SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

Tim Goudie - MBA
Tim Goudie has imparted a whole new dimension to the concept of studying by distance learning. Having registered for a University of Leicester MBA course, his first exam was written in Los Angeles while on business with Neutrogena, his last was taken in Toronto while working for Pillsbury and the majority were written in Dubai while working for Johnson & Johnson (Middle East) Inc. His dissertation was also written in Toronto, but by that time Tim was working for Coca-Cola, his current employers. It is, he says, a "truly global MBA".

A South African by birth, with a love of rugby, ice hockey, paragliding, surfing and the outdoors, generally, his first degree was from the University of Cape Town. Tim first decided to take an MBA in Dubai, in the knowledge that he would shortly be emigrating to North America. "I felt I would need an MBA to compete in the job market there," he said. "I also wanted the opportunity to consolidate my work and academic experience and to improve my career prospects."

Marketing was Tim's chosen career from the time he first graduated, and he has enjoyed the "constant learning curve of applying the same brand marketing principles in different countries on different brands around the world." He feels the Leicester MBA gave him a greater understanding of how the different functions within a company interact and allowed him to compete on an even footing with his peers in North America.

However, following a distance learning programme while working demanded disciplined planning for study, though he feels it also allowed him flexibility and mobility as he worked and lived around the world. He said: "My wife was extremely understanding and supportive. She made many sacrifices in order to give me the time to study. Full credit to her." As a newly-fledged father, Tim added: "My six-week-old son Nicholas is a delight but demanding. A hint to prospective students - get your MBA done before considering babies. We managed to do that. I wouldn't know how anyone could manage otherwise."

Tim Goudie graduated with an MBA from the University of Leicester in 2000. He has recently re-located, to Coca-Cola Atlanta and now works for the World Wide Sports Marketing Department, as the NBA/Emerging Properties Manager, with responsibility for the NBA and Emerging Sports for all countries outside North America, for whom he also acts as brand consultant for Sprite.

Khaled Khalil - MBA
"I hate monotony, and when I was working I had got to the point where everything I was doing I had done before. So I decided to take an MBA and find a job that had enough breadth to maintain my interest."

Khaled Khalil had been working in a delegate office of the German Chamber of Commerce in Beirut, part-time as an undergraduate, then later full-time. His decision to take an MBA was partly financial and partly a desire to spread his wings. "I felt that having an MBA I would earn a better salary, but also I felt I had gone as far as I could on the back of my undergraduate degree. I had reached a limit, both in what I could do professionally and where I could go."

Being both German and English speaking, he considered both countries for his study, but finally ruled out Germany because he felt the German MBA was based on the British qualification and he decided to go straight to the source. Having friends and relatives in London, as well as a British passport, clinched the decision.
"I have spent most of my life in Beirut, though I had visited England and Germany several times. But it has been strange living in another country for any length of time. On vacation you don't get a full taste of the weather all year round, the food, or the people."

One of the things he finds most different is the food. "I love Lebanese cuisine. With the combination of what I can cook at home and restaurants in London where I can go, I can still find it in England. He also has remarked on how meal times and the opening hours for leisure activities is earlier in Britain than in Lebanon. "At home we go out at the time your pubs close here."

His chosen dissertation subject was on knowledge sharing and Intranets, and it is clearly something he feels passionate about. "Ways of sharing knowledge have been an issue for a long while. But knowledge is hard for people to give up, it's human nature. Loss of knowledge is loss of power, which is a threat. I am interested in whether we can get over this by the way Intranets are designed to facilitate and encourage knowledge sharing. Can this make it easier to share knowledge without losing power?

"Intranets and more generally the internet are changing the corporate arena, but not quite as people thought. Dot-com companies haven't taken over the world. I think the Internet is not like the Industrial Revolution. We already had fax, phone and letters, now we have the Internet as well. I think it still has huge potential."

While a highlight of the course for Khaled has been his dissertation and the opportunity it presented for working on his own, he feels the Leicester MBA has provided him with a lot of important advantages. "The group work has given me a lot of patience in dealing with people. We repeatedly practised case studies with the group and it was hard to manage that. I think that is a valuable experience. Companies are always looking for good team players."

He is hoping to go into consultancy once the course is over. While he was at the German Chamber of Commerce in Beirut, his work involved advising clients and he feels this - with the MBA experience - leads naturally to this career. He feels that the variety of material presented by the MBA programme has given him a sound foundation for this - or any other - aspect of business.

Weijia Wang (Christina) - MSc in Finance
I came to Leicester in 2002 to study MSc in Finance at the School of Management. Prior to my coming to Leicester, I had never been to Europe before. Everything I met there presented a fresh perspective for me; such as life style, study methods, people from different background, language, food etc. Of course, I met a number of difficulties when I just arrived in Leicester, but fortunately, I made lots of new friends in Leicester and I found that the people I met in Leicester were very friendly and easy to get along with.

Before I came to Leicester to study Finance, I had just got a Bachelor degree in Engineering. However, I didn't want to develop my future career in Engineering, so I took the very good opportunity to come to Leicester to study Finance. The degree that I got from The University of Leicester did help me a lot when I was looking for a job on my return to China. As a student with overseas study background, I found that looking for a job became much easier. Compared with the students without such experience, I have a much better grasp of oral English and more familiarity to the world outside China, especially UK. I also became more competitive after the degree I got from the University of Leicester.

The course structure of the MSc in Finance programme was quite special. The course not only taught advanced finance but also established the rudiments of finance. Lots of my classmates were from Engineering, mathematics or other field, including myself. The lecturers were very helpful and of high academic standards, they were highly devoted to their teaching career. Indeed, I found the University of Leicester to be a very good place to study. When I was studying in Leicester, I always felt very calm and focused. There were lots of societies to help when one needed help daily life and a number of offices rendering all kinds of services to students. For example, there are lots of advertisements of accommodation in student union and leaflets on how to find good accommodation. Also, I found the Career Office was very helpful when I was looking for a job.

Although I am now back in China, the time spent in Leicester is still very much in the memory. The life in Leicester was extremely interesting indeed. I had made lots of friends when I was in Leicester, I got lots of help from my friends, I attended lots of activities, which were organized by the student union, such as fashion show, travels and so on. I did take the chance traveling lots of places, including London, York and the likes. All in all, the life in Leicester was very colourful; it was such a wonderful journey and it holds particularly fond memories.

Jack Mizzi - MSc in Marketing
Jack Mizzi is currently responsible for Marketing and Wholesale Services at DataStream Limited, Malta's largest broadband and data services provider and part of Maltacom plc. He was one of a team who launched broadband internet in Malta and in 2004 took on the conceptualisation, development and launch of the highly successful pay-per-use ADSL Internet product.

In the past, Jack has introduced and launched several telecommunication services on a national scale. He has also been responsible for the planning, management and organisation of national events, such as the Malta Web Awards. In July 2001 he took a step that he sees as an investment in his future, equipping him with the potential for greater career choices. Jack enrolled with the University of Leicester School of Management to take an MSc in Marketing by distance learning.

Jack had considered the Leicester School of Management following the recommendation of a colleague who had been satisfied with the degree she was taking at the time, and after checking out the syllabus for himself, he applied and was accepted for the course.

Speaking of the Masters course, Jack said: "Overall the degree provided good challenges, with a mix of theory and application of such theories in practice. It also provided the opportunity to link the teaching to my work, thus enabling me to apply what I learned to real life." Distance learning is a way of studying that is flexible enough to combine with full-time working. However, it does demand a certain amount of self-discipline, as Jack found out. "The work-study relationship proved to be difficult in view of my long working hours, as well as family commitments. The only solution was to preset a dedicated time daily to study (usually after 9pm!)."

"The feeling of working alone was noticeable at times, especially since my two previous degrees were campus-based. The School of Management web-board provided good contact with staff and, to a lesser extent, students, and for academic feedback it proved a good medium of communication." Jack Mizzi's results speak for themselves. He was highly successful, and not only achieved a distinction for his degree, but was awarded the title of "Best Specialised Masters Student".

Elif Ozalkan - MSc in Management
Prior to taking an MSc Management course at the University of Leicester, I had studied International Trade at one of the most reputable universities in Turkey and had graduated with a high honours degree. Moreover, in the course of my academic studies, I had firstly worked as an intern at a well-known foreign trade company and then had been employed as a part-time assistant by Hewlett Packard, Turkey.

During my academic and practical studies, I had gained knowledge about the domestic market and I was in a position where I wished to build on this understanding; that is, I considered the studies I had completed so far, as only the beginning of an extensive period of self-development towards my career objectives. My immediate aims were to gain a wider understanding of international management, marketing, and business structures. Also, to interact with and learn from the wide range of students and professors with whom I could come in contact during my postgraduate study. With the achievement of these goals, I would be in a stronger and more confident position to realize my potential and to fully apply myself to playing a part in the international management and marketing of the growing Turkish economy.

What differentiated University of Leicester among all other universities was firstly its established reputation for teaching and research. University of Leicester is such an academic community that delivers high quality postgraduate programmes, along with a perfect study environment. The university always appreciates and respects diversity, and creates a colourful and enjoyable international environment in which there is a chance to meet different cultures, broaden one's perspective and develop friendships. The only thing expected from the students is the wish to learn and enjoy the study period; and once the student has that intention, the university provides a variety of opportunities not only through its library and academic staff but also through its support and student learning centres, welfare and counselling services, and so on.

I was lucky enough to have had the privilege of studying MSc Management at University of Leicester, where I acquired a wide knowledge of business, marketing and management through lessons in the form of quality academic discussions; assignments requiring extensive and quality research; and finally the dissertation teaching how to create a real academic paper based on a thorough study. However, besides the desirable academic knowledge that University of Leicester provided me, I had also taken the advantages of the city as well as the campus life, both of which could fully satisfy the social needs of the students, in order to relax in the course of demanding study periods.

As a result, the time spent in the UK, immersed in the culture, language, and social environment, gave me both greater knowledge and the know-how to return home with the potential to better accomplish my long-term aims. Thanks to the scholarship University of Leicester provided to me, I had the opportunity to be a member of this academic community; thanks to invaluable support, insights and encouragement of the lecturers in the School of Management, I had a very efficient and effective study period which enabled me to complete my MSc Management with distinction, to differentiate myself among other job applicants in a highly competitive environment, and eventually to be employed by one of the most successful multinationals back home.

DEPARTMENT OF MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION
Kate Buchanan, Marketing Assistant, Switzerland MA in Mass Communications, January 2007 The MA in Mass Communication taught me a wide range of skills which have been crucial to both my professional and personal development. It is very challenging to complete a course by distance learning, especially if you are working at 150%, which I was, but I found the course to be well structured and the enlightening topics helped me to engage with the essays and keep on top of things. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending the course to people who are working in a communication or marketing related field as it was well viewed by my employers and taught me many transferable skills which helped me get to where I am today at the age of 25!

Cecilia Mhiti, Information Officer, Zimbabwe

MA in Mass Communications, January 2007
The course material was particularly impressive: very detailed an informative, attractively presented and extremely valuable for completion of assignments. I also found the assessment system very useful especially the comments made by the tutor as I referred to them for the completion of subsequent assignments. In the absence of a formal training institution I found the format employed by this course very distance learner-friendly and effective … I found the DL office very amenable … The course is hard work but it is worth the effort!

Stacey Alfonso-Mills, Director/Communications Consultant, West Indies
MA in Mass Communications, January 2007
The MA significantly expanded my knowledge of the mass media and communication industry. The material was not only rich in mass media history, but was well compiled and supported with relevant and interesting material that contributed to my learning experience. The distance learning element of this programme was enhanced by regular communication with my tutor making the programme a very hands-on and interactive one. University staff provided excellent support at all times and contributed to a stimulating learning experience. While this programme was rewarding academically and professionally, of great significance was the diverse cultural exchange of ideas and experience by students from around the world.

Frank Swanson, Television Director, The Netherlands
MA in Mass Communications, January 2007
As a working media professional, I was looking for a flexible program when considering advanced media studies. Through Leicester's distance education program, I was able to -not only study my courses away from the campus - but work at a pace that my career required. As my work demanded more of my time, I was able to arrange for changes in my assignments due dates. The modules in the course also were very current and recognizably relevant to someone working in media.

Tor Clark, Senior Lecturer in Journalism, UK
MA in Mass Communications, January 2007
I really enjoyed studying for my MA. The course, which was testing both in terms of time and academically, gave me a wide perspective on mass communications globally, a real intellectual workout and the chance to meet like-minded students from all over the world. It was enjoyable to study and useful to me professionally.

Samson Pharaoh Phiri, Journalist Trainer, Maputo, Mozambique
MA in Mass Communications, February 2002
After 24 months of going through all those materials, exercises, an exam and assignments, you emerge only to realize that there is still a lot more to learn and know. This is the course's greatest gift: the ability to spur in the student an even greater thirst for more learning and knowledge. The value and depth of the materials provided is inestimable. The quality of training was excellent. The staff at the Distance Learning office were simply great. My highly critical tutor was just superb. All in all, it was a great course. At the end of the day, one can only say that it was a pleasant and memorable experience to be associated with Leicester.

John Hawkhead, Sales Proposals Manager, UK
MA in Mass Communications, February 2002
I've just completed the MA in Mass Communication with the CMCR. Apart from the obvious satisfaction I've gained from completing the degree, I now have a much wider view of the world politically, socially and culturally. Before the course, I tended to take much of the socio-political sphere for granted - a view typical in the West I guess. Hopefully I'm now better equipped to recognise some of the gaps in the messages we're given and better able to identify how some of the world's inequities are perpetuated. In the post September 11th world there are some salutary lessons we would all do well to learn, and the MA in Mass Communications goes a long way to achieving that.

Gloria Maschmeyer, Freelance Writer & Photographer, Hong Kong
MA in Mass Communications, July 1999
Earning a master's degree in mass communications has greatly enriched my knowledge and understanding of the underlying theories and concepts that govern my progression. As a university educator, I find myself frequently utilizing this new wealth of information. From a personal standpoint, the gratification that accompanied completion of Leicester's rigorous program along with alumni status that forever links me with one of England's most prestigious universities has further increased my confidence. I can't speak highly enough of the program and its faculty.

Peter Witton, Vice President, Ruder Finn Asia, Hong Kong
MA in Mass Communications, February 1999
The benefits have been professional and personal. Professionally, I feel more confident in my judgement about communications issues; personally, the course proved I could still cope with the demands of academia and that my brain was still functioning.

Sandy Warr, Head of Presentation at News Direct Radio London and anchor of the Breakfast news sequence on the 24 hour rolling news format.
MA in Mass Communications, July 1998
I joined the MA mainly for personal interest and have found it has broadened by career in all sorts of interesting directions. I found it very refreshing to be able to 'stand back' from my work and look at the business from the outside . I hope I was able , too, to bring to it a depth of personal experience of working in the business at the sharp end. I gained an insight into the global industry and a new way of thinking about some of the norms we take for granted. This was all anticipated. What I had not expected was to get such satisfaction from being back in an academic field that I have developed a whole new sideline to my career. I now teach on the post graduate diploma in Broadcast Journalism at City University and lecture for other organisations including Media Medics.

Tom Gormley, RTE, Ireland
MA in Mass Communications, February 1999
I work at RTE, Ireland's national broadcaster (www.rte.ie). As a trade unionist working on a partnership project, I meet groups of members and managers to develop strategies for public service broadcasting based on dialogue inside and outside the organisation and to challenge outdated views of our role. The MA in Mass Communications by Distance Learning has provided vast resources which I use constantly for this work.

CENTRE FOR LABOUR MARKET STUDIES
Head of Human Resources (Europe), Thorn Lighting
"This course has assisted me to develop the potential of the company's human resources by putting into practice a number of the concepts, theories and practices covered. If the UK is to continue to improve its performance in a globally competitive market place, courses such as this MSc are essential"

Retired Police Officer, USA "You have no idea how different it is to getting a Masters in the US - my interactions with CLMS are completely unlike anything I've been involved with and I'm considering pursuing a PhD with CLMS"

Human Resources Director, Microsoft Ireland
"Most of the content is very relevant to what I do every day. Because it's a multi-disciplinary course, one of the most useful aspects is looking at issues from different perspectives and developing critical thinking that can be applied to any issue"

Head of Organisational Development, Avon Cosmetics, UK
"I have learned the confidence to research the facts, form a view and argue for it. This has been recognised by my promotion from Learning & Development Manager to Head of Organisational Development. I started with the diploma and was 52 when I graduated with my MSc and it made me feel that my career is still buoyant and I can look forward to more promotions"

Major, British Army
"Completing my course and graduating has already changed my career direction. I have been accepted for a post as 'Training and Development Advisor', the requirement for this post is that officers should have a Masters degree. It was apparent from my interview that the MSc in Training & HRM at CLMS is known and held in high regard. The strength of the course comes from the support for, and feedback to, students from the tutors"