ilung Pranata was so homesick he holed himself up in his room.

But after a couple of months, he decided to venture out.

He then made it a point to seek out other students at the private hostel he was living in, and soon made many friends.

"I met many international students who had also come here alone, and we all helped each other. We were like family," said Ilung, 20.

Now, he is so comfortable living here that he even peppers his speech with "lahs, lors and mahs".

And in return for all the kindness he has received, he now helps new international students adjust to life here through his role as student welfare chairman of the Overseas Students' Association (OSA).

His work at the OSA also involves organising activities and events for the international student community, as well as gathering feedback on the types of activities that students want.

The association comes under the Singapore Education Services Centre and was set up in December 2005.

Ilung is pursuing a three-year Bachelors degree course in information technology at PSB Academy, and will graduate in August.

He chose to study at the private institution after doing his research on the Internet and visiting an education fair in his hometown, Jakarta.

Ilung, whose parents and three younger sisters are still in Indonesia, said: "During the first few months here, I was homesick. I missed my family a lot.

"I also had to figure out how to communicate with the locals and other international students as it was different from what I was used to."

Ilung also had to turn to his school's Student Affairs Office for help in settling down.

Other than schoolwork, he busied himself with student groups like the school's basketball and badminton clubs.

He was also in the school's student council and now helps out as an adviser.

Ilung has since moved out to live in a rented HDB flat, which he shares with three other students. Despite that, he is very much in touch with the international student community.

He helps new students at his school. He was also elected into the current 12-member OSA committee in May last year.

The association holds monthly orientation programmes for new students. There are currently about 300 members.

Membership is open to all full-time international students aged 16 and above, with valid student passes.

It also organises cultural, social and recreational programmes and activities, including community development projects.

Among its recent events was FunBuzz 07, a telematch event held in November, and a Halloween party in October last year.

Ilung said the Singapore Education Services Centre, located at the YMCA Building along Orchard Road is a good resource for students - for everything from applying to schools to accommodation to using the public transport system.

There are also counsellors on hand who can provide advice on living and studying in Singapore.

Although Mr Ilung often helps international students who have a poor grasp of English, he is also called on to help those with more practical concerns.

"There was a Nigerian student who was not used to Chinese food and eating with chopsticks, so I taught him how to use it," he said.

Ilung's advice to new students is simple: Make many friends with both local and international students.

"It will also be good to join activities or organisations in your spare time," he added.

While Ilung came here all alone, Miss Ayesha Nazneen Erasmus' family migrated here from India in 2003 when she decided to study at Informatics.

She did not have much trouble adjusting to life here as she and her family had visited Singapore on numerous occasions.

But even with her family here, Ayesha, 20, has found time to be active in the international students circle.

"I went to many events for international students and made it a point to mix with students of other nationalities," she said.

Ayesha now counts a Nigerian, Indonesian and China national among her close friends.

As she enjoyed organising events, she took on the position as public relations chairman in the first OSA committee. She is now the association's president.

The other committee members come from Nigeria, Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and China.

Ayesha is studying for her MBA at PSB Academy after completing her Bachelor of Mass Communication course at Informatics.

The OSA committee, she said, is busy preparing for its final event called OSA Live!, which will be held in May.

It will involve a talent contest aimed at international students and proceeds will go to charity.

Ayesha urged international students to make the most of their time here. "I would tell them to leave their inhibitions behind. After all, we all came here for a different experience," she added.

She cited a classmate from China who could not speak a word of English but made it a point to learn the language and unabashedly practised it on his classmates.

"His English improved a lot and he is someone I look up to."

Need help? Call them

WHETHER it is for public or private education, international students who plan to study here can turn to the Singapore Education Services Centre (SESC) for help.

Since opening in October 2005, the centre has received a steady stream of people seeking information on studying and living here, said Ms Susan Leen, a manager and counsellor at the SESC.

They range from parents who are relocating their families here to students visiting to check out the education opportunities here.

Ms Leen said that other than walk-ins, the centre also receives enquiries over the phone and by e-mail.

She added: "Parents are usually concerned about the admissions process for their school-going children, while those looking at diploma or degree programmes will ask for help to compare the different options out there.

"They are also keen to find out about their job prospects and the possibility of furthering their studies."

There are four full-time counsellors on hand at the centre, which is located at the YMCA Building near Dhoby Ghaut MRT station.

The counsellors can also help with information on accommodation options, sports and recreational activities or even on the cost of living.

The centre has a wide range of material about various education institutions. There are also Internet terminals for visitors to research on educational information.

It is open from Monday to Friday, between 10am and 7pm.

Ms Leen added that its three most popular handbooks are the Singapore Education Guide, the Accommodation Guide and the Studying and Living in Singapore Guide, which can be downloaded from its website.

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