Israel Mwanza
For me studying the Heriot-Watt MBA was quite challenging but manageable. I had to strike a balance between my tight work schedule as someone responsible for financial reporting at Zambia National Commercial Bank Plc and finding time to study. I completed the MBA programme in 18 months. The materials are written by very renowned and experienced professors from American and European universities.
The MBA really equipped me with soft skills and moulded me into a more complete professional who can ably handle every aspect of business in any industry. I am so versatile that I can efficiently and effectively manage both front office and back office operations.
Armed with the Heriot-Watt MBA, one gains a greater insight of an integrated picture of business and how the various operational and support units complement each other to make an effective whole unit.
Heriot-Watt produces graduates who take a systematic approach to business issues in arriving at decisions rather than the reductionist approach or silo effect where managers make sub-optimal decisions that are not in the best interests of the organisation as whole.
Lutombi Mundia Kawana
Despite being a very busy professional, first as Resident Vice-President of Citibank Zambia (Citigroup) and now as Chief Executive Officer of PRIDE Zambia (a Non-Bank Financial Institution), I have managed to complete the Heriot-Watt EBS MBA. The MBA’s greatest flexibility is the comprehensive modules, which allow the student to conveniently make progress despite awkward work and social schedules. In my CEO position, I have been able to apply the theory to my work with very pleasing results. I would therefore not hesitate to recommend the EBS MBA to any progressive professional.
Misheck Mkokweza
I am an Associate with The Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB) and in 2002, having worked for Barclays Bank Zambia Plc in various positions for 10 years, I thought of enhancing my career by studying for an MBA.
I searched on the Internet and asked peers which school I should pursue my MBA with. The Heriot-Watt University distance learning MBA was the natural choice due to its flexibility and time to complete the course. The local coordinators ZICAB (Zambia Institute for Capacity Building) were very helpful.
It goes with saying that ‘no pain, no gain’. Studying was a lot of hard work as my job is very demanding and involves a lot of travel. I had to study on weekends for longer periods and made sure I put in 30 minutes every day no matter how tired I was. I always moved with my note book and, of course, work. The online course questions and past examination question assisted me concentrate on my weak areas.
The course has greatly assisted me in performing my job as it combines both theory and practical applications and enables you to think strategically and outside the box. The courses are still living in my mind and I still refer to them.
Due to my completion of the MBA, the bank has given me a new strategic role of Structured Finance Manager.
I will treasure this qualification that I believe will open doors for me.
Robert Simukoko
At my place of work I influenced senior officers to enrol with Edinburgh Business School and the response was encouraging. Six officers were matriculated and the study materials were purchased for all the courses. They are all studying and motivated to see me complete my course of study.
In future if I meet a potential student I will not hesitate to recommend the Heriot-Watt MBA because of its flexibility and the depth of the materials’ coverage, which gives an edge over other qualifications.
Clement Kapila
Having obtained Associate of Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIOB) and Associate of Chartered Institute of Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualifications, I felt confident with my technical capacity to discharge my duties to the required standard. However, as I started rising up the ladder in my work career, I started feeling a sense of inadequacy in myself.
Increasingly a lot of people that I was interacting with were MBA holders. I admired their quality of work which clearly looked superior to mine.
After searching for suitable institutions that could offer me a widely recognized MBA at affordable fees and flexibility to pursue the studies whilst working, I finally settled for Edinburgh Business School as it met all my requirements. Its course fees were affordable, MBA widely recognized, and I found its mode of education delivery appropriate for my situation and a lot of individuals I knew who studied with Edinburgh Business School gave it a favourable review.
During my studies with the School, I found the course materials very detailed and easy to follow. The case examples were extremely helpful to me as they helped link theory into practice and deepened my understanding of the subjects.
Pursuing my studies whilst working gave me an opportunity to immediately apply the new knowledge gained in my studies straight into my daily work. I could clearly see the relevance of my studies to my work. This gave me a sense of satisfaction with my studies and made me enjoy both my studies and work. Completion of the MBA has broadened my knowledge, I now feel more confident in my daily work interaction with colleagues.
Having enjoyed my MBA Studies with Edinburgh Business School, I do not want to stop there and sit in a comfort zone .I have since enrolled for DBA with the School. I am quite aware of how challenging the DBA course is but I feel any challenging course represents a rare opportunity to separate oneself from the many.
Joma Tambatamba
I chose this EBS MBA programme based on the flexibility and popularity it has. With my tight work schedule working in the Public Sector, which is in Central Government as a Principal Accountant, I had targets to make each day and at the same time I found time to study for the MBA.
I had other challenges being a working Professional Accountant, a wife and mother of four children, I had to find time for all these roles. A big thank you to EBS MBA which was just right for me to carry out these roles. The MBA has molded me into a complete professional with skills in various fields.
Being a Finance person, I can proudly advise anybody on issues relating to Strategic Management, Organizational Behaviour, Economics, Marketing, Project Management, Influence and Competitive Strategy . This experience will definitely shape help my reputation.
The flexibility of this MBA allows you to plan when to take an exam. I planned to sit an exam at each exam diet and this enabled me to complete the programme on time. The secret is to write an exam at each exam diet and you will not go wrong! The self study books and examinations in them were just the right practice for me. The MBA has immediately transformed me into an intellectual with business concepts which can be applied to any real life work situation.
I would like to thank my husband and kids who allowed me to spend sleepless nights towards exam time. A big thank you to the country coordinator at ZICAB and lastly to EBS for providing this MBA.
