Sharing session: (From left) British Council senior programme manager Puteri Nur Marissa facilitating the discussion with Yap and Chia.
A PANEL of five UK alumni members recently shared candid reflections on the challenges and rewards of studying abroad.
Hosted by the British Council in Malaysia, the Study UK pre-departure briefing for students looking to pursue higher education in the United Kingdom was held from July 4 to 6 in Kuala Lumpur.
Dr Amalina Bakri, currently a specialist registrar and National Institute for Health and Care Research Academic clinical fellow at Imperial College London, said her medical training in the UK has led her to explore new ways of expanding the impact of her work.
“It also gave me opportunities to learn from world-class medical professionals and give back to the medical community through research, teaching, and using my platform to advocate for women and public health,” she said.
Lazada vice-president Kevin Yap, who studied at the University of Nottingham, said his UK education helped him build and improve his leadership skills, including critical thinking, time management, and communication.
“These foundational skills translated directly into my career.
“On a personal level, living abroad has made me more open-minded, adaptable and resilient.
“It also gave me a global network of friends and a broader worldview that continues to shape how I approach life and work today,” he said.
Reflecting on the importance of embracing new perspectives, Tung Shin Hospital speech and language therapist Chia Yi Tay, an alumna of Bangor University Wales, said she used to wonder how different the learning style would be and how she would fit in.
“The university had student support services that were extremely helpful during my transition to the new environment.
“It was a great experience learning advanced practices in the field of dementia care and bringing the knowledge back with me to Malaysia,” she shared.
The other panellists were songwriter and producer Su San and WWF public sector partnership manager Mazlina Sabtu.
The event was organised in close collaboration with key UK and Malaysian partners, including UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), the British Universities’ International Liaison Association (BUILA), and Chevening.
Their participation ensured that students and parents received accurate, up-to-date information directly from trusted and official sources – particularly on matters such as visa processes, scholarship opportunities, and studying in the UK higher education system.
Through these series of pre-departure sessions, students preparing to study in the UK gain practical insights – from navigating visa applications and finding accommodation to understanding cultural norms.
These sessions also help students feel more connected by introducing them to supportive communities, including alumni and fellow offer holders.
In addition to the main in-person sessions in Kuala Lumpur, the British Council also hosted an online version of the briefing, ensuring wider accessibility for students and families from second cities and more remote areas across Malaysia.
British Council Malaysia director Jazreel Goh said these sessions are about helping students feel prepared and supported as they navigate this new chapter.
“It’s important to us that they leave feeling more confident, with a clearer sense of what to expect and who they can turn to along the way.
“We hope their UK experience helps them grow into the kind of thinkers, leaders and changemakers they aspire to be,” she said in a press release dated Aug 5.
