Dr Tengku Zahaslan Bin Tuan Hashim

Course: Doctor of Philosophy (International Relations/International Political Economy), 2022
Nationality: Malaysian
Current role: Director (NIMP Delivery Management), Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry

Please tell us about your postgraduate research.

My research studies how the negotiation of a free trade agreement can be influenced by actors outside of the immediate policymaking circles, such as NGOs and business associations. I chose the topic as I was interested in the complexity and intricacies of concluding an international agreement and the role of interested parties pursuing their interests in the negotiation outcome.

Insights from my research are potentially useful for government negotiators, who often overlook the power of non-state actors in influencing the trajectory of negotiations. By recognising their role, negotiators can better manage their negotiation strategy by identifying and strategically engaging non-state actors in the decision-making process from the early stages.

Why did you choose to pursue your postgraduate degree at Monash?

I needed to work in a university with a proven track record of high-quality research activities, experienced supervisors who excel in their respective fields, and a respectable collection of research materials in the library. Monash University Malaysia fulfills all of these very well, making it the obvious choice for me.

Did you participate in any student activities or opportunities?

I participated in the following programmes while at Monash:

  • Paper presenter at the Monash Social and Political Science Graduate Research Symposium, 20-21 October 2020
  • Participated in the Three Minute Thesis Competition, 2020
  • Paper presenter at the HDR LLCL Colloquium, 30 Sept–1 Oct 2021.

What did you enjoy most about your student life at Monash?

As someone taking a break from full-time employment to pursue this postgraduate research, I mostly enjoy the flexibility to work from anywhere and at my own time and pace. PhD still feels like full-time employment with all the work that needs to be done, but the flexibility as an independent researcher means I had more opportunities to explore life outside of the typical 9-5 working hours.

What are your career goals?

I hope to continue to climb the career ladder and become a respected government officer in the policymaking circle, as well as a skilled negotiator in the international forum to protect the national interest to the best of my ability. I also want Malaysians to know and be reassured that there are many high-quality and selfless civil servants out there working hard to make the country a better place.