Amanda Jardine
I began my online MBA programme whilst I was working full time as Marketing Manager of several car dealerships. The reason I chose the Heriot-Watt programme was the fact that it is highly considered and flexible, in that the online programme enabled me to study on my own time with no mandatory classes I needed to attend.
Classes were available at a registered university in my country so for the first two courses of the programme, I attended classes to attain a feel as to what was required to successfully pass these exams. Once I attained a solid understanding of the course structure and felt comfortable with the syllabus information provided I completed the balance of my courses on my own. Help was always available if I needed by going to the university registered in my country or writing directly to the university professors in Edinburgh and past papers and essays were all accessible online.
The courses I covered varied widely and there is a wide choice of courses you can choose for your electives tailoring your degree to your needs. I would certainly recommend the programme to anyone interested in attaining an MBA especially without time to attend weekly classes due to work demands such as travel.
Two schools of thought exist about furthering academia, one is that work experience is more valuable and the other regards educational levels attained highly. I faced both situations so my decision to do my MBA was for personal self-fulfilment and growth. You feel a great level of accomplishment once completed and it is yours forever to be used to help you climb your career ladder or simply your own ladder. As Maslow himself iterated ‘ Self Actualisation’ is the highest form of motivation.
Carla Yvette Michelle Suite
It was never my intention to pursue an MBA. As an engineer, I wished to gain a deeper understanding of economic and financial decisions made within organisations. As such, I completed my first two modules in Economics and Finance as stand-alone courses. The content and communication of the information within the module was such that I was able to apply knowledge gained immediately in interaction with all my “publics". I was hooked and had to learn more. The Influence and Negotiations courses provide life skills that summarize and rival the information presented in private workshops.
I have completed my MBA and graduated with distinction.
EBS has a system that is progressive, accessible and challenging. It enabled interaction with business colleagues worldwide. Both the EBS academic and administrative staff have proven to be responsive to the needs of the student population.
During the course of my study I have formed friendships with academics that will last a lifetime.
Thank you EBS for making learning enjoyable, addictive and pertinent to the workplace.
Jason Julien
The Edinburgh Business School MBA experience far exceeded my expectations. In deciding to pursue my postgraduate studies I researched the various MBA options available and confidently selected the EBS program because of its flexibility, reputation and recognition.
The quality of the teaching materials was first-class, as they were well written and effectively communicated the complex concepts. In addition to presenting theory and practice, the authors fostered critical thinking with their narrative and encouraged independent thought.
Further, the attractive selection of elective choices available allowed for a broader academic encounter. The range of electives truly enabled both specialization and an in-depth understanding of the functional areas of management. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the advanced subjects in my particular area of interest and easily transferred this knowledge into the workplace.
I highly recommend the EBS MBA program for any experienced professional seeking to further equip themselves for the challenges of today’s dynamic and competitive world. It truly provides a competitive advantage.
Julie Boodhai
I was interested in an MBA programme with the greatest degree of flexibility that suits my busy lifestyle with the following attributes. It must be reasonably priced with high standards and quality.
I investigated all the other programs offered and decided to pursue the Heriot-Watt MBA distance-learning programme offered through a local school in Trinidad. That is the School of Business and Continuing Studies (SBCS).
I then proceeded to purchase my course material, which was available in both hard and soft copy, and henceforth the journey began. Tutorials, phone, group study and other peers supported me. As I started passing my exams and moving from one module to the other I really enjoyed the fact that I could study at my own pace where and when it was convenient. I was also able to postpone my exam when a personal challenge arose and continued to maintain full-time employment thoughout my studies. Not to forget the four hours a night sleep I had to ensure to pass my exams, which were administered by our local University (UWI) that was within very close distance to my home.
I found the course to be challenging, multifaceted, in depth and applicable to the current business environment. The broad-based MBA curriculum covers the important aspects that business people at middle and top-level management need to know and it allows you the flexibility to specialise in a specific area if desired.
The concepts and issues addressed in the program are of immeasurable benefit to both my personal and professional life.
In conclusion, it takes a lot of commitment and hard work but it is definitely worth it. When you have completed the programme you feel a sense of true satisfaction to be treasured. I have recommended the programme to my brother-in-law and sister; they are currently meeting the challenge and so can you.
W Richard Small
My completion of the HW MBA was fundamental to the execution of my plan to effect a career change. Up until the start of the program I worked as a Consulting Engineer to the International Oil and Gas industry.
I had three desires. Firstly, to leave the and oil and gas industry to work in an area more closely aligned to product management, business development and negotiations. Secondly, to be elevated to a higher level of management in advancement of my career, and third to return to my native Caribbean homeland, having lived and worked for a major portion of my adult career in the United States.
I have been successful in all these objectives.
The education and training I received in my first module, Marketing, assisted greatly in my acquisition of my first job outside of the oil and gas industry in a Product Management role. The other courses all contributed to a comparatively rapid advancement within my new industry to a position of Senior Management in a Product Marketing and Engineering Management.
With the selection of Negotiation module, I found my sweet spot and new niche career.
I am now the lead commercial negotiator with wholesale customer/competitors for the largest telecommunications company in the Eastern Caribbean. Never before has this position been held by a native born soul.
I hope to continue to leverage my MBA to become CEO someday, either of my own business or of a leading multinational company based in the Caribbean region.
I continue to exercise the entrepreneurial spirit I developed along the way while completing the HW MBA.
Salisha Mohammed
I am currently employed in the energy industry in Trinidad and after having completed the Association of Chartered Accountants (ACCA) course I was not satisfied with just being a Chartered Accountant. I began my search for a MBA program that embodied not only a financial background but other fields of academia that would make me a well-rounded professional.
I assessed several MBA programs offered by other universities, and I was bombarded with a plethora of programs through distance learning. My assessment of each program was based on criteria of course content, syllabus objectives, flexibility for part-time students, cost and overall recognition by major industry sectors within my home country. It was clear the Heriot-Watt MBA was the most outstanding, recognized and flexible program available. Heriot-Watt ranked number one on my list.
As a young accountant my financial resources were limited but Heriot-Watt granted me two exemptions based on my ACCA qualification which meant I attempted seven out of the nine modules for the MBA. I pursued the MBA between December 2003 and December 2006 whilst holding down a full-time job. I was not able to afford tuition provided by the local affiliate school, yet I successfully sat and passed all seven modules with A and B grade passes.
The text for each module encompassed not only the syllabus content but a full and comprehensive bibliography of recommended texts along with helpful websites that compliment relevant topics to be examined. This was particularly useful for the Marketing and Organizational Behaviour courses, which required a more “out of the box" approach to answers. As a result of such in-depth research I became more analytical in my approach to my work-based encounters.
It should be noted that each text provided up-to-date data and research complete with comprehensive diagrams, graphs and charts. This data supplemented with the suggested author and text list at the end of each chapter made me truly grasp the topics at hand.
Guidance was also given by Heriot-Watt University as to the order in which to attempt modules for eg. Marketing first then International Marketing. This allowed for stepping stones toward the final goal of completion of the MBA, baby steps before walking. It also created enthusiasm in me that more challenging modules were yet to come.
As each certificate arrived in the mail greater was the anticipation toward graduation day. A combination of hard work, in-depth research, time, passion and guidance from Heriott-Watt helped me to achieve my MBA. I have not only achieved my EBS MBA, I have also grown as an individual and as a professional. For that I will always look back and be proud.
Karen Battoo
I started my MBA with EBS in late 2005 by attending classes in Trinidad where I live at the satellite/affiliated School of Business and Computer Science (SBCS). Though options were offered for part-time study after working hours and on weekends, I wanted a way to complete my MBA with minimal inconvenience and hassle involved in long commutes, rush-hour traffic and night driving.
I decided to travel to Scotland to complete several of the modules at EBS on campus. Despite the costs involved with international travel, it was far more convenient to complete intensive programme sessions on campus over 4-5 days each than it was to endure 5-month semesters in Trinidad attending evening classes. The choice of accommodation provided was excellent given the options of Graduate housing or the comfortable hotel-style Paul Stobbart Building and I always felt like I was in a home away from home.
Completing the intensives in Edinburgh not only gave me the opportunity to travel and to connect with students from all over the globe, but it was also a truly rich and rewarding learning experience given the course format, the professionalism and experience of the lecturers and the opportunities to immerse oneself in the different global perspectives.
The whole experience with EBS was a joy – the staff were super-efficient and kind and went out of their way to offer assistance when approached. The campus's location allows quick and easy access to the city-center by public transport and the campus always felt very safe – even if returning from the city at late hours.
I graduated this June 2009 – approximately 4 years after I started. Had it not been for attending the Executive/Intensive Courses in Edinburgh, I may not have completed my degree or would have certainly taken much longer to do so. The EBS course was the perfect fit to my busy life and trying to balance a demanding job, new marriage and home renovations with studies. Just a few months prior to completion of my last MBA modules, I recommended the course to my best friend. She is now a full-time MBA student on campus and having the experience of her life!
Neil Derrick
I completed the MBA with specialism and graduated June 2009. The only regret I have with respect to my decision, to do this programme with EBS, is that I did not make the decision earlier.
The planners and co-coordinators of this programme have ensured they covered all corners in the planning of this degree. They have dealt with the issue of entry through the creation of entry paths for persons with formal qualifications and those with life learning.
In this regard they introduced the novel idea of no hassle entry and matriculation after the completion of four courses; a brilliant way to test students' capability to continue. The structure of the programme also allows for the flexibility of constructing an MBA programme to suit the peaks and troughs of your schedule and your areas of interest.
The online access, including watercooler, and supported by a prompt, courteous and committed administrative staff mimics an on-campus setting. The breadth of the programme and the real life case studies also provides tools that you can implement during your period of study and see immediate results.
In short, it is a programme that changes your approach to day-to-day business by changing your thought patterns.
Suzanne Singh
Studying with Edinburgh Business School was a rewarding experience in many and varied ways. I embarked on this programme to enhance my professional career. This was accomplished with a surprising added value.
As an individual, the knowledge and insight acquired assisted in my personal transformation resulting in a renewed understanding of people in any type of situation/environment and has provided me with the harmony/balance and understanding to respond in a positive manner in any given situation whilst creating a path for encouraging growth in any situation. This is most valuable to me.
Now, I'm self employed, partnered with my husband and we own and operate two different international companies together. I have the confidence of the MBA credentials with my name which in itself is self rewarding and commands respect in today's world of international business. This MBA programme not only instills the educational knowledge in a person but it literally transforms a person providing the incentive of becoming a better individual to make a difference in the world without one even realizing it at the time. For me, it has helped me reached another level in the lesson of life and has guided me in finding my purpose on this planet.
I am very happy to have embarked on this programme, it was not an easy road, my journey comprised of real life situations to deal with in every aspect but I did not give up. I found the strength and encouragement in my husband, family and friends and I am very grateful to them for their support.
Embarking on this study programme, like everything else in life, is a Partnership consisting of two equal parts forming one vessel, to work in complete unison, both parts must be giving. Therefore my message to all who embark on a study programme with Edinburgh Business School is to "Give your gift openly, freely and honestly", the rewards are self gratifying.
Venetta Sookhai Mohammed
I chose the Heriot-Watt MBA because it was being offered by a well respected University and because the flexibility of the program is a good fit for working adults. The MBA offered a comprehensive business education program using a principled-centered approach along with relevant and effective case studies.
The programme was challenging but extremely rewarding, I definitely view attaining my MBA as a great personal accomplishment and it would be remiss of me to not say that the program has certainly changed the way I approach my job and all the tasks in between.
I would have no hesitation in recommending this course of study to persons who want that extra edge to distinguish themselves from others with similar qualifications but more importantly to persons wishing to widen their perspective by learning new approaches to old problems.
Having decided to pursue this qualification has been one of the best decisions I could have chosen for myself and my career.
