Indian software engineer Jasvin Bhasin is determined to make the most of all the opportunities Hong Kong offers, inside and outside the classroom
Jasvin Bhasin, a former software engineer and full-time MBA candidate at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, is learning Chinese, going on exchange to Europe and beefing up the school's Consulting Club!A snapshot of Jasvin's profile reads like this: got first computer at age 10, graduated with distinction in Computer Engineering at age 21, landed first job at Hewlett Packard, promoted in first year of employment, very involved in voluntary and charity work, and currently studying for the MBA in a prime Asian city.
Business Because interviewed Jasvin to find out how studying at CUHK fit in with her goals. Jasvin, 25, said that the CUHK MBA made her realize that there were many more avenues she could explore. She was particularly keen to build her knowledge of finance and entrepreneurship was impressed by CUHK’s top rankings in the region and worldwide for post-MBA employment.
Jasvin graduated with a degree in engineering from Pune University in 2008, and joined IT firm Hewlett Packard as an engineer. Eventually she was managing engineering projects and ended up with a role in quality assurance services. It was here that she gained experience of the business side of the firm.
Jasvin excelled at HP, was given an award for her outstanding performance and was also chosen as department ‘champion’ for being able to complete complex tasks in a timely manner and to very high standards.
At the same time as holding down a full time role with HP, Jasvin was heavily involved in social initiatives. Having benefited from scholarships throughout her education, she was determined to give back once she started working. She says, “In india, there are a lot of opportunities to get involved at the grassroots level. I also wanted to use my weekends effectively”.
Jasvin worked with Seargant At Arms, a wing of Rotary International, to organize classes where she taught students life skills such as public speaking, money management, and several other items from a syllabus she devised. She also coordinated blood donation camps and polio vaccination drives for under-privileged children. Additionally, Jasvin and some of her colleagues at HP started an initiative called “Shoe Their Worries Away” to provide school shoes for kids.
For Jasvin, the CUHK MBA has been a soul searching experience and one that really pushed her to test her limits. She said, “We all know that world power is moving from the West to the East and I know I will reap the benefits of this power shift. CUHK gives you the China experience and Hong Kong is the New York of the East. Its fast-paced and everyone is so driven that it brings out the best in you. Its probably one of the best cities to be in when you’re in the prime of your life”.
Jasvin has taken advantage of being in Hong Kong to get some work experience. She works part-time for the strategy planning and architecture division of Hong Kong Jockey Club, Hong Kong's largest income tax payer.
Next in line for her is a move to the West to compare MBA experiences. She's signed up for exchange programmes at London Business School, University of St. Gallen and Chicago Booth School of Business.
She sees her time on the MBA as chance to prepare herself for the business world of the future and finds the CUHK MBA is very balanced in terms of addressing international business concerns but also looking deeply at Chinese business practice.
“Courses are fabulously designed to get you to understand China and the mystery behind its growth. Right now I’m studying supply chain in China, Chinese monetary policy and managing derivatives in China”, says Jasvin.
This wonder woman is also very involved in student activities at CUHK and is currently the vice president of the CUHK Consulting Club where she has secured speakers from IBM and Arthur D Little and expanded the Club's connections to MBA students at other Hong Kong universities.
She will also be competing with CUHK MBA colleagues from Germany, Canada, Sri Lanka and China at the Hult Global Case Challenge this weekend. Her team believe it's a great chance to take their China experience to Dubai and see how they can compete with students from elite business schools all over the world.
What else? She casually mentioned that she’s also learning Mandarin, Cantonese and German! She says she feels she can do all this while she is young, but we're pretty sure she'll be just as busy in 20 years!
Student Reviews
One of a kind
I studied Bioinformatics at CUHK last year. It was the only Master's degree in Hong Kong in this field. This program developed my analytical skills and equipped me to be a Bioinformatician in a very practical way.
I enjoyed my year here and met classmates from different parts of the world. If you are thinking to enhance your profile, this degree program would be a good option.
general education courses, unique college system, large campus
The university facilitates multi-dimension and interdisciplinary learning. In social science faculty, we need to choose courses as our faculty package from other departments (architecture, psychology, sociology, etc.) to learn more than our major required courses. We are also required to finish general education courses, which aid our critical thinking and humanistic sensibilities. I do recommend the social science broad-based program, and the professors I met so far are all responsible and erudite.
LLM
The faculty of law is relatively new. You do not need to have a LLB to pursue a LLM, which is special. The taught programme is great for mature students who want to obtain legal knowledge.
CUHK has good teaching staff too.
Amazing Campus and Great Educational Environment
Not only is CUHK's main campus breathtaking, it provides for a good educational environment for students. The university is well-equipped with modern and up-to-date facilities to help students with their study. We have 8 libraries in total around the campus; one for media, one for architectural studies, the medical library and the law library. The Professors are always helpful and are happy to talk to students when needed.
Moreover, the college system within the university brings forth the uniqueness of CUHK. Each student belongs to a different college, and in that students are able to meet different peoples from different countries and students from different faculties.
I think CUHK provides for a well-rounded university life for all students.
exthrillating
One of the most down to earth places in HK. A great opportunity to learn and embody the local culture. Also had one the most beautiful campus in Hong Kong up on the hillside. Glad to have graduated here.
Innovative and Supportive
My university provided me with all the support I needed, and encouraged me to be up to date with all the new developments in the world. They also provided me with the incentive to excel at what I do, and they take much pride in my achievements. I have had a very rewarding university experience.
Small, New But Friendly Law School
To being with, I think the campus of CUHK is the best and the biggest in Hong Kong, with fresh air and trees everywhere.
I am an undergraduate Law student at CUHK and I think the teaching here is great, with very friendly and nice professors and the new Lee Shau Kee Building.
In terms of the courses offered by CUHK, as one of the largest universities in Hong Kong, CUHK is an all-rounded university, offering a wide range of courses to students. Students may take the introductory courses of discipline other than their own major, or even declare a minor.
For law electives, due to the small amount of intake, the variety of law electives are not that huge. However, the Faculty is offering some international programmes, which can be treated as law electives, but at the same time, provide us with an opportunity to travel and know more about the legal system of another country.
The career support from the Faculty of Law is also amazing. The Faculty will organise CV Sessions and talks on how to get an internship from law firms or mini-pupillage from barrister's chambers. Each student will also have a Distinguished Professional Mentor, which is a current legal profession, providing us with practical advices and updates of the legal field.
Finally, from my personal experience, I think the students in CUHK are friendly and genuine. As Law students, competition is inevitable for grades, GPAs, vacation schemes and training contract. However, I think the competition in CUHK Law School is a positive one, in a sense that help us grow together, instead of fighting with each other no matter what. That is the biggest reason why I am having a very good time here in CUHK Law School.
A place to explore your interests
As a law graduate from CUHK (both undergrad and post-grad), I realise that I had many opportunities to explore my areas of interests (legal and non-legal both). The faculty/university requires us to take a certain number of non-law electives, and offers a plethora of courses to choose from. Personally, I took 3 modules in Korean --I can't say it's made me highly proficient, but it's definitely given me a good foundation (I can walk into a Korean restaurant and confidently order food, at the very least). The fact that language courses are offered also provides students who are more financially constrained an opportunity to learn a language without having to shell out a premium for a decent language course. On top of that, we have a range of law electives as well. I know of classmates who have developed lasting interest in different areas of law because of the electives they took in school. The two electives that I would say have changed me is (i) mooting and (ii) family law. I think my experience in an international commercial arbitration moot competition has helped tremendously in formulating legal arguments and legal writing. On the other hand, taking a family law elective has made me very interested in the family law practice, especially in terms of child rights. For these experiences which I have gained, I'm grateful for the opportunities provided by the school.
One main issue most students I know have is with the way our GPA is calculated and the lack of transparency in terms of how the honours system works. As our GPA is marked on a curve. it's highly unrepresentative of what we have achieved as individuals. Given that our GPA is the only criteria that is looked at when we apply for the compulsory post-graduate law course (mandatory should we want to practise law and/or be trainees in Hong Kong), it will put our own students at a distinct disadvantage when we compete for limited spaces with students from schools where GPA is not on a bell curve.
Valuable time in CUHK
I like the learning environment and people at CUHK. Surrounded by hills and Tolo Harbour, CUHK provides a balance between nature and hustle. You can always escape from the busy study life and meet your friend around the big campus for different activities.
