Singapore felt like the natural place to study maritime affairs, given its position as a leading global maritime hub. When Xiaorui was exploring graduate programmes, the Department of Industrial Systems Engineering and Management’s Master of Science in Maritime Technology & Management (MTM) programme stood out for its focus on bringing technology and data into the maritime industry. Xiaorui’s previous academic background had limited exposure to data analytics. She recognised that developing strong technical skills was essential for succeeding in today’s industry, making the MTM programme an ideal choice for building a solid foundation in this area.

It turned out that the MTM programme gave Xiaorui much more than the foundation she was looking for. The programme’s professors brought not only academic expertise but also deep industry experience, which made the classroom feel closely connected to the real maritime world. Through opportunities such as her internship at PSA, Xiaorui was able to take her learning beyond the classroom and see how it applied to real-world operational and digitalisation challenges. More importantly, the experience taught her to see maritime as an interconnected ecosystem. Xiaorui came into the programme wanting to understand the industry and left feeling that she was truly part of it.

Xiaorui's current role is closely related to the maritime industry, with a specific focus on oil shipping. She finds it interesting to observe how physical cargo moves from a commercial decision to an actual voyage, involving vessels, ports, schedules and many other moving parts along the way. Still early in her career, Xiaorui is focused on learning the business, understanding the details and finding ways to bring the analytical and holistic perspectives she developed at NUS into her daily work.

A high-energy individual with many hobbies, Xiaorui is often described by her friends as an octopus, with her hands in all sorts of activities at once. She loves singing and arranging music, playing badminton, and watching films and television. Xiaorui believes that having a wide range of interests keeps her curious and allows her to see the world from many perspectives. That curiosity is also one of the things she loves about studying in Singapore. The country’s mix of cultures, languages and perspectives makes everyday life feel remarkably diverse, and living there has introduced her to people and experiences she might otherwise never have encountered. Some of Xiaorui’s fondest memories are simply of the people she has met there. In many ways, Singapore has given Xiaorui not only an education but also a much wider window into the world.

Looking ahead, Xiaorui hopes to carry that sense of curiosity into the next stage of her life. Over the next three years, she wants to become more established in her maritime career while continuing to make time for the things and people that keep her curious. She hopes to continue learning, meet interesting people, and grow both professionally and personally.