Banking breakthrough for ambitious graduate
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Isuri Munasinghe, Assistant Vice President – Research at Asia Securities
In an increasingly competitive job market, having a world-recognised degree from a respected university enables young graduates to stand out from the crowd on the race for employment.
At the University of Melbourne, Australia’s number one university and ranked number 32 in the world by the Times Higher World Education Rankings 2020, Sri Lankan graduates have been able to breakthrough and stand out from the crowd, gaining the knowledge and expertise required in such a competitive job market.
Isuri Munasinghe, Assistant Vice President – Research at Asia Securities, set her sights on the University of Melbourne, to support her career ambitions. The University’s international reputation, robust industry connections and exceptional teaching quality were the top factors influencing Isuri’s decision.
“Before applying to the University of Melbourne, I made sure to conduct thorough research of my study options and even spoke with alumni of the University. It became clear to me that compared to other universities, the University of Melbourne had lecturerswith strong industry experience and expertise – knowledge that adds significant value to the learning experience,” says Isuri.
It is the extensive real-world knowledge and expertise of her lecturers that continues to provide Isuri with valuable insights in her career today, “I completed my major in economics soon after the global financial crisis. The crisisbecame the focus of many of my economics lectures, where lecturers often placed an emphasis on analysing and debating the causes that led to the crisis. Thismade for an incredible learning experience, one I still draw from today.”
Being ranked number 7* in the world for graduate employability is a point of pride for the University. The unique approach to undergraduate learning, known as the Melbourne Model,encourages students to explore both their chosen major while also building skills and knowledge in their broader interest areas. With more than 100 areas of study to choose from, students are able to deep dive into marketing, take a peek into wine making or pursue a language or instrument without sacrificing their major. This model encourages curiosity and strengthens integral soft skills such as problem solving, team work and management.
Bachelor of Commerce (Economics and Finance) graduate, Isuri, credits the Melbourne Model with her diverse career opportunities, “The emphasis placed on gaining breadth and depth of knowledge before choosing a professional skill, under the Melbourne Model, helped me build a strong and broad foundation that opened many career avenues.”
“I found the coursework to be thorough, rigorous and demanding and spoke for the quality and depth of knowledge employers expect from a University of Melbourne graduate,” says Isuri.
Today, Isuri is employed by Sri Lanka’s leading independent wealth management and investment banking firm, Asia Securities. Positive employment outcomes like Isuri’s, are common for graduates, with 80% of Bachelor of Commerce graduates employed within the first four months of graduating (according to the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2018).
Beyond the classroom, the University of Melbourne offers many opportunities to apply technical knowledge and build soft skills via internships, study abroad, student societies and volunteering. Isuri attributes her well-rounded university experience with her ability to stand out when presenting to potential employers, “Gaining wellrounded experience that combines academics with extracurricular activities at the University was essential, to stand out in the employment world and for my career development in the long run,” says Isuri.
For Isuri, the advantages afforded by participating in all facets of university life are something she highly recommends to future students, “Be involved in as much activity as you can outside coursework because that’s what gives you a full university experience and definitely helps in your career development for the long run. Above all, you will make a lot of friends and those memories will last a lifetime.”
Isuri’s achievements and experience at Melbourne continues to reward her, “Studying at the University of Melbourne is a significant investment from which you’ll reap benefits for a long period into your career. The quality of education is high and so are the standards you are expected to meet, which prevails as a test of your strengths.”
The University welcomes international students from more than 130 countries each year, offering academic and personal support, in addition to extensive accommodation options.
Learn more about studying at the University of Melbourne, at their Colombo Information Day on Thursday, 6 February 2020. Register today: http://go.unimelb.edu.au/t3br.
*QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020