Following a successful quick trip to Singapore in November 2015, the partner institution, TMC Academy had asked if I would be able to visit them in March 2016.  The reason for this was the British Council, in conjunction with the UN was hosted an international higher education convention.  This was to be the event where dignitaries and leaders in HE would be discussing the growing trend for Universities in the UK, the USA and Australia (mainly but not exclusively) to offering their courses in Asian countries, and the merits of this.  The partner institution was going to be represented at the event and wished for me to give a keynote lecture to guests on the merits on international education, with particular respect to the accounting industry.

 

After looking at my schedule it was noted that the week prior to the event I was going to be teaching in Hong Kong, this meant I could complete the teaching in Hong Kong and then go to Singapore for the event on the way home, like it was meant to be!!!

The trip to Hong Kong for three days teaching was becoming a very standard affair.  I now had restaurants I enjoyed, I stayed at the same hotel, I had found tailor I liked.  I'd even found a good Irish bar with nice Western food and the football on live, what more could a Brit abroad want!!!!  Other than the hellish journey because I decided that staying with one airline would be good, which meant flying through Singapore to Hong Kong was selected, the Hong Kong section of the trip was uneventful.  Although I always enjoy meeting the students in these countries as they always have interesting experiences to offer to the classroom discussion.

After Hong Kong it was on to the main event, the conference in Singapore.  This was taking place at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino, where the Singapore government charge their own 100SGD to enter the casino, but foreign nationals can enter, and lose, for free!  It also is the most bizarre building I've ever seen.  As a lecturer I don't get nervous speaking to groups, but this event was different.  Dignitaries, leaders and academics there to hear what I have to say, and with the expert opinions to both disagree and disapprove.

The nerves were proved wrong, and both the talk and the event were a huge success, I was even invited to the give the lecture again a second time at an international recruitment fair 24 hours later.  Apparently people thought what I had to say was both interesting and worthwhile.   This isn't always the case in universities.

This trip was both enjoyable and a success, no hiccups, great food and importantly I found an Irish bar in Singapore which does Western food and shows live football, always a bonus!!!  and to top it all off, a random free upgrade to first class for the 13 hour flight home, result