Memories of a Melbourne international education

Howard Khoo’s relationship with the University of Melbourne spans almost 35 years.

Schooled at Taylor’s College in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian businessman undertook Victoria’s Higher School Certificate – his ticket to Australian higher education and the beginning of a life-long relationship with the country.

“All my life, I have owed my education to Australia”.

Mr Khoo says this relationship was largely based on the education policy of the day.

“Those were the days of the Whitlam Government and education was free. We owe a lot to Australia for that good ten years when education was free. It helped a lot of poorer students,” he recalls.

His time at the University living at International House (IH) left him with happy memories and an introduction to his wife, Oi Meng Chi (then studying Commerce).

“Meng and I met at IH. We thought there were some great life values to learn there.

“When I finished my postgraduate degree, Meng and I went home and I was an architectural planner for about four years.”

Malaysia was hit hard by a recession in the mid-1980s, however, greatly affecting the building industry. Mr Khoo’s professional life stalled and his family life also suffered when Meng’s father became terminally ill.

“My wife was working with my father-in-law in a textile company, manufacturing fashion apparel. My father-in-law became really sick, and the company (The Hing Yiap Group) was experiencing a leadership crisis since he was the CEO and the other four partners wanted out.”

Ms Chi asked her husband to buy into the firm, a decision that catapulted their careers forward. The husband and wife team retained the family’s interest and – through hard-work and clever investment – dramatically raised Hing Yiap’s turnover, subsequently taking the company public.

Throughout this hectic and turbulent period, the couple also raised a family – one that was to have further connection with the University and International House.

Greatly influenced by their time in residence at the college, the couple wanted their three boys to receive the same sense of community and camaraderie they were lucky enough to experience.

“There is this great spirit of friendship. When you come into IH, everyone has this mindset of being helpful to you. The mindset is to mix, learn from other cultures and celebrate our differences. That’s why I insist all our kids must come here.”

The life lessons learnt at the University of Melbourne extend to Australia in general, and have had a profound effect on Mr Khoo’s personal philosophy.

“Australia has this traditional value of hard work. My mates worked to put themselves through uni. That is a good value – you learn to be independent right from a very young age.”

Mr Khoo also praises Australian universities for their teaching practices, and their concentration on personal development.

“The other thing I really loved about Australian universities is that unlike their Asian competitors, they train the right side of the brain – that is, they encourage creativity and soft skills. In Asia, we tend to concentrate on logic and information gathering. In Australia, you can develop both ways of thinking,” Mr Khoo says.

“You are able to put forward an argument and think independently, which I think is lacking in our culture because you are meant to follow what the ‘old man’ says. I wanted my kids to learn both Asian and Western values.”

In recent years, Mr Khoo and Ms Chi have extended their involvement through philanthropy and by hosting alumni reunions. Howard has always retained an interest in the University of Melbourne, emphasising its reputation for academic excellence.

“I think it has always had a great reputation. I mean, it’s one of the top universities in the world and has been able to attract good staff. It has maintained that standard,” Mr Khoo says.

He speaks regularly to alumni, giving up his valuable time to provide them with career information.

“I’ve been doing that for two or three years. That is one of my passions. There comes a point at which you should give something back,” he says.

“I like to speak to students. They are receptive to fresh ideas and they can still understand viewpoints which differ from their own.”

The importance of maintaining connections with young alumni is not lost on Mr Khoo, who believes that interaction with recent graduates keeps older generations from becoming jaded.

“Enthusiasm fades off very quickly when you get older,” he says.

He believes that speaking and connecting with alumni is easier when the circumstances are relaxed.

“You have to make it fun. Keep people entertained. For instance, speakers should be funny on top of being informative. If they come for the humour, then that’s good too.”

So what advice would he give to current students?

“Do not pigeon-hole yourself by your current degree. If you think about it, you can really be in any profession you want.

“Tertiary education trains your basic intelligence and gives you a great knowledge platform. Most importantly, it moulds your maturity and your character. But most of what you need for a successful career is from work experience and life-long learning,” he says.