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Game for big challenges

The PUB scholarship gives Mr Chua the work environment he wants.
PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Public Utilities Board (PUB) engineer Chua Chong Tzeh likes challenges.

The 25-year-old, who works in the strategic planning and policy division, often finds himself dealing with unfamiliar subjects but he welcomes it.

"My work involves various aspects of the industry such as the demand and supply of water, as well as its costing and pricing," he says.

His division also conducts policy reviews and effects changes to legislation to support long term systems planning for Singapore's water supply.

Mr Chua says he looked at several scholarships while studying at Raffles Junior College. He found that while the industries were different, the work and benefits were nearly the same. He opted for the PUB scholarship as he wanted "a good work environment."

Mr Chua says his scholarship was just right for him as he sees areas where he can make a difference.

Although he did not initially have a firm idea of what he wanted to study, Mr Chua eventually chose an engineering course which he believed would challenge him.

"An engineering degree trains one to be more disciplined and analytical," he says.

He earned a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) from the University of London in 2007, followed by a Master in Financial Engineering from Columbia University in the United States.

On his choice of postgraduate studies, Mr Chua says: "I wanted to learn something different from my undergraduate degree and to experience life in New York."

His employer is now offering a recently launched scheme known as the NEW scholarships, jointly administered by PUB and the National Environment Agency.

Mr Chua advises aspiring scholars to think hard about what they want to do and speak to as many people as possible on career options.

He says: "Be open to the different scholarships offered and do not be too quick to dismiss some. You will find that there may be interesting prospects and niche areas to delve into."