Poh Nean

Poh Nean graduated from Monash in 2008 with a double degree in Accounting and Network Computing. He now works as a cyber detective for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Kuala Lumpur.

Study at Monash University has created a world of opportunity for Tai Poh Nean.

Offered a job even before he had graduated from Monash, Poh Nean, aged 24, is now part of an international team of IT detectives ensuring large businesses are protected from cyber hackers and fraud.

He is currently based in Kuala Lumpur, with international professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, working as an associate consultant for the risk assurance services division.

His team is responsible for advising large corporations how their information asset is best secured from errors, fraud and cyber-attacks. The dedicated team of computer security specialists identify and remove the potential security threats and weaknesses of computer systems and networks, benchmarked to international security best practice.

For Poh Nean it is an exciting, challenging and highly technical job, something he says he could not have realised without a qualification from Monash University.

Poh Nean studied for four years at Monash University and completed dual qualifications in business and information technology. He has a Monash University Bachelor of Business and Commerce and a Bachelor in Network Computing (now Bachelor of Information Technology and Systems with a net-centric computing major).

He was in his final year of study when he attended a careers fair looking for work.

Much to his delight he was offered a job on the spot by talent scouts from PricewaterhouseCoopers who valued the Monash University degree and Poh Nean's mix of business and IT skills.

Poh Nean says the Monash name is recognised and respected by employers. "Definitely, the brand is recognised across the whole world," he says. "If you ask any of the big companies they will have heard of Monash, particularly in Malaysia because they have a campus here."

Monash University has campuses in Australia, Asia and South Africa, 56,000 students, 7000 staff and an enviable reputation for teaching and research excellence forged in just 50 years.

During his course, Poh Nean spent time at several of Monash's Australian campuses as well as the campus in Malaysia. He credits his time at Monash for allowing him to go to new places, to study at many different locations and to see and experience many different things.

While in Australia Poh Nean enjoyed the quality of living and the slower pace of life compared to his home of Singapore. This included the chance to go snow skiing as well as travelling along the breathtaking Great Ocean Road during semester breaks.

He says study at Monash University has given him an international perspective and an invaluable network of contacts that will help him build his career for many years to come.

"I met a lot of different people from different cultures. I have learned how to communicate with them, which I think is very important when you are working in real life," he says.

"The global reach that it has allows you to create a very diverse network of people. You have a lot of contacts across the world."

His message for students considering study at Monash is simple: it will help you succeed.

A Monash degree will help you get a good career and a good job because of its recognition all over the world and the quality of the education it provides.

Find out more about studying at Monash University.