The University of Western Australia Student Story: Elis Anuar from Malaysia

Introduction

Hi, I'm Elis and I graduated from UWA in 2018. I am currently a Contracting and Procurement Coordinator at Shell.

Which course did you study at UWA and why?

I studied Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in both Finance and Accounting. I became interested in Accounting during my time in high school and wanted to study it further. The double major program at UWA appealed to me, and so I decided to pick up Finance as well.

Why did you choose to study at UWA?

To be frank, it was a last-minute decision for me. I had only applied to UWA a couple months before commencement date as coming out of high school, I was indecisive about my future at that time. Ultimately, I chose to study in Perth after hearing so many good things about the city and the fact that it is relatively close to my home, Malaysia. After that, it was not hard to decide on UWA since it is one of the top universities. In summary, I chose to study at UWA to get a world-class education that is close to home.

What did you enjoy most about your course? (lecturers, facilities, group work, projects, field trips, etc.)

Lecturers were the biggest plus. I truly admired their expertise and enthusiasm in their fields. They were very professional, yet friendly that it felt like learning with friends. The state-of-the-art facilities are without a doubt another contributing factor. UWA campus has got to be one of the most beautiful campuses, with its mixture of both Renaissance architecture and modern buildings.

How was your campus experience? I.e. Were you involved in any clubs or groups on campus? Did you find it easy to make new friends?

I had a pleasant campus experience. I joined cultural and sports club on campus where I made friends who are from various parts of the world and who I remain in contact with to this day.

Did you take part in any practical placements/ internships /work experience whilst studying at UWA? If so, what were they?

During my second year, I had the opportunity to complete an internship program with one of the Big 4, Deloitte when I came back to Malaysia during the summer break. It was an interesting program where I was exposed to the real-life Financial Advisory services, specifically the Mergers & Acquisitions activities.

Why did you choose to study in Perth and what did you enjoy most about studying and living in Perth?

I find living in Perth to be simple and enjoyable. It was not hard for me to settle in when I first arrived. It felt easy, which certainly helped make the transition to university life smoother. Perth is a great city to study and live, and one that I hope to return to in the future.

How has your UWA degree prepared you for your current position?

A UWA degree is not just a notable degree to put in your resume. In my case, it has qualified me for many of the jobs I had applied to. The quality of education has equipped me with skills and knowledge I need to excel in my current high-powered role.

What are the significant achievements of your career to date?

I have had several opportunities to work on projects that aim to improve the current ways of working. At Shell, staff are trained to have continuous improvement mindset, and this drives us to continuously identify gaps and areas of development. From there, we get to decide how we want to do things moving forward. It is one of the exciting challenges I face every day at work.