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Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1494678
Supply Chain Management, and Technical Management and Services. Two of the programs are graduate diplomas—Global Business Management and Green Business Management and Sustainability—and all of the programs run online or out of the Civic Plaza campus in Surrey. Abdul Rahman completed the first two terms at KPU Melville online, thanks to the pandemic; however, the university simplified the online learning process with ample digital resources and a plethora of people available to assist students. "My favourite part was working with many brilliant students from different parts of the world, who brought all kinds of educational and professional backgrounds to learning together," Abdul Rahman says. His cohort developed real-world, timely projects and completed applicable case studies while honing their communication and presentation skills. "My favourite project was on how to reduce the emissions in the marine industry," Abdul Rahman says. "We did a ton of research and worked with a company to set a plan for the future of the industry based on the needs and technological advancements." Instructors at Melville School of Business aim to arm students with the skills and knowledge an ever-changing business world demands. In the Global Business Management program, faculty focus on creating a positive and challenging environment where students learn through discussion and make new connections. "Career success coaches offered advice on planning courses, job opportunities, networking and volunteering opportunities," Abdul Rahman says. "These were essential to my journey, and I feel it is something every student should take advantage of." The school also offers a variety of supports for students, one being the Melville Business Strategy Internship, which is a paid internship where students can use their education in the field. In addition, each semester KPU Melville hosts the Industry Insider Series, where Abdul Rahman met his current employer, Finning Canada. The Industry Insider Series are informative networking opportunities where students can meet, listen to, and converse with local employers. Participants learn about a specific industry or what an employer is looking for when hiring so they can make informed career decisions and prepare effectively for future professional growth. "We take great care to match our students with employers in paid internships," Harrison says. "It is an essential part of our programming to develop ways our students can network with and be mentored by industry experts." At Finning Canada, Abdul Rahman is an Aftermarket Support Specialist for the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. He provides technical support and guidance— including product support, parts and service—to internal teams on two product lines for Caterpillar equipment, primarily excavators and track type tractors. "I help the teams select the suitable parts for their customers' applications through analysis of site conditions, machine type, expected work rate and other factors," Abdul Rahman says. "I frequently visit different customers to understand their operations, know their pain points, obtain machine operation feedback, advise on new solutions and give tips to increase efficiency and reduce costs." He also performs inspections to understand machines' wear rate and abnormalities and combines this data with the Caterpillar database to help customers predict future costs and plan their downtime. "I then work with the internal teams at Finning and Caterpillar to better plan parts inventory and service schedules," Abdul Rahman says. His work has a significant impact on Finning's customer base and the projects they complete. He gained expertise from his background in engineering and the graduate diploma in Global Business Management, but the program brought more than academic learning. Abdul Rahman's studies at KPU Melville allowed him to work more effectively with his colleagues because he gained an in-depth understanding of the Canadian market and the various cultures of people who live here. As his presentation and interpersonal skills went through a significant improvement, he learned to communicate better with Finning Canada customers. "The knowledge I gained about business while at KPU Melville opened my eyes to new ways of improving efficiency and a better understanding of what value I can offer to customers," Abdul Rahman says. "It helped me understand what is actually important to them." PHOTO: THE INDUSTRY INSIDER SERIES CONNECTS MELVILLE STUDENTS TO SOUGHT-AFTER EMPLOYERS @kpumelville @kpumelville @kpumelville Learn more at: kpu.ca/business