"This master's programme was definitely beyond my expectations"

Name: Anjulie Razak
Study programme: Sustainability Management
Homeplace: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

What is your background?

I received my certificate in BSc. Environmental from the Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia and upon graduation, I proceeded to delve into the environmental conservation sector. In this industry, I was involved in several multi-partnership programmes related to natural resources management, such as forest rehabilitation projects and sustainable business hubs.

Why did you choose ASEAN Sustainability Management?

I have been active in the environmental conservation field for a couple of years, particularly in the non-profit sector. Despite the development of robust programmes on the ground by highly committed organisations, I found it discomforting to know that the projects usually do not last long due to financial constraints. I joined ASEAN Sustainability Management to seek answers to one big question – how do we redirect the economy’s financial resources into environmental-centric projects? Climate change and natural resource depletion are two of the interconnected challenges that the globe is facing, and we have to recognise that business entities, as active players in the economy, are well-positioned to mitigate these issues. This change of mindset and behaviour serves mutual benefits as companies are becoming more aware that they need to be proactive towards local and global changes, and they would maintain their economic relevance in the long run.

You have already completed two semesters at the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Indonesia. How did you like the experience?

In short, the experience was definitely beyond my expectations. Despite having online classes in the first half of the semester, I found myself looking forward to every single session as it was always highly interactive and packed with thought-invoking discussions. Since sustainability concepts in businesses are still new, lecturers and students alike were always eager to share their opinions on highly debated topics.

Additionally, it was interesting to gain perspectives from the business- or social-science point of view via case-study analyses. It enabled me to extensively grasp various sustainability themes and topics based on real-world examples.

This study programme is unique. In which part do you feel you benefit the most?

This programme has pushed me out of my comfort zone in so many ways. It has motivated me to broaden my perspectives and challenged me to gain the necessary skills to become a better person for myself and the people around me. I was also blessed in a way to be able to network with inspiring people from all walks of life and travelling to places I had never set foot upon. In addition to the personal benefits, the credibility gained by graduating from this programme with a dual degree certificate opens up a multitude of career prospects for me within the sustainability sector, not to mention that the opportunity to learn from both UGM and UiA allowed me to expand my viewpoints on sustainability at a global level.

Which company have you done your internship in Norway? What have you done during the internship?

I had a two-week placement at Agder Energi, an energy group based in the local county that serves renewable energy production and distribution services. The group historically has focused on large-scale hydroelectric power generation and has subsequently ventured into innovative technological solutions and to developing sustainable energy business models to correspond with the needs of renewable energy players in the sector. During my placement, I visited the office departments of sustainability, business development and human resources, the operations division located at the hydropower plants, and I even got to visit Norway's largest Atlantic salmon aquarium at Mandalselva Villakssenter. I got a chance to talk to various enthusiastic staff members and received a thorough explanation of how every division works diligently to align their operations with the group’s sustainable objectives. I managed to capture a myopic overview of the group, which I had a chance to share with the company via a reflection session on the last day of my internship. Overall, the experience has helped me to gain insight into the possibilities of developing efficient renewable energy systems in the ASEAN region, which happens to be one of the key topics of my thesis writing.

How would you like to use the knowledge and experience gained through the programme on your master’s thesis?

Throughout the entire programme, we were taught to envision business strategies that are outside of the business-as-usual approach, as these new practices can tackle particular sustainability problems stemming from specific geographical areas. My deep interest in natural resources management has led me to explore the possibilities of implementing alternative renewable energy systems within the ASEAN region. These systems are rather complex socioeconomic structures that are not subject to conventional economic principles. As a response, my master’s thesis argues that a structured in-depth analysis of these energy systems is required in order to meet the energy demands of populations in isolated or remote areas of the region.

What is your plan after receiving both an MBA degree and a master’s degree?

I would love to be part of a development financial institution to enhance the monetary support towards the underserved yet viable sustainability programmes or projects. Consequently, I would focus on being employed either in my home country or within the ASEAN region because I believe there is much work to be done within the area.