NANYANG MBA

APEC Scholar a step closer to becoming a change-maker

Coming from an indigenous tribe and a farming community in the northern mountainous region of the Philippines, Eddie R. Diong-an Jr. never imagined that he would one day step foot in the halls of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. But Eddie’s decision to apply for the prestigious APEC Scholarship to pursue the Nanyang MBA in Singapore has made it possible and brought him a step closer to achieving his aspirations.

Each year, the APEC Scholarship is open to nationals from any of the APEC member countries, excluding Singapore. It is the only scholarship available that covers the full cost of the one-year full-time Nanyang MBA programme. Being awarded to just one candidate each year, this highly exclusive scholarship offers a life-changing experience.​

When he first found out that he had been selected for the scholarship, Eddie was overcome with a great sense of relief, gratitude, and excitement. “Even after having worked for four and half years, the cost of the MBA is still a significant barrier for me,” shared Eddie, who has been working as an engineer in the oil refining industry. “To put it into perspective, the cost is five to six times my annual salary in the Philippines. So, of course, the scholarship lifted the financial burden of having to pay for the MBA. Then again, I see it beyond its monetary value and more as an opportunity to improve my career and life in general.”

His MBA experience is already helping to pave the way towards his goals. As an engineering graduate who has worked entirely in a technical role, Eddie is gaining a lot of knowledge and business insights from discussions with his professors and classmates from around the world — the Nanyang MBA is taught by a diverse team of local and international faculty and typically attracts participants from 20 different nationalities on average. However, it is the connection to NBS’ large network of over 50,000 alumni from more than 145 countries that he sees as the biggest plus factor. “If you expand further to the whole university, then I’m looking at hundreds of thousands of potential contacts from diverse backgrounds that I could tap into and leverage for my career development.”

Beyond his own career advancement, Eddie is passionate about generating positive social change through the power of business. This passion has grown from his reflections on how small incremental changes that are often seen as trivial in the short term can have a significant impact in the long run.

“Whether it is through entrepreneurship and creating jobs or contributing ideas to policymakers, there are a number of ways to create positive impact. With the knowledge and network from my Nanyang MBA, I hope to generate positive incremental changes to the growth of society in any way I can.”

For anyone considering applying for the APEC Scholarship, Eddie has these encouraging tips. “First, aim for a good GMAT score. Do not be hesitant to retake the GMAT if you believe that your score is not representative of your true abilities. Second, write a good application essay. Your essay is your best medium to convey your story and make your case as to why you deserve the scholarship.”