MDIS student Sara Haniz believes the media industry is her path to fame

SHE WANTS TO BE A CELEB

SHE had always wanted to be somebody special.

And Miss Sara Haniz, 22, (far right in photo) was sure that a career in TV or radio would help her realise her dreams. That is why the A-level graduate enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts (in Liberal Studies with concentration in Mass Communications) programme at Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS). The degree is awarded by Oklahoma City University (OCU), US, and has been offered at MDIS since 1992.

Miss Sara, who did her A levels in 2009, said she has wanted to be a TV presenter or media personality since she was a child. She did an advanced diploma in Mass Communications with MDIS in 2010 followed by an 18-month degree programme in June 2011.

“The programme, which can be completed within a short time, trains me in many aspects of mass communications. “I also like the fact that the programme includes a three-week residency in the US,” said the full-time scheduling executive at Asian Food Channel. Miss Sara did her residency at Oklahoma in the US and stayed near the OCU campus in Oklahoma City. Other than attending daily classes, she went to the stadium to watch a basketball game, visited a wildlife refuge and fossil museum, and shopped.

OVERSEAS EXPOSURE

She said: “During the residency, I learnt how to write scripts for radio, TV and other platforms, as well as operate equipment different from what we use here. “I also learnt subjects that were not directly linked to my course, like Lifestyle Management and Environmental Science.” Director of international programmes in Singapore and Malaysia for OCU, Professor Karlie Harmon (right in photo), said the OCU programme is the first American style Mass Communications programme in Singapore.

“The curriculum in Singapore matches what is being taught in the US and Singapore students graduate as OCU graduates. “Our unique points include a complete mass communications programme that includes training in print journalism, broadcast journalism, advertising and public relations. “The three-week residency in the US equips students with a global perspective to mass communications. We take a professional approach, which includes lectures and case studies.

“Classes are interactive and professionally directed,” she said. Students in the Mass Communications programme at OCU have the option to join Prof Harmon on an overseas study trip for five weeks every summer, where they get to apply what they have learnt.

This year’s study trip will be in London, UK, and Rome, Italy, next year. Miss Sara, who will have her convocation in December, plans to continue working at Asian Food Channel after graduation. “MDIS and OCU have given me a solid and balanced grounding in mass communications. This will definitely help me realise my dreams of being recognised in the media industry,” she said.

For more information on the programmes, call 6664-8139, e-mail etc@mdis.edu.sg or visit www.mdis.edu.sg
Management Development Institute of Singapore
Reg. No. 201001793H
20 May 2010 to 19 May 2014

Source:[The New Paper 08072013] © Singapore Press Holdings Limited.
Reproduced with permission".