Before you read this, please don't take me wrong. I'm just saying that the NUS Business School sucks, not the whole NUS.
And I'm also not talking about the quality of courses provided, (this will be another issue), I'm just talking about their administration side.
I never want to bad-mouth a school that I'm still studying in.
But my exchange experience in NUS so far was excellent except for all the things that I've to deal with this stupid Business School.
And unfortunately, I'm a business student!!
As an exchange student, I strongly feel that I'm discriminated by the NUS Business School.
First, for every exchange student, regardless of your major, you can only take modules in Business School for one semester throughout the exchange.
In my case, I'll be here for 2 normal semesters, I'm not allowed to take Business modules next semester because I took them already.
I do understand that this is to protect the local students, but do they know that we also need to fulfil the requirment for the course? I was lucky enough that I didn't take any free electives when I was in Australia, so I can still negotiate with my university.
Second, someone from the Dean's office just proudly told me that "NUS Business School never offer modules in special semesters to exchange students!" (Special semesters are those semesters held during summer holidays)
wow.. guess what? I'm undertaking one business module NOW in the special semester!!!!
How I did that??
I asked about this special semesters way back BEFORE I applied for the NUS exchange program, it was around Aug 2006.
I told the exchange office here that if I cannot take special semester, I will not consider the exchange program because it will affect my graduation plan.
The exchange office from my university asked the NUS for me, and their reply was yes, I can take.
so here I am, in Singapore.
Towards the end of my 1st semester here at NUS, around mid March, it's the time that I've to register for the special semester.
I asked the Registrar Office for the application process.
I was told to fill up a so-called CAP form, take it to the Department OR the School of that particular course, get that form SIGNED and STAMPED, and submit the form to Registrar Office.
I have to take 2 modules during this special semester, one is business module, another one is Arts modules.
so I filled up the form, went to the School fo Arts and Science Faculty and asked them to sign and stamp. And they told me to go to the Department office instead. So I went to the office of that particular department, get the form signed and stamped.
Next, I went to Business School. I thought they will do similar thing so I went straight to the Department and asked for signature and stamp. The staff there was very confused and wanted me to go to the Dean's Office at first.
But then she suddently asked me to wait for awhile, I heard that she called someone. And when she came out again, she gave me back the form with the stamp and signiture and said it's done!
so i submitted both forms to Registrar Office.
After 2 weeks, I double-checked my account from the Registrar Office, the record shown that i've registered both modules sucessfully.
But what happened this afternoon?
The special semester has already started for 2 weeks. And the lecturer from the business module told me today that I'm not registered.
He told me to go to Dean's Office to see staff, A, during the break.
So I went to the Dean's Office, at the reception, I called A but she's not there.
Then I called another staff, B, from the list who is suppose to do the same job as the one I'm looking for..
This is what I told her:
"Hi, I've problems regarding the registration for my special semester modules.. I'm an exchange students...."
When B heard that I'm an exchange.. she interruptted me:
"Exchange student, can u please call C?" then she hanged up.
hmm.. very efficent.
fine..
So I called C
"I'm an exchange student........"
"Exchange student from where?" (is interrupting people a culture in this office?)
"From ANU.. I've problem with the registrarion for my special semester modules...."
"Special semester???! NUS Business School NEVER offer special semester modules for exchange students!!" C sounds quite angry.
"arr.. but I've already registered with Registrar Office. I got the form signed by XXX Department office"
"WHO signed the form?" (sounds like she's going to kill her)
"The staff there..?"
"WHO? Give me the name."
"I can't remember.. it's long time ago.. and I don't have the form anymore"
"Long time ago?? but I need to know who approve u"
"I DON'T know, but I got the signature and STAMP from the department!!" (I can't be patient anymore)
she finally felt that i'm angry, so she came out and talked to me.. but....
"Who sign the form?"
"I don't know."
"I need to know the PERSON who sign the form"
well... I gave up.. so..
"fine, I'll talk to my prof."
and I walked away.
What's the point of she coming out and ask the same stupid question?
What the hell is she thinking??
Why is it so important to know WHO approved me??
I kept emphasis that the person not only SIGNED the form, she also STAMPED with the department stamp!
so she's just signing the form on behalf of the department!!
I see it as "I got approval from the department" rather than that particular staff!!
It really pissed me off!!
later when I went back to my room after class,
I sent an email to A and cc a copy to C.
I told them what I did during the process of application.
I told them I have NO IDEA of who approved me.
and I told them that when the time I received the form from the department,
I see it as an agreement by the department (NOT THE PERSON) to provide me a seat in this module.
I also told them, I'm not going to do anything to find THAT PERSON who signed the form because it is the communication problem within the Business School. If they really want to know, they should contact Registrar Office for the form, but not me.
Also, I told them to let me know ASAP if I'm not ALLOWED to be studying in this module EVEN I've gone through the registration process. Coz I'll have a presentation which worth 50% of the overall marks next week. If I'm not in the course, why am I still doing that? and this will affect my groupmate as well.
Most importantly, if I'm not in this module, I'll terminate my exchange program and go back to ANU for my last semester as I won't have enough credits to graduate.
I'm going to share this experience with the exchange office in ANU, I'll strongly suggest that they do not recommend Business student to exchange to NUS because:
1. what's the point of coming all the way to be discriminated by the School? (again, I don't mean the Uni)
2. I have a concern here.. if the service of the Business School to its students and the communication within the Business School is this bad.. why am I learning BUSINESS at this place??
