For Hyqel Razali, alumnus of Master in Technology for Enterprise Business Analytics (MTech EBAC), the decision to pursue a graduate degree wasn’t a matter of if, but rather when. Even while working full-time as a Data Analytics Consultant and previously as a Data Engineer, he knew he wanted to push himself further.
“I’ve always believed in continuous development,” he shared. “The MTech EBAC Programme at NUS-ISS aligned perfectly with my career goals and personal aspirations.”
It wasn’t an easy journey. Working in a fast-paced industry while juggling studies and personal life, many a times, Hyqel found himself heading straight from the office to the classroom, not even able to squeeze out some spare time to change out of his work outfit. Very often, it feels like a constant balancing act for him. Yet he was determined to make it work.
What drew him to NUS-ISS was more than just its strong reputation especially in the field of technology and analytics. “The curriculum stood out for its excellence blend of theory and practical hands-on experience. It wasn’t just about learning; it was about applying that knowledge to real-world challenges and strong alignment towards industry needs.”
One of his most memorable experiences came during his Capstone Project. Hyqel and his team collaborated with a major food chain in Singapore, aiming to optimise operations at one of their outlets. Despite coming from diverse industries, the team leveraged their area of expertise and delivered a solution that impressed both the company and their lecturers leading them to emerge as the winner for the Best Project award.
But the experience went beyond just technical skills. “The biggest win for me was overcoming the self-doubt I had carried for the longest time,” Hyqel shared. “Especially with the support of my loved ones, lecturers and course-mates who stood by me, listen to my rants and took the extra time to coach me on my course work, I was determined not to give up, and put in my best effort to achieve my goal.”
Now working as a Data Analyst in the Data Governance space at a leading bank, Hyqel leads data quality projects, facilitates cross-team collaboration, and drives impactful improvements. He credits MTech EBAC for equipping him with the skills and confidence to take on these responsibilities.
“The first thing I did after I have graduated? I immediately put what I learnt to good use,” he said with a smile. “I refined our data quality processes, applied new tools, and adopted agile methodologies to run our projects better.”
Having been there and done that, here’s the word of advice from Hyqel to those considering pursuing similar path, “Be realistic about your time, talk to the seniors who’ve done it to get honest perspectives on what to expect for the programme. Have a support system, whether it’s your family members or friends, to help you stay afloat especially when faced with challenges. It’s tough, but it’s definitely worth it.”
So, what’s next for Hyqel? More learning, of course. “Attending the MTech programme has motivated me to pursue additional stackable certificates, and possibly even another graduate degree. If that’s not a testament to how much I value the programme, I don’t know what is.”
Visit here for more information on Master of Technology in Enterprise Business Analytics Programme. Interested in a flexible study option? Learn more about the NUS-ISS’ Stackable Graduate Certificate Programme in Data Science which stacks up towards the Master of Technology in Enterprise Business Analytics degree.