IMU University students, from left, Reanne Heng, Xinyi Tan, Lee Yue Xin, and Racheal Chen, are enjoying their studies at Otago's Faculty of Dentistry.
International students Xinyi Tan and Racheal Chen share how their journey to the University of Otago’s Dunedin campus resulted in more than just a quest for knowledge, but also a journey of self-discovery.
Otago’s Faculty of Dentistry has a ‘twin’ study programme where Bachelor of Dental Surgery students at IMU University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, can complete their final two-and-a-half years of study in Dunedin.
Faculty Associate Dean International Professor Andrew Tawse-Smith says this agreement comes from a long-standing and rewarding relationship with IMU University.
“It’s been immensely fulfilling to work with like-minded academics who see the value in students having international educational experiences,” Andrew says.
“We’re able to learn from each other, collaborate together and, most importantly, provide opportunities for students to grow their knowledge-base, both personally and professionally in a way only international study can.”
IMU student’s Xinyi and Racheal took hold of this ‘twin’ study opportunity and have since completed 24 months of the programme, which they say has been so much more than just a learning opportunity.
Racheal Chen
Racheal Chen says she had always dreamed of studying abroad, so jumped at the opportunity to come to the University of Otago.
Racheal says she had always dreamed of studying abroad so jumped at the opportunity to come to the University of Otago.
“The Faculty of Dentistry’s varied modern facilities and supportive learning environment is what caught my attention when I first considered studying here,” Racheal says.
“Other IMU University students who had been to Otago also spoke very positively about their experiences here and so I decided to take the leap and travel to Dunedin.
I was pleased to find my time here has aligned with what I’d heard and seen online. It’s been great, everything is well organised, and the lectures and clinics are structured in a way that’s easily understood.”
Racheal says she found more than just a positive learning environment coming to Otago. She also got a great deal of personal fulfilment from the city itself and its people.
Coming from Tawau, a small city in East Malaysia, she says Dunedin was a completely different place with a climate and culture unlike what she grew up with.
The people she met, sites she saw, road trips she went on, and outdoor adventures she took part in, made for a well-rounded experience where she was able to grow personally alongside her academic work and achievements.
“It’s been such a big change moving here but is a challenge I’ve really enjoyed. Lecturers in Dunedin are really helpful, and my time here has been so special and grounding. I’ve even had the time to further explore my hobby of baking, where I’ll often make a meal that reminds me of home when I do feel a little bit homesick.”
Xinyi Tan
As the first in her family to go into healthcare, Xinyi Tan was excited to come to Dunedin’s Faculty of Dentistry for her last two years of study.
Xinyi says she was excited to attend the University of Otago as she’d heard about its prestige and world-class research and teaching, though she was surprised by how down-to-earth the staff were.
“It’s been such fun studying in Dunedin, and it was a happy surprise to find out how approachable the professors and academics in the faculty are,” Xinyi says.
“Though many of them are experts in their fields, they remain supportive and easy to reach out to and so I have a great deal of respect for them. For example, Professor Daryl Tong has been such a cool person to learn from.
“He’s the Head of Department of Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences and I came across many articles about his work. I hope to be able to learn more from him and the many other great teachers during my final year at Otago.”
Xinyi says none of her immediate family members are in the healthcare industry so she’s proud to not only be the first, but to have travelled all the way to New Zealand to expand her studies.
She’s enjoyed Dunedin’s beautiful sites and scenery, with a particular love for a ‘Dunner stunner’ – a term used by locals to describe Dunedin’s beauty on a sunny day.
“Of course, the weather in Dunedin can sometimes be unpredictable, which amusingly seems to parallel well with our moods during exam periods.”
When she’s not studying hard or enjoying the springtime cherry blossoms that bloom around the University's Clocktower, Xinyi enjoys ice skating at the local rink as a hobby, and looks forward to doing more of this once she graduates.
– Kōrero by the Division of Health Sciences Communications Adviser, Kelsey Swart
The Faculty of Dentistry
The Faculty of Dentistry|Te Kaupeka Pūniho has an international reputation for clinical and research excellence and is ranked in the top 50 dental schools in the world (QS World University Subject Rankings).
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