Ali Nasir

Ali Nasir, from Indonesia, is an alumnus of the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law & Policy (CEPMLP), where he studied for a Masters degree. He is currently working as a Legal Adviser, International Matters for the OPEC Secretariat in Vienna, Austria.

Being a student in Dundee has left me with many pleasant and remarkable experiences. Dundee, the fourth largest city in Scotland, is actually fairly small compared to Medan, let alone Jakarta. However, the environment of the city which is very neat, orderly, and has many green areas coupled with its location which is near the mouth of River Tay, make this city a comfortable and ideal place for students.

Before deciding to go to Dundee, I did internet-based research to find out which university to study at in UK. For those practicing petroleum law, the University of Dundee with its CEPMLP - the Center for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law & Policy - is very famous as this is the only center in Europe specializing in energy, petroleum and mineral law and policy. The environment of the city and the relatively low costs of living, compared to cities in England, made me choose Dundee.

It turned out that Dundee was the right choice. Since the first day of my arrival in campus, I already felt the warmth of the welcome from the University. The University helped me a lot since my arrival as well as during the course of my study. My supervisor was also easily reached for any assistance I needed such as consultation, issuance of supporting letter for my visa extension and scholarships. Although these assistances seem to be routine and usual, they are quite crucial to students. CEPMLP administration officials were also attentive to give assistance, not only while I was studying there, but also after becoming an alumnus.

Lectures in the center were also remarkable. With international-caliber faculty and multinational students - most of them had substantial work experience - discussions in the lecture rooms became more vigorous and my social as well as professional networking grew significantly. The lecture schedule and reading assignments were quite tight, but there were no oral or written exams. The final assignment for each course was writing a research paper, which I found less stressful compared to sitting exams.

In short, my study in Dundee was not only pleasant but also played a major role in the achievement of my career. I am pretty sure I would not be in my current position if I did not furthered my knowledge of petroleum law at CEPMLP Dundee.