International students given chance to broaden network thanks to Glasgow visit

Two GCU London-based students have had the opportunity to experience Scotland for the first time thanks to a cross-campus event.

Tania Nawaz and Raj Kamal came to study in the UK from Pakistan and India, with both students keen to make the most of their experience on the Global Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme at GCU.

They recently got the chance to meet their peers based in Scotland through their involvement in a two-day leadership event.

A total of 15 Global MBA students based in Glasgow and London came together in Glasgow on the 20th and 21st of March for a series of industry talks from MBA graduates Mary McLuskey and Steven Paterson, as well as Dr Richard Tiplady, who completed his Professional Doctorate at GCU.

There was also the chance for the Global MBA students from London and Glasgow to pick up some words of wisdom on employability from recent graduates.

The two-day event concluded with a tour of the award-winning Advanced Clothing Solutions (ACS) with GCU Alum and Honorary Graduate, Dr Anthony Burns.

The trip was made possible thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends who have donated to the GCU Foundation’s Common Good Fund.

We caught up with Tania and Raj to hear all about their experience:

How did you come to study at GCU London?

Tania: “I studied Linguistics and had a real interest in the science of languages. I then decided I wanted to do something related to business, especially in how it can empower women and the importance of sustainability.

“I chose Global MBA because I wanted to know the impact businesses have around the world. I’m from Pakistan and I had some insight, but coming to London was always going to give me more of an opportunity to learn about leadership, sustainability and innovation.”

Raj: “I’ve always been curious about how the world works and how people gain wealth. I had a real interest in capitalism and how people come to create their own businesses. When I was younger, I was also really interested in computers and studied computer science as my Undergraduate.

“My dad actually told me about the benefits of doing an MBA and the opportunity to have all these new experiences in London really interested me. GCU is also known around the world, so I knew I was going to a good institution. It all just seemed like a positive next step in my life because I still have that interest in computer science but also want to understand the business side.”

How has the course been for you so far?

Tania: “I love every bit of it! I had never studied business before and, as I mentioned,, my background had been around literature, but this has shown me the importance of team-work and giving back to society. Leadership and innovation has also been an important part of the course and I’ve enjoyed learning about that – it’s been an amazing experience.”

Raj: “It’s honestly been a ride for me! Not only has the campus been a transformative experience, the course itself has been really rewarding. I’ve got to meet so many people and had the chance to see how businesses are becoming more aware of sustainability and corporate responsibility.”

What was your thoughts when you first heard about the Global MBA cross-campus Leadership Event?

Raj: “I only found out about it a few weeks before and I was excited when everything was then in place. Everything was obviously covered cost wise, which was amazing. I was really excited to visit the Glasgow campus and also experience everything Scotland had to offer.”

Tania: “Initially I wasn’t sure if I was going or not. I hadn’t really looked into it in too much detail and I didn’t know how easy it would be to leave London. Raj really encouraged a lot of us to come and I’m so grateful.

“The experience and effort that went into it really showed me that the University cares about us as students. It was wonderful to meet our classmates from Glasgow – everyone was so kind.”

Were there any particular highlights that really stood out from your perspective over the two days?

Raj: “The highlight was definitely having the opportunity to network. I met so many people who helped motivate me and having that positive energy around really does help. I also realised how diverse we are as a course, but also how diverse Scotland is as a country.”

Tania: “There are too many things to pinpoint. Networking was of course a big part of it – but the whole visit was inspiring and impactful. The different leadership talks all helped us develop in different ways.

"The experience overall was extremely positive and gave us the chance to meet so many people. I also liked Scotland as a country because it was less intense than London overall.”

You also got the chance to visit ACS Clothing, how was that experience?

Raj: “It was phenomenal to see ACS Clothing because it let me see how a business is run in real life. Their warehouse/factory was absolutely huge – it took me a while to absorb everything. I was so impressed by how everything was automated. I understand how automation works in software but the visit was like a manifestation of that in real life.”

Tell me about your spontaneous trip to Edinburgh?

Raj: “I didn’t know too much about Edinburgh other than the fact it is supposed to be very beautiful. After our trip to ACS, we spoke to the Glasgow students and checked if it was possible to go through to Edinburgh for the rest of the day – I’m certainly glad we did.”

Tania: “I loved getting to see the castle. I also really enjoyed hearing the bagpipes and seeing people wearingvthe kilts. The architecture was absolutely beautiful.”

Are you grateful having had the chance to come to Scotland?

Raj: “This trip is definitely something I will remember for a long time. Getting the chance to meet so many different students from our course was really amazing, but so too was the chance to see such a beautiful country. I had definitely hoped to visit Scotland at some point, but getting to do it with my classmates was a very different experience and one that will stay with me.”

Tania: “I’m so pleased that I decided to come. It was really impactful for me to come with my friends and have this chance to make new friends. Everyone is so welcoming and the whole trip was arranged perfectly.”

How do you feel this experience has benefitted you for the future?

Raj: “The whole experience of the course has given me clarity and made me more confident. I’ve got to meet so many people and improved my networking skills.

“It’s funny to look back at the start of the course because we were all really nervous, but that has definitely changed now. We are far more confident and I think that comes from the atmosphere created within the course – this trip has definitely played a big part in that.”

Tania: “Travelling from Pakistan to the UK has changed my personality – I’ve become a global citizen. I understand the different personalities of people and each day I am learning new things. I’m also discovering more and more about myself. Experiences like this will stay with me for a long time.

“It is very hard for me to get a Visa coming from Pakistan, so I am very grateful to both the UK Government and to GCU for the incredible opportunity to study here.”

Find out more about the Global MBA programme here

By Ross Clark       
Got an SHLS or GSBS story? Email me at Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk or message me on Twitter