Marketing

Diligentia

University of Malaya Exchange Program

During my exchange, I encountered many complex, multi-layered issues both within and between different social and cultural groups. These issues are closely related to the well-being of contemporary humanity and the peace and development of the world. Through my studies, I gained a specific understanding of the scientific and research methods used to analyze these issues and developed a more rational understanding of the problems themselves. The more I learned, the more I aspired to become part of the community working to solve these real-world problems in the future. When you see a different world, you develop a different understanding of it, and with that comes a different sense of emotion and responsibility towards the world.

Through in-depth discussions with local product representatives and business students, I fully realized that markets in different countries and cultures develop in distinct ways, requiring vastly different business strategies. The University of Malaya's Business School emphasizes practical application, allowing students to deeply explore the market environment and prospects of specific countries and industries in marketing courses. These courses foster connections with real product representatives and target markets in practice, serving as concrete examples of globalization and showcasing the rich implications and broad prospects of cross-cultural communication. The courses on digital marketing and global marketing have provided me with different research approaches and a global perspective. My previous academic and career understanding have been thoroughly deepened and refined through these practical experiences.

Essential Apps:

WhatsApp (the local equivalent of WeChat, most student groups are on this)

Telegram (similar to WhatsApp)

Grab (for ride-hailing and food delivery, can be linked to Alipay and Visa cards)

AirAsia (a very affordable ride-hailing app popular among local Chinese, supports cash payments, and can be a backup if Visa card issues arise; it’s also much cheaper than Grab during non-peak hours)

Easybook (a must-have for bus travel, supports GrabPay and Touch 'n Go)

Touch 'n Go (a commonly used local e-wallet, but it’s not recommended to top it up too much as it’s hard to transfer funds back from a cross-border account)

Yoo.cash (allows you to top up Touch 'n Go using Alipay, convenient for transferring money if you don’t have a local bank card) Lazada (the local equivalent of Taobao, can be linked to Touch 'n Go and Visa cards)

KTMB (the light rail to Batu Caves costs only two ringgit, and the train is very convenient for trips to Penang, Ipoh, Malacca, etc. Highly recommend the first-class seats, which are affordable and come with continuous meals, snacks, and drinks, plus a great view)

All in all, make sure to bring a Visa card and enable overseas payments. UnionPay is almost unusable here. Personally, I have a unique situation where my two Visa cards can only be linked to shopping platforms or used in certain stores. Fortunately, cash is widely accepted in Malaysia, and Alipay is also quite popular.