Science » WMG FTMSc Blog Collection

What is it Like to study innovation?!

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 03:03:23 GMT

Before starting my degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, I was wondering how is it like to study innovation? Will it be some tools about how to apply creative thinking? Will it be some success stories of edgy startups? Or it will be about breakthrough inventions and patents? But actually, the biggest question was “is innovation something that can be taught?

It didn’t take me much time to find the answer to these questions as the Innovation module was my second module for the first term of my studies. The module lasted for a whole week which I consider one of the most exciting weeks in my experience in WMG. Let me give you a glimpse of how it was like.

Few weeks before the module start date, we received the pre-module work which warmed up our minds and put us into the module mode. It had two main parts; first, some readings and videos based on the book “Entrepreneurship in emerging and developing economies” which is co-authored by the Innovation course leader Ali Ahmad. The book discussed a different aspect of enterprise and entrepreneurship with lots of cases from different markets.

The second part of the pre-module work was to complete our “Belbin profiles”. Belbin is a powerful team formation tool in which students answer some questions individually about their way of work and the results indicate their work style and their role as team players. Each student completed their profile and by the module start date, we were allocated into five teams.

For me, the module has two different sides a theoretical one and a practical one. On the theoretical side, the module takes us through different practices and concepts of innovation such as dark innovation, disruptive innovation, open innovation and innovation in corporates& the public sector. We had the chance to understand those concepts through many case studies and examples.

On the practical side, which was the most exciting for me, we went through "Stratsim simulation" which is a software simulation for our five competing student teams representing five automotive companies. Each company has a different mix of technology, products, distribution dealerships and marketing strategies. For six consecutive years, we needed to study the market opportunities and threats then take decisions upon our analysis. The decisions types varied between investment, new products, new facilities and emergencies. After six tough rounds, my team could achieve first place with the highest market value and net income!

I liked the high amount of interaction throughout the module which made a whole load of information easier to digest through competitive gamified quizzes and group work. The course had different tutors which enriched the discussions and the module output.

Now, to be back to our big question of whether innovation can be taught or not. And the answer is innovation isn’t just a theory or a tool that can be given with a spoon to the student. It is a mix of knowledge, practice, experience and creativity and as a student, you will get access to many resources, but it is your turn to benefit from those resources to have your own innovation mix.

Surviving the lockdown on campus

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 02:55:00 GMT

14 days of self-isolation and 2 national lockdowns in just 5 months. That was the -not so pretty- start for my first time in the UK. Let’s start from the beginning, I arrived last September, and I knew that Covid19 may not make this year as expected. Upon arrival, I had to self-isolate for 14 days which was quite challenging at the beginning to figure out how can I get my necessities and what are the things that I should be doing during the 2 weeks.

Surviving the two weeks wasn’t as hard as it looked at the beginning. Getting the necessities and familiarizing myself with my flat was made easy as the university accommodation provided guidance and help for all the self-isolated students. In addition, the induction week activities and events were so many (and by many, I mean in hundreds) and that kept me busy the whole day knowing new people, learning about the activities and the student societies.

After a few weeks, the Covid19 infection rate got so high and the government had to put its 2^nd national lockdown for 4 weeks to control the situation. It was so frustrating to stay in the room all this time, but we were hoping that the lockdown may take the numbers down and we would have a nice Christmas vacation. Unfortunately, a few days before the Christmas vacation the 3^rd lockdown took place due to the crazily rising numbers of Covid19 cases.

I’m writing this blog today the 21^st of Feb 2021 and we are still in the 3rd lockdown. Hopefully, we get some good news next week. Anyway, let me share with you some few tips on how to survive this time:

· Talk to people every day
call your family, talk to your classmates and have some kitchen chats over dinner with your flatmates. Staying in the room the whole day without communication really drags the soul down.
· Go out for a walk
the campus is so green and big with many walking routes and beautiful lake views. Walking and exercising keep the body energetic and boost mental health.
· Cook something nice
get your little chef out and cook something that you like. And if you can’t cook, well, there is no better time to learn than the lockdown.
· Get yourself engaged in student activities
There is a student society for almost everything you might be interested in. It’s always a good chance to know more people outside your classmates.
· Prepare a nice study environment
Get some helping stationery, a screen and some green plants. You will be spending most of your time studying at your desk so better make it an appealing workspace.

Surviving the lockdown isn’t easy. Loneliness and depression can easily get under your skin. Actually, it is okay to sometimes feel down but always keep in mind that it is a tough time for everyone and it’s an achievement to safely survive.

Dawn of a new Year & beginning of a new chapter

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 18:00:00 GMT

Done it, been there:

Student-Staff Liaison Committee member
LGBTUA+ representative: a volunteering role to educate myself on equality, inclusion and diversity on campus.
Student Marketer and blogger
Writing a thesis in a field I am passionate about
Master Degree obtained with Distinction

Looking back on the journey, I feel sad to say goodbye but I equally feel grateful for the learning along the way. Getting to know people and staying in contact with many of you is an honour as I have now a bed in every continent on the globe. Amazing to put it this way... Being able to connect with prospective students enabled me to share my opinion and help you guys navigate in all the information sessions and activities you can join and take part in. Writing blogs was like therapy at times, being able to reflect on my own journey while being actively busy sorting things out and still living the dream was refreshing and gave me the opportunity to take a step back and enjoy every single moment of it.

With the Graduation ceremony happening in abstention I still think of what the real ceremony could be looking like. Looking back I can only see positives and nothing to be ashamed off, that is the spirit, the learning I got for myself both personal and professional is life-changing. Warwick University is ever-growing and expanding which is for me already on my to-do list 2 or 3 years from now to see how everything has changed.

A master is for me more than just a certification, it is a positive voice in my head telling me that once I am determined to get something done, I can do whatever I put my mind to do. Succeeding with a distinction has even exceeded my expectations. All I am left with now is sorrow and sadness to close the chapter, to leave such a beautiful place. Filled with gratitude towards Warwick University but WMG as well, my heart is filled with all the emotions and shared memories, to wipe my sorrow and sadness and filling it with love, proud of my accomplished duty, ready for the journey ahead of me.

Xavier de Wasseige

MSc e-Business Management

Thank You, Warwick

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 16:59:43 GMT

Hi everyone!

I feel so sad to say goodbye to you. It has been my absolute pleasure being a WMG Student Marketer and getting to know so many of you. Taking on this role, I only expected to write a few blogs per month and, occasionally, talk to prospective students. However, the bounds of this role completely exceeded my expectations. Not only was I able to have my own blog, I had the chance to interact with so many of you, be a co-host in WMG’s 2021 Orientation and push myself to try so many new activities.

All I am left with now is gratitude and I want to extend that to WMG. Warwick has made my masters year an absolute dream come true and I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to study here. Not only are the academics great, the people are so amazing – both staff and students alike.

My heart feels heavy bidding farewell to Warwick but my gratitude for the experience supersedes it all. To everyone I’ve met over the year, I hope we stay in touch and I wish you the happiest and most successful years ahead.

Thank you, Warwick. Words aren’t enough.

Sincerely,

Katrina.

MSc International Trade, Strategy and Operations

Highlights of The Year

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 16:57:34 GMT

Hey everyone!

As this year is coming to an end, I thought I would reflect on my top highlights at Warwick! I genuinely can’t believe I’m writing this. It feels like only last month I was sitting in the lecture hall for my International Trade module feeling nervous about making friends with my fellow classmates. Despite the detours this year has experienced, I am so grateful to say that I still had such a great time at Warwick. So, without further ado, here are my top highlights of this year -

1. Feeling more confident. Never did I think about the depths a great education can do for my self-confidence. I have always been a studious person but the knowledge I gained at Warwick has helped me grow in so many ways; I cannot express my gratitude enough.

2. Having my own blog. I’m happy to say that this year I tried so many new things and one of them was having my own blog! I never thought I’d do that.

3. Meeting so many new people. Growing up in Qatar, I thought I had met friends of so many nationalities it would be hard to meet anyone else from some place new. But, how wrong was I?! I’ve met some amazing people from Panama, Bolivia, Taiwan and Kazakhstan all in the same year! Some of who have become good friends of mine.

4. Finding new interests. I’ve found a new love and respect for old movies and musicals! An urge to go to the gym and working with chocolate!

5. Embracing change. I realised that things don’t always work out the way you expected. And, that’s okay. If there’s anything this year has taught me it is to embrace change and the unexpected. That’s a lesson I will try to remind myself for life.

Sincerely,

Katrina.

MSc International Trade, Strategy and Operations

Certifications to complement your master

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 08:00:00 GMT

During your studies, you will learn a lot of new things. However, as you will soon be looking for a job, employers require you to master certain skills. This is where studying and pass official certifications will make sure you have more chance on the job market.

Personally, it is only recently and when applying for jobs that certifications proved to be the right option going forward. Employers seek expertise so while studying modules you could master some of them through an official certification to prove your skills and expertise. If you happen to choose for the e-Business Management programme you may well come across modules such as Cloud Native Computing or e-CRM. Both of those modules were probably my favourites, however, taking an official certification such as Salesforce Administrator (e-CRM) and AWS Cloud Practitioner (Cloud Computing) will further prove the mastery of those skills. Certifications would have probably been on my to-do list if I happen to know about them earlier.

Trailhead the online learning platform developed by Salesforce is a very good supplement to the e-Business Management degree, offering the possibility to further dig into areas with real-life examples offering the possibility to learn and remember things as well as to put course elements in a business context. As you will be noticing if Cloud Computing is one of your modules, you may well be using AWS in class doing some exercises on the platform. Completing the certification is, therefore, a good way to be officially showing employers that you master the newly learned skills.

Learning should not stop after your degree; on the contrary, in this day and age, continuous learning should be the aim and is a very good skill to show prospective employers. A master programme is more than a certification it is a pass, a voice to open the gates of your mind who was speaking to you negatively, a voice which after graduation will speak to you in words of can-do.

“The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice” B. Herbert

Xavier de Wasseige

MSc e-Business Management

Finished Your Dissertation: Now What?

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 12:24:23 GMT

You’ve finished the final review, you’ve completed the spell-check (for the 10^th time) and you’ve finally submitted your MSc dissertation. It’s been a long and arduous journey, filled with trials and tribulations. Now What? This post is about thinking ahead and making plans very early about your plans after completing the MSc at WMG.

My advice is simple, but not original. I must’ve heard WMG MSc alumni tell me this 100 times. You need to start thinking about your plans even at the earliest stage. This doesn’t mean that you have to have it all figured out, but rather you need to start thinking about it and once you have decided what your desired path is, take actionable steps to move you toward your goals.

Once you’ve decided on your desired post-MSc academic professional goals, it’ll now be time to use the wealth of resources and networks at your disposal and inch oneself closer to the goals. And if there is one take-home message in this entire message, then it’s this one: make full use of the resources and networks that WMG affords you as a student.

Here are two example of invaluable resources you can use to prepare for your post-MSc professional career.

1. Careers and Employability Office: This is the office responsible for organizing the WMG Futurefest and 1:1 career development appointments with MSc students. Futurefest is an annual WMG Careers fair whereby MSc students get the opportunity to interact with prospective employers. In 2020, major companies such as Hermes and Airbus graced students with their presence. The 1:1 appointments are a good opportunity to get feedback on career goals from dedicated WMG career professionals on your professional goals.

2. University of Warwick myAdvantage: This is the University of Warwick’s vacancy portal aggregating available part-time work opportunities, company campus visits and career development opportunities.

Karabelo Maloi - MSc IAE

Building Your Network

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 12:09:00 GMT

As the old saying goes: “Your network determines your net worth,”. This is not just cliché, but a very practical mantra that underscores the importance of this activity in reaching your professional goals. As a very wise colleague of mine at WMG once said; “Most jobs are not advertised,”. Therefore it is absolutely critical that as that MSc students looking for fulfilling employment in a challenging job market, that we hone our ability to build and maintain fruitful professional relationships in order to competitive. There are a few ways I started working on building my professional network while still at WMG.

1. LinkedIn: What a time it is to be alive! Never before has it been easier to connect with peers and potential industry mentors than it is today. In my opinion, LinkedIn is the undisputed heavyweight champion professional social media. Through LinkedIn, one click gives you access to people that can help guide and inform your career path. I have also found myself pleasantly surprised by how willing people are willing to respond to outreach messages and give me 15 or 20 minutes of their time, even though we may have never met before. LinkedIn also proved a very valuable resource for finding research interview participants for my MSc dissertation.

2. Special Events in Your Field: If you’re engineering student, and there is a TED talk being held on sustainability in engineering, then it is best practice to attend! Because at these events, you will have the opportunity to meet like-minded professionals who share your professional interests. In this way, you are much more likely to have a fruitful conversation and at the end, gain a professional contact or even a friend. This is the approach I took in my year and on many occasions I have gained fruitful professional contacts to whom I can reach out to in future for guidance.

Karabelo Maloi - MSc IAE

An Ode to my MSc at WMG

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 17:41:33 GMT

Writing poems is one of the many ways I love to express myself, especially when it comes to my emotions. As this marks my last post, this poem represents my truest thoughts and feelings in regards to the MSc journey at WMG. These words are written from the heart and I hope they enable you to get a glimpse of how amazing my journey has been. I’ve really loved documenting it and sharing my time spent with you and I truly hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have.

So without further ado, the eagle is landing for the last time…(I had to, it’s a Princess Diaries reference because you know I’d always share the joke with you, haha)

i stumbled upon you,

you weren’t what I had in mind originally

but I have fallen deeply in love

and witnessed how you’ve risen me above

all the plans and thoughts I had for my life

you’ve given me a chance

To dream

To envision

To see

all the endless possibilities

I am now a certified ‘problem solver’

If there’s an ebb, I will surely flow

If there’s change, I’ll pivot

& pivot some more

where there’s tears, there’s also laughter

Oh, the laughter and the spirit of

Camaraderie

shoulders bent, huddled bodies, markers in hand, developing

Strategy

presenting and gaining

Clarity

writing down notes to enhance your

Destiny

it’s been a great ride

one of the greatest of my entire life

Thank you

for the lessons,

the joy,

the memories

Thank you for making

a better person out of me

thank you,

MSc at WMG.

For the last time,

Tolu Karunwi

MSc Innovation & Entrepreneurship

So, was it worth it in the end?

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 17:32:11 GMT

I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting lately. Reminiscing on my time spent studying at WMG and I’ve come to the clear conclusion that undertaking a masters in IAE was one of the greatest choices I’ve ever made.

From the incredible people I’ve been blessed to meet, to the level of independence I’ve attained, to the knowledge amassed, I look back on my time fondly as I realise how much I’ve achieved in just one short year. 9 challenging modules, 9 tasking PMAs, the most fulfilling part-time job, a dissertation, volunteering opportunities, building my business. I am so incredibly grateful for this experience and know you can and will be too.

Recently, I was asked if I had any words of wisdom to share in relation to this experience. The word ‘challenge’ was immediately flagged up because I cannot deny how much I was challenged in various ways. Let’s look into the definition shall we?

The greatest takeaway for me is not so much in the effort required but rather the process of being ‘tested’ through this challenge, being refined and encouraged to do better and be better. That is the masters experience at WMG in a nutshell. You will undoubtedly not leave the same, but leave changed, leave better. So what this experience does is it encourages you to embrace and welcome challenges. It encourages you to expand your perspective, to consider the fact that there is no challenge that is too big that cannot be faced. As a Christian, my belief is that I can do all things because Jesus gives me the ability and strength to do it. Now, I am aware that you may not share this belief, however the message still remains that when facing a challenging experience; your countenance matters and your belief system, it matters. You will only get something amazing out of this experience if you choose to keep going and keep learning and most of all, keep enjoying the ride!

So I leave you with the words of wisdom that I wrote down and hope your desire to further your career is fulfilled at an amazing place like WMG:

‘Always remember your why. Cherish every moment. Allow yourself to be challenged as it will guarantee exponential growth - academically, professionally and personally.’

Wishing you the best of luck with whatever you lay your hands to do and my prayer for you is that God, the source of hope will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

Till next time,

Tolu Karunwi

MSc Innovation & Entrepreneurship