Nurturing Talent Across ASEAN

Eight young men with rising aspirations have been awarded the inaugural NUS-ISS ASEAN Merit-Based Study Award. They come from across the region, representing Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Among them, we had the chance to understand more deeply the journeys, dreams, and inspirations of three remarkable young men - Dylan Novian Hartanto, who is currently pursuing the Master of Technology in Artificial Intelligence Systems, while Norbert Oliver is studying the Master of Technology in Enterprise Business Analytics. Thet Naung Soe, on the other hand, is enrolled in the Master of Technology in Software Engineering. 

Dylan’s journey began with a simple observation in Indonesia. Many businesses, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), still rely heavily on intuition rather than data as they struggle with limited access to reliable analytics. “I wanted to move beyond just building software and focus on using data to create business value,” he explained. His goal is to help businesses make smarter, data-driven decisions.

Norbert’s turning point came during an internship in Jakarta. Frustrated by the inefficiencies of repetitive manual tasks, he saw how artificial intelligence could easily free up people’s time to focus on higher-value work. “If mundane tasks like reading scanned invoices and transferring the data to an Excel file could be automated, people would have more time for meaningful work. That’s when I decided I wanted to learn how to build AI systems that go beyond just using pre-existing AI models,” he shared.

For Thet, who is also an alumnus of the NUS-ISS Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis, inspiration is tied deeply to family and community. Growing up in Myanmar, he observed how highly regarded graduates of foreign universities were and how education could help transform entire societies. “Coming from an underdeveloped country, I see how crucial it is to have well-educated people to help improve society. That is why I worked very hard to join NUS-ISS, as I believe this opportunity will change my future and allow me to give back to my country,” he reflected.

Behind each one of them stands a strong support system. Dylan credits his family as his strongest source of encouragement, reminding him that education is not just for personal growth but also the importance of resilience and contributing back to the community. Norbert shared how his family guided him in both academic and life decisions. For Thet, his father has been his greatest inspiration. Despite coming from a humble background, his father built a better life for the family through perseverance and education. It’s with these anchors, all three can pursue their dreams wholeheartedly.

As they settle into life in Singapore, they embark on their journey, ready to take flight towards a bright future. Dylan hopes to become a financial analytics consultant who helps businesses, particularly SMEs, thrive through data-driven strategies. Norbert envisions designing and implementing ethical, impactful artificial intelligence systems that serve people well throughout his professional journey. Thet aspires to lead digital transformation in ASEAN by building secure, scalable solutions while mentoring the next generation of learners.

All three share a common vision of using their NUS-ISS education to strengthen the region’s digital transformation. The award epitomises more than just financial support. It represents a symbol of recognition, a responsibility to give back, and a catalyst to pursue their dreams.

Top row (behind) left to right: Norbert Oliver, Patcharapol Sae-chan, Feri Setiawan and Dylan Novian Hartanto. Bottom row left to right: Htet Aung, Walfarid Hermawan Limbong, Nguyen Phu Truong and Thet Naung Soe.

Here are what the other awardees shared about how the ASEAN Merit-Based Study Award will support their aspirations and what they hope to pursue after completing their studies.