Mengsuor Phan

Master of Supply Chain Management student
Graduate Diploma in Business

He chose AUT because he was looking for a university known for practical and industry-focused learning, says Mengsuor Phan who came to AUT as an international student from Cambodia, supported by a Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship.

“Before coming to New Zealand, I worked as a graduate trainee in supply chain within the FMCG industry, where I gained hands-on experience in procurement, production planning, and logistics. I chose to study the Master of Supply Chain Management at AUT because I wanted to understand the bigger picture behind the work I was doing. Through this programme, I’m connecting the practical experience I gained in industry with the knowledge and skills needed to address real-world supply chain challenges, preparing me for a long-term career in the supply chain industry.

“Coming from Cambodia to study in New Zealand, I saw Auckland as an exciting place to experience a new culture, meet people from different backgrounds and broaden my perspective. Auckland's strong business environment and international connections also made the city a valuable place to study supply chain management. After I graduate, I’d like to continue building my career in procurement. This is the area of supply chain management that interests me most because it combines strategic decision-making, supplier relationship management and the opportunity to contribute directly to an organisation's performance. I’d like to apply the experience I’ve gained at AUT to help organisations in Cambodia build more effective, resilient and sustainable supply chains.”

The practical aspects of his studies have been a highlight for him.

“I’ve enjoyed learning through real business case studies because they show how supply chain concepts are used in actual decision-making. I’ve also really enjoyed the guest speakers and industry professionals who come to share their experiences. What I find valuable is hearing about the challenges they’ve faced in real organisations, the decisions they had to make and the trade-offs they needed to consider.

“As part of one of my courses I had the opportunity to connect directly with supply chain professionals in New Zealand and conduct interviews with people from three different companies. I’m very thankful to Dr Maryam Mirzaei for designing this industry engagement assignment because it gave me the opportunity to step outside the classroom and communicate directly with people working in the industry. For another applied project, I worked on designing a reverse logistics network for a company in New Zealand, learning how to turn a real business need into a practical supply chain solution.”

Opportunities and growth
For Mengsuor, AUT is a place that helped him grow as a student, but also as a person and future professional.

“When I first came to AUT, I expected university life to mainly involve attending classes, completing assignments and working towards my qualification. What I didn’t expect was how many opportunities I’d have to become involved in the wider AUT community and experience things outside my academic programme. One experience that has been especially meaningful to me is becoming an AUT student ambassador. This role has enabled me to take part in university events, meet students from many different backgrounds and help other students feel welcome at AUT. I particularly value the opportunity to support international students because I understand what it’s like to arrive in a new country and start university in a completely new environment.

“I also had the opportunity to take part in the Beyond AUT Award, which encouraged me to think about my university experience beyond academic results. Through the programme, I became involved in different activities and reflected more carefully on what I was learning from them. It made me realise that experiences such as leadership, communication and contributing to the university community are also an important part of preparing for life after university.”

He is grateful for the support from AUT staff throughout his studies.

“The AUT Scholarship Office has played an important role throughout my time at AUT as a Manaaki New Zealand scholar. They’ve provided clear information, guidance and support whenever I had questions about my scholarship, study arrangements or other university matters. This has been very helpful. I also really appreciate the trips and activities they organised. These gave me the chance to experience more of New Zealand, spend time with other Manaaki scholars and build friendships outside the classroom. Because of this, my scholarship experience has been about more than just studying, and has given me many good memories during my time in New Zealand.

“During my first semester, Dr Geri Harris made a strong impression on me. She introduced me to Quitch to check my understanding of what I had learnt. I also enjoyed how she made the classes interesting, and encouraged me to take part in discussions and share my ideas. Her class gave me a positive start at AUT and helped me become more comfortable with the way students learn and participate in class. I also like how Dr Himanshu Sharma connected technology concepts with examples from real businesses, because this helped me understand how automation, data and digital systems can be used in practice. He encouraged me to ask questions, explore new ideas and think about how technology could be used to solve business problems and be part of the work I want to do in the future.”

Advice for other students
Mengsuor’s advice for other students is simple: make the most of university life.

“Don’t rush through university just trying to finish the qualification. Academic study is important, but some of the experiences I’ve valued most at AUT came from opportunities outside the classroom. Get involved in activities outside your studies. This could include attending events, joining university programmes, volunteering or meeting people from different backgrounds. These experiences can help make university life more interesting and give you memories that go beyond classes and assignments.

“University also gives you the chance to meet people from different cultures, industries and professional backgrounds, so it’s worth taking the time to listen to their experiences and learn from them. Sometimes a conversation with another student, lecturer or industry professional can give you a completely different way of looking at a topic or thinking about your future.”

Use the support that is available to you, he adds.

“For example, academic workshops, lecturers and other university services can be very helpful when you’re trying to improve your work or understand something new. Sometimes you may think that you need to work everything out by yourself, but asking for guidance can actually help you learn more effectively and understand things more clearly. As a result, you can become more confident in your studies and make better use of the support around you.”