Management Development Institute of Singapore

IN front of the television camera, Charmaine Tan is confidence personified.

She attributes that to the exposure she received from her course at the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS).

Charmaine, 18, is a first-year student of the Bachelor of Arts (Mass Communications) programme at MDIS.

The degree is awarded by Oklahoma City University (OCU) in the US. MDIS is the course facilitator of the programme, which started here in 1992.

Her course comprises 12 modules and she will graduate in 2010.She joined MDIS soon after her O levels in 2007.

She did an eight-month diploma course followed by a six-month advanced diploma course, both in Mass Communications, before embarking on the degree programme.

She said: "I attended a career fair at Suntec City where MDIS was featured. After reading their prospectus and visiting the campus, my family and I agreed that MDIS was the place to be.

"The lecturers are from OCU and they have experience in the US media industry. Some are owners of radio stations, broadcast journalists and public relations executives."

Charmaine, who wants to go into public relations after graduation, said her lecturers' 'real life' experiences gave her a much-needed perspective of the media industry.

She said: "The lecturers also tell us the good and bad things about the industry and we get a balanced picture."

She said she also benefited from the cosmopolitan mix of students at MDIS.

"We have students from China, Vietnam, India, Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia. I've learnt a few Korean phrases from a classmate and I've also learnt about other cultures."

Intensive

Each module in her course consists of about three weeks of intensive lessons, followed by assignments and an examination.

Her first module, which she has completed, comprised news writing and news gathering. Her second module started in December last year.

She said: "The modules include one where we learn how to host a talk show. We will also spend three weeks at OCU itself, where we will get opportunities to work in a television and radio news studio.

"The holidays are not as long as in junior colleges or universities but that is okay. Too long a holiday and I'll forget what I've learnt. I'll also miss my friends and school."

But it's not all work and no play.

Charmaine has written articles for the school newsletter, Horizons.

She also modelled for two posters used in MDIS' marketing campaign last year.

Charmaine said the experience gave her a better understanding of what advertising accounts executives do.

She said: "My parents know that this is what I want to do. Before enrolling in the course, I was an intern at a small advertising agency.

"The pay was not very lucrative, but I did the job to gain experience. I will probably work for some years after graduation to gain more experience and then pursue my Master's degree."

MDIS also collaborates with Edith Cowan University in Australia to offer the Bachelor of Communications (Communications Management) programme here.

Students who enrol in the courses here benefit from substantial savings as compared to if going abroad.

A degree course at MDIS costs about $25,000, which is a third of the cost for the same course overseas, including accommodation.