Like the popular adage “There is no place like home”, the PR team was curious to speak with current international Ph.D. students who previously completed their master’s degree education at KDI School. It is indeed a fix; to have journeyed to Korea twice for higher education and leave their home country to study aboard. Twice!

The team spoke with some of these returning students to hear their thoughts about studying at KDI School the second time around and their motivations behind the decision.  Here is what Abiy has to share.

Can you please introduce yourself?

Hi! My name is Abiy Mohammed Hussein, a current Ph.D. student (spring, 2023). I previously studied on the Master's program in Public Policy at KDIS (fall, 2020)

What motivated you to pursue a Ph.D. at this school and how does it impact your long-term career goals?

I always enjoyed writing papers and conducting short-term research studies, which I feel has ignited my interest in research-based programs after my undergraduate studies. The goal now is to develop my research skills for long-term research and study complex multidisciplinary scenarios - hence my Ph.D. application to KDI School. I applied to KDI because of its commitment to fairness and accuracy. I also admire the faculty's wealth of knowledge, teaching methods, and support in helping students achieve their academic goals.

What are your research interests, and how do they align with the research being conducted at this school?

My research interests relate to trade and industry policies. I have taken requisite and related courses to aid my understanding of current gaps and gray areas within my chosen field of study. I intend to collaborate with some faculty and their research labs in the coming semester.

How do you think your experience as a returning student will differ from your previous experience as a master's student at this school?

Yes. I can say my master's and Ph.D. study program experience vastly differ. My first semester at KDI was quite a shock for me in terms of the change in weather, language barrier, Koran culture, and cultural differences in this growing global community of students. By the completion semester, I had already made new connections and friends on and off campus. I also could confidently navigate my movement around Sejong City and neighboring towns, and I loved the experience! I would say that my prior experience partly influenced my decision to return to KDI School for my doctoral studies.

Academically, I strongly believe that the Ph.D. program requires a lot more lot of motivation, dedication, interest, and discipline when compared to the master's level. You worry about coursework and qualification exams for the first year and then independent study and research for the last two years.

Can you share any challenges you anticipate facing as a returning student and how you plan to overcome them?

Stress and time management are the most prominent challenges as a graduate student studying at home or abroad. You will battle with fast-approaching deadlines, assignments, your thesis, and qualification examinations. You may need to find a consistent but flexible schedule that helps with enduring stress and setting some time to blow off some steam.

There will always be the need for more time for academic and social activities. Knowing when to seize new opportunities and when to decline more tasks is a talent that any academic should develop if they are to avoid going insane. Knowing how to prioritize can help you enhance this skill. I usually apply these questions; what is critical that I complete today? What could I possibly put off until tomorrow?

How do you plan to balance the demands of a Ph.D. program with other personal and professional responsibilities?

I always try to strike a balance between the demands and other responsibilities. Learning to properly prioritize between conflicting activities, creating time for hobbies, and maintaining relationships with family and friends. I spend the daytime on activities that require focus and deep thought, then allocate other times for meetings and extra-curricular activities. I have a support system (friends and family) that check in with me regularly. During my free time, I write poems and draw some pencil sketches to exercise my imagination.

What advice do you have for other students who may be considering pursuing a Ph.D. at their alumni institution?

It would be nice to have attended information sessions about the realistic demands of a Ph.D. Knowing that beyond the first year is mostly outside the classroom and largely depends on your core skills as an independent researcher and commitment to the work. I will advise that aspiring doctoral students should pay close attention to their research interests and ideas and run them by faculty members and colleagues before applying. Whilst reading articles, quickly scan through background sections and abstracts to filter through the papers you might need for your work.

On a personal level, learn to take breaks in between, and pace yourself for the marathon work in graduate school. Be humble, seek help, collaborate more, socialize, and keep an open mind. Overall, a Ph.D. is a challenging expedition to the frontiers of human knowledge. No matter the outcome, you will gain and learn a lot (both about your field and yourself).