How HCMA Shaped Ali Araafi Akbar Inside and Outside the Classroom 

From the very first day of orientation to the moment he stepped onto the commencement stage, Ali Araafi Akbar’s MSc in Human Capital Management and Analytics (HCMA) journey was defined by growth, connection and purpose. 

We caught up with him to hear about what his experience, the highlights, the surprises, and the lessons he carried with him since. 

The Orientation That Set the Tone 

One unforgettable snapshot from my time at NUS was the very beginning, where the rest of the cohort and I dipped our hands in paint and made our literal mark in the halls of the school. 

Class Was Never Just Class 

Ali’s time in the HCMA programme was defined by variety. Group projects grounded in real-world topics, cross-cultural collaboration with classmates from across the globe, and opportunities to contribute to faculty research meant that no two days looked the same. “There was always something to take away at the end of my day in class,” he reflects. 

The Internship That Brought It All Together 

Ali came into the programme with a professional background already behind him, and that turned out to be an advantage. During his internship, he was able to draw on both his classroom learning and his prior experience to make a tangible impact at work.  

A Mentorship That Went Further Than Expected 

Through the NUS Graduate Student Society, Ali had the chance to participate in a mentorship session with a school alumnus. What began as a meeting grounded in a shared background grew into something more meaningful: a connection that would go on to shape his journey well beyond graduation. 

Finding a Community Abroad

For Ali, Singapore’s proximity to Indonesia meant that moments of reconnection were never far away. Indonesian student gatherings offered a welcome sense of familiarity amid the richness of an international student experience. “There is comfort in reconnecting with your roots once in a while,” he says, “and understanding that there is a part of myself that will remain distinctly Indonesian.” 

Back to Work, Renewed

With his year at NUS behind him, Ali returned to his professional journey in consulting — reenergised and with a fresh appreciation for his craft. “Learning is a lifelong process,” he says, “a notion that becomes increasingly vivid the more people I get to meet in this phase of my life after NUS.” 

Ali’s Advice for Future HCMA Students 

For those considering the programme, Ali’s advice is as much about mindset as it is about strategy. Make full use of your time to learn not just about the field, but about yourself. Engage your faculty, seek out career advisors, and be generous with your own experience if you have it to offer. 

Above all, enjoy the company of your cohort. “Put the ‘human’ in human capital,” he says, a fitting reminder from someone who spent a year doing exactly that. 

Find out how the MSc in Human Capital Management and Analytics can help you take the next step in your career. Learn more here → https://mschcma.nus.edu.sg/