Since 2022, many students from the People’s Republic of China have come to UTM for postgraduate studies. Initially, I noticed only my colleagues supervising students from China. Eventually, I received an email from a prospective Chinese PhD student, and I agreed to supervise her, assuming she had completed the necessary processes. During our first online meeting, I was surprised at her limited English proficiency, which made communication challenging. Since then, whenever I receive requests from prospective Chinese PhD students, I schedule an online interview to assess communication directly. Following several interviews, five students from China were officially assigned to me as their main PhD supervisor.
Su Xiaomei, Wang Qian, Wang Haosheng, Zhao Shan, and Yao Qi—all from China—recently graduated under my supervision, with Yao Qi being the latest to receive her senate letter. Besides these five, I also supervise students from Malaysia and Indonesia, but this article is dedicated to my Chinese PhD students. With their permission, I share their stories in the order they enrolled. Su Xiaomei was the first. Initially, communication was difficult, so I appointed co-supervisors to support her. When she arrived at UTM, her English improved markedly, likely due to classes and time spent on campus. After collecting data back in China, Su Xiaomei was diagnosed with breast cancer and decided not to return to UTM. Despite these challenges, she was the last of the five to defend her viva, earning a B1. Her perseverance inspired me greatly, and I was moved to tears after her success.
Dr Wang Qian and Wang Haosheng were the second and third Chinese PhD students I supervised. They formed a close partnership at UTM, often working together in the library. Wang Qian, a mother of two, typically stayed at UTM for short periods before returning to China. She was my first Chinese PhD student to graduate under my supervision and publish in a Q1 SSCI journal. Wang Haosheng, working from his hometown, shared similar habits. He became engaged before his proposal defence and married later; unexpectedly, his wife gave birth the day after his viva, which he managed to attend thanks to a quick flight home.
Zhao Shan, my fourth student, also worked in China but visited UTM twice a year, making the most of her time to meet set milestones.
Yao Qi, my fifth student, had just married when she first arrived at UTM. She informed me at our initial meeting that she was pregnant, and I supported her through medical check-ups. She returned to China in her third trimester and safely delivered her baby. She continued her studies, balancing research with family, and delivered her second baby a few months before her online viva.
I am proud that all five of my Chinese students have completed their PhDs at UTM. Every PhD journey is unique. Although your studies have ended, the memories remain.
