Episodios

  • The international archaeology graduate turned guardian of human history

    The international archaeology graduate turned guardian of human history
    Sep 12 2025
    Maryam: Hey, how’s it going, guys! Welcome back to the Extra Credit podcast.To those tuning in for the first time, this is a series where we speak to international students, graduates, and professors from around the world about the beauty of studying abroad.I’m Maryam, your host for today.If you’re a fan of Indiana Jones, The Mummy trilogy, and anything to do with the history of humankind, you’re going to want to listen to our special guest, Nurul Hamizah Afandi.Hamizah here is a museum curator at the Perbadanan Muzium Negeri Pahang in Malaysia. She visits museum galleries and archives, researches their collections of historic artefacts, and tailors different exhibitions and displays to attract new visitors to the museum. But before she got here, she was a curious archaeology and anthropology student at University College London (or UCL) in the UK. Welcome, Hamizah. We’re excited to have you here with us. How are you?Hamizah: I'm good. Thank you so much for having me here. It's truly an honour to be invited to speak on this podcast as well.Maryam: We’re glad to have you here as well. We're excited to learn more about, you know, what archaeology and anthropology is about. So alright, let's go back to the beginning before you started digging into bygone eras when you were just a senior high school student at Mara Junior Science College. Tell us, Hamiza, you were a math whiz who participated in the National Maths Olympiad. What suddenly inspired you to study archaeology? That's quite the switch in interest, isn't it?Hamizah: Alright. Yes, so, like you said, Mathematics has always been, I guess, one of my favorite subjects and, I guess, it's partly because I got the exposure from a very young age because my mom herself is a math teacher. So we've been, like say, my mom's teaching math for students who come over to our home to get, like, extra classes and things like that. So, I guess I can say that math was part of my life because I have this, like, huge family thing going around. But I guess, during my upper form of high school, at some point – we had to choose between taking biology or accounting for our SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) subjects. Like, you can't take both.So, it was at that point that I started thinking more deeply about life after school, like what I want to do, um, for my career and so on, because, well, it's not the end of the world of choosing like either biology or accounting, but then still, it somehow can probably limit or restrict your options afterwards. So, back then in school, we had to do this, ah, one test. It's called a RIASEC test and I did that quite a few times with – one of my aunts is a counselor so we did that together as well. So, it's one of those occupational personality type tests. So, every time I did the test, I got the same result. So, it basically stands for, I think, R-I-A-S-E-C stands for – was it realistic, investigative, artistic, social, entrepreneurship or something, and then conventional. So, I've always gotten the ‘I’ component very high, like, the – my marks for that component (were) very high. So, I guess I found out that I'm into careers with a very investigative nature of some sort.So, I guess it makes sense because Mathematics and Chemistry were two of my favorite subjects in school. And then they were like, with maths and chemistry, there's always, like, problems that we have to find solutions to and then you have questions that you have to find answers to. So, it's like, at the time, obviously you were not really like, familiar with research kind of thing, so I guess investigative is kind of like the best term to describe it. So, because of that, I tried to think harder about what (of) that has always interested me. So, I love watching crime documentaries. I love, reading crime, you know, books. In fact, one of my favorite novels is Sherlock Holmes. So it's during that time, I was like, okay, I think I'm into something related to, like, forensic science and something very, very research, very investigative of nature. So, um yeah, at that point, I was like, paying more attention to my interests: The books I read and, like, the movies I watched, to think about a career that I want to, like, go into. So, that's how it comes in the first place.Maryam: Interesting. I'm still wondering how, like, that ended up evolving into your interest in archaeology, because that's about, you know, studying what happened in the past, like civilisations from centuries or millennia ago. So, how did it get into that sort of, um, specialisation?Hamizah: Right, so, it started out as my personal interest in Forensic Science. So, basically, I was into, like, these crime documentaries and crime novels and stuff. So, I started planning to further my studies in Bachelors of Forensic Science or something related to that. But then, because I got a scholarship after SPM – so, I secured a scholarship by Yayasan Khazanah. But then, the one that they ...
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    41 m
  • How to break into the video game industry as an international student

    How to break into the video game industry as an international student
    Jun 9 2025
    Maryam: Hey guys, welcome back to the extra credit podcast. To those tuning in for the first time, this is a series where we talk to interesting international students, graduates and professors from around the world. I'm your host, Maryam.Gamer, guys and gals, if you dream of creating your own video games, we have a special guest today who can give us some insight on what to expect. Mody Ibrahim began his journey as a game development student at the University of Wollongong, Malaysia, back in 2013.Then, in 2017, he moved to Canada to pursue a Diploma in Internet Applications at Algonquin College, and he's been in the country ever since as an extended reality developer. It's been a long journey with many milestones, but this all began with his passion for video games. Welcome, Mody, we're so glad to have you here with us. How are you?Mody: Thank you. Pleasure to be here. Oh, I'm doing very well.Maryam: All right, okay. So, let's go back to the beginning. And by that, I mean how your personal journey started. Back home in Egypt, way before you booked your first flight to Malaysia, all right? Tell us, growing up, what was your childhood like, and how did video games play a part in your life?Mody: Oh, I certainly remember playing a lot of video games with my siblings, growing up like late night during summer vacation, when you know me and my siblings would play video games together, and I think that was something that initially launched me in that direction. Maryam: That’s great. So how did this interest or hobby turn from just playing games into creating and developing them?Mody: Well, I actually sort of stopped, or rather started playing video games less in my early teens. But I remember distinctly when I was once on the internet and found this software called Game Maker. And it was this visual scripting game engine, essentially where you didn't need to code, and you just drag and drop blocks to form your logic. And I just downloaded it out of curiosity.And I remember I really wanted to move this square with the keyboard, to have it, like, stop moving when it touches another square. And I remember struggling with that a bit. And when that actually happened, I got this, like, huge dopamine rush, and I was like, I really want to learn more about this, and want to do this more.So while, like, I had an interest in gaming, I think it was more so the curiosity over, like, how video games are made, and how that process works, and all the nuances that go into it that actually got me really interested in the field.Maryam: That's so cool. Did you join any clubs or societies that sort of cater to that passion of creating for you?Mody: I certainly knew friends back then were likely interested in that thing, but I think there was a lack of kind of community specifically around that where I grew up, so I spent a lot of time on Internet communities making video games.Maryam: Well, really cool. Did you create any video games or any sort of, like, software or projects before you actually pursued a degree in game development?Mody: Yeah, yeah, I did. But it was very, very simple, kind of like, if you've ever been on NewGrounds as a kid, it was, you know, there were a lot of flash games and, like, really small stuff. And, yeah, I certainly have some projects from back then, but they were very simple.Maryam: So cool. Okay, so now, usually, for students who want to pursue game development or game design, the popular destinations to study overseas would be the US, UK, Canada or Japan. Why did you choose to study in Malaysia?Mody: Well, that's a very interesting question. Well, there were multiple factors at play here. First, I kind of knew I wanted to eventually move to Canada, as I have family here. So the second was, I knew, from the people I talked to and from what I read about the industry, that it's not an industry where what degree you have even matters. In fact, I don't know if this statistic is still true, but a few years ago, I read that 50% of those working, like, tech jobs in North America don't even have degrees in a related field. Like over 50%.And I don't know if that's still true, but, so I was more so focused on getting into a course that has a practical application – more hands on. So I emailed a couple of universities, and honestly, kind of felt the best about the Wollongong course. And yeah, it was awesome in that aspect. And there was also the added interest in Malaysian culture, because I heard a lot about Malaysian culture as well. And I've wanted to explore that as an experience, you know, as a stop in my life. Maryam: Okay, so many people don't know what it takes to become a game developer. They don't even know what a degree in game development would look like. At a glance, if you were to create video games like Fortnite, Overwatch or The Last of Us, a lot of planning goes into bringing them to life.This includes brainstorming, ideas, storytelling, coming up with the game mechanics, character ...
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    25 m
  • Women in STEM: From LSE to the top of the fintech industry

    Women in STEM: From LSE to the top of the fintech industry
    Mar 21 2025
    Maryam: Hey guys! Welcome back to the Extra Credit podcast. I’m Maryam, your host. If this is your first time tuning in to our podcast, let me give you a quick rundown.Every month, we talk to students, graduates, professors and people from academia about their stories, their insights, and their thoughts about the beauty and challenges of studying abroad.Today, we have a special guest, Monica Millares. She’s a trailblazer for women working (and thriving) in the financial technology market — or “fintech” for short. If you’re wondering what that is, think of online banking, e-wallets, virtual credit cards and other kinds of payment you can make that don't require you being face to face with an actual person.With a degree in engineering and management of information systems, she has spent many years growing her career around the world, from her home country in Mexico to the UK and all the way to Asia. Seven years ago, Monica moved to Malaysia to spearhead the launch of BigPay, which is one of the largest digital banks in South-East Asia today. But before all of that, Monica here was just another ambitious international student like you and I. She travelled to the UK to pursue a Master’s degree in Management of Information Systems at the London School of Economics. Monica, welcome! So glad to have you join us today. Monica: Thank you, Maryam. The pleasure is all mine. Thank you.Maryam: Alright. I just want to let you know that I think your journey is really inspiring, seeing how far you’ve worked your way up to becoming a major industry leader after you graduated. We know that it takes a lot of grit and hard work to succeed in this field.For many of us, the experiences and skills we’ve gained during our student days often shape how we approach the real world. So, let’s go back to the beginning, alright, I’ll dive right into the questions, okay?Growing up, what was your childhood like? What was it that sparked your interest in engineering?Monica: Well, I had a good childhood. But at the same time, I was a nerd. I’ve always been a nerd. Since I was in kindergarten, I was the best in the class. So, my childhood was a lot about studying as well. I always got a diploma for “Best in Class” at the end of the year, from kindergarten all the way to middle school, high school, university, and then my master’s. So, that’s part of who I am and I guess, because I was at the top of the class many, many times, when it came to the moment to decide what to study, engineering was kind of one of the things that people suggested to me. It’s not that I wanted to, but they were like, “Oh, you should study engineering because you’re good at maths, because you have good grades.” And that’s how I ended up doing it. Maryam: That’s so great to hear but, yeah, sometimes, we do things because people tell us that that’s what’s good for us. But I’m glad that in your case, it’s something that you actually excelled in, so it became the right career path for you.So, back in 2002, you used to study Industrial Engineering at a local university in Mexico, but what made you decide to do a master’s degree in Management of Information Systems in the UK?Monica: Yeah, I guess, it was two things. One, my mother. She always said, “Hey, you have to continue your studies and, if possible, study abroad.” So, that was one thing, you know, like the push from parents.Then, the other one was — my first job was as an intern in the product team in a development bank. And well, my parents didn’t pay for my master’s. I paid for it. So, basically, what I did — it’s like, I had to get a scholarship, and the easiest way to get a scholarship back then was to study a tech-related master’s. At the end, I did not get a scholarship, but instead, I got a loan to go abroad. But same, I got it because it was a very technical field that I was getting into. Just practical.Maryam: Well, your mom wanted you to study abroad, but was it your choice to study in the UK or were there other options and other countries?Monica: Well, I looked into the US and the UK and Europe, but my mom passed away when I was way younger. So, it was not like she forced me to, right. She was not around. It was 100% my choice to go. Maryam: As I know it, Management of Information Systems blends technical, scientific and business knowledge together. So, can you tell us a bit more about what sort of coursework you were doing? And which did you enjoy the most?Monica: Yeah, so, when I studied engineering, we had coding classes, right. And I enjoyed them. But then when I started working, I used to work a lot with the tech team within the bank, so my idea of studying my master’s was like, oh, I wanted to do the systems architecture in a company and be super technical. And when I got to LSE — basically, LSE was very social science-based as well, at least back then. So, the programme that I studied ended up being not technical. It...
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    30 m
  • A fresh start in the world's best study abroad destination

    A fresh start in the world's best study abroad destination
    Dec 16 2024
    Shekinah Kannan: Hello, listeners. Welcome back to Extra Credit. Your podcast gateway into the world of international education. If this is your first time tuning in, we're here to uncover the ins and outs of studying abroad through the eyes of students, faculty and education experts from around the globe. I'm your host, Shekinah, and today, we're diving into a fresh start in what's widely considered the world's best study-abroad destination – Australia. More specifically, we'll be looking at how two of Australia's top universities have been guiding international students through new beginnings and why their upcoming merger into Adelaide University promises even greater support and opportunities. Joining me to discuss this exciting future are two key figures deeply involved in student engagement and support. We have Brendan Hughes, director of the student engagement unit at the University of South Australia, and Shawna Hooton, manager of international support at the University of Adelaide. Together, they'll walk us through how Adelaide University will shape a welcoming, innovative and supportive environment for international students. We'll talk about everything from choosing the right university to overcoming homesickness, making friends and preparing for a great career. So, without further ado, let's welcome them. Hi guys. How are you today? Shawna Hooton: Hi, Shekinah, thanks for having us on the show. It's great to be here. Brendan Hughes: Hey, Shekinah, great to be here as well. Thank you. Good intro. Shekinah Kannan: Thank you so much for making the time to join us, and we're really excited to know more about Adelaide University and, of course, how your respective institutions are supporting international students today. So, to jump right into it, Adelaide University's homepage opens with this line, “Launching the next generation of leaders towards their significant firsts.” By the phrase significant firsts, we know Adelaide University is recognising how important this transition period is. It's the first big decision to choose a subject to prepare for their first career, the first time they're choosing a university, the first time living alone, and so forth. Before we go into how Adelaide University supports students through each of these new stages in their lives, it will be great to know more about the overarching policy and philosophy that Adelaide University takes in supporting international students. Brendan, perhaps you want to walk us through that. Brendan Hughes: Sure, I'll probably go first with this, and then Shawna can contribute. But I think we also chose the term “launching” because Adelaide is going to be home to the Australian Space Agency as well. So there's some double entendre with the idea that we've got the Space Agency, we've got the newest university in the world and like you said, based on the histories of the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide, which have been around for over 180 years, we are looking to build a more successful and contemporary future-focused teaching and learning experience for students, including international students. Adelaide University will become a member of the prestigious group of eight universities, which are the research-focused universities, but also really trying to balance that idea of research excellence as well as equity and accessibility. We're aspiring to be the best university in student employment outcomes. So that's some of our philosophies that you were looking for, and also to be in the top one per cent of universities in terms of world rankings. So, with the outstanding facilities and practices that the two universities currently have, we're going to build on those, I guess, again, with the theme of launching would be that launchpad towards going into the future and being future-focused. We're transforming our curriculum by making sure that it's industry-relevant and industry-informed. We're also going to be making sure that students, I believe most students these days, are looking for a university degree that can help them have an outstanding career. So really focusing on that career development, the work integrated learning, how they can become better, the best versions of themselves, and make the world a better place. Then lastly, just in terms of having a student experience vision for Adelaide University, we've developed one across the university that's been informed by our current students, that is essentially holistic and integrated in its approach. It's relentlessly pursuing accessibility and inclusion. We will collaborate and create rich experiences across our engaging communities and will integrate employability across the student experience. So this is going to achieve that student experience for our international and domestic students to come together at Adelaide University and to be able to have the most terrific experience that they can, which is recognising this is a big ...
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    40 m
  • How to become a better business leader

    How to become a better business leader
    Nov 14 2024
    Conducting "business as usual" is no longer enough. The UBC Sauder School of Business recognises how quickly the world is changing and encourages students to think beyond conventional practices and create innovative solutions to the grand challenges of our time — from climate change and consumption to inequality and the changing economy. Darren Dahl, Dean of UBC Sauder, joins us to share how UBC Sauder’s unique programmes and initiatives are empowering students to become a different kind of business leader – innovative, responsible and ready to make a positive impact in the world.
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    28 m
  • What happens when you combine two great Australian universities

    What happens when you combine two great Australian universities
    Aug 2 2024
    1 + 1 = 3 isn’t mathematically precise. But that’s just what the merger of two Australian universities — University of Adelaide and University of South Australia — to form the new Adelaide University is set to offer. It’s the fusion of two institutions and their centuries of experience delivering great teaching and experience to produce an even better offering for students. From a curriculum relevant to our time to real-world exposure, there’s a lot waiting for anyone who chooses Adelaide University. There’s much, much more as well, which is why we caught up with two leaders — University of Adelaide’s Executive Director - Future Students Shirley Chung and University of South Australia’s Pro Vice Chancellor: International Gabrielle Rolan — to get a sneak peek into what a “world-class education” at “a university for the future” really means.
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    33 m
  • Pride Month 2024: The loudest, proudest business schools

    Pride Month 2024: The loudest, proudest business schools
    Jun 26 2024
    Business schools have never been more inclusive. More so even, during Pride Month. For this episode, we caught up with two students -- one in Aalto University, another in INSEAD Singapore -- to discover how they're celebrating the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and others) community and how they plan to keep the momentum after the festivities.
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    34 m
  • Deakin University: The best engineering degree in Australia

    Deakin University: The best engineering degree in Australia
    Jun 14 2024
    Deakin University’s BEng (Honours) Mechanical Engineering student Yemurayi Choto takes us on a special audio tour of her life, university and journey from a Math Olympiad in Zimbabwe to a STEM student living her best life in Geelong, Australia.
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    41 m