Westminster Business School Blog Meet the academics : Ola Sholarin

Meet the academics : Ola Sholarin

April 30, 2013
Uncategorized
4 Comments

Could you please describe yourself in a few sentences?

My name is Ola Sholarin. I was born and raised in Africa (Nigeria). I did not get a chance to live in my native country for long as I left after winning a scholarship to study abroad while still a teenager. I joined the University of Westminster in October 1995 after completing my Ph.D. and postdoctoral research work.

What is your area of academic interest and which courses are you involved in?

My academic interest is fairly broad and centres mainly on finance, economics, quantitative methods and development management. Presently, I am the Course Leader in MA International Development Management. My background in finance and mathematics helps in managing a number of my modules including: Global Financial Markets, International Development Finance and Financial Markets and Institutions. In addition, I teach on other modules, including: International Economics, Essential Data Analysis, Business Decision Making and Managing Development Projects. My research focusses on risk management, fixed income and financial derivatives. To a great extent, these research areas have defined my publications and other scholarly activities, including my consultancy work for the office of the mayor of London and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Could you please tell us a bit about this new course you lead and its key attributes

The course is not actually new as it has been in existence since 1998. It was revalidated again in February 2013 (in line with the requirement to revalidate postgraduate courses every 4-5 years). This time around, however, the revalidation exercise has been used to add a number of distinctive features on to the course. These new features are informed by the need to maintain our competitive edge in the market and also to improve our students’ learning experience and strengthen their employability. These new features are herein listed below:

Applicants are offered the opportunity to enrol on the PRINCE-2 foundation certificate (highly sought after by multinational corporations and recognised in more than 150 countries worldwide) in order to obtain an additional professional qualification in project management absolutely free of charge;

Opportunities to take part in field-based internship program during holiday period within or outside the United Kingdom for eligible students;

Regular contribution to teaching and learning activities from experienced field practitioners drawn from international development organisations and NGOs for regular practical workshops;

Participants will have access to official project materials from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and other top development agencies for real-life simulation and group-based activities.

With these new features, the job prospects of graduates on MA International Development Management programme have been enhanced. They have also made it possible for them to be eligible for employment in profit and non-profit-making organisations (Including NGOs, Multinational Corporations and development organisations like the World Bank, IMF, African Development Bank and Asian Development Bank amongst others),

What was your first job? What did you learn from it?

My first major job in the U.K is with my present employer – the University of Westminster. I joined the university in 1995 as a part time lecturer. However, during the early part of my career at the university, I joined Midland Investment Corporations where I worked as Equity Research Analyst for London and Moscow offices. Whilst the academic job at the University of Westminster continues to enhance my teaching and research capabilities, my experience at the Midland Investments Corporation has enriched my understanding about the working mechanism of financial system and institutions. From this, I appreciate how vital the financial system is to the development of a nation. I also know how devastating it could be if handled incorrectly. In my opinion, if a medical doctor makes a mistake, a patient might die. But if an economist should make one, an entire nation might simply explode.

What did you do in your career before coming to WBS?

Before joining the WBS, I worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the Central Institute of Mathematical Economics, which is an arm of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow. Prior to this, I was a doctoral student at the Kiev National Economic University in the department of Mathematical Economics.

What do you think is special about WBS?

Westminster Business School is unique in a number of ways. The school supports its staff and gives everyone the opportunity to achieve his/her potentials be it in the area of pedagogic activities or research. One unique attribute of the school that stands out the most is the quality of its staff and their research capabilities. This is made possible by the outstanding leadership quality of the dean –Dr. Barbara Allan – and her team. The school enjoys a reputable standing amongst other business schools in the country and beyond and all our stake holders (especially the students, staff members and our partner institutions) are actively engaged in upholding the ethos of the school.

What do you think of the social learning platform?

I think it is has the potential to enhance students’ capability to air their opinions openly and engage one another in meaningful and insightful discussions. This will, in turn, sharpen the students’ ability to learn collaboratively and independently, which is one of our university-wide aims here at Westminster.

If you were asked to give one piece of advice to students then what would it be?

I would like every student to know that one of the key determinants of success is how well they use the time at their disposal. As a matter of fact, this is the most precious asset they will ever have. Sadly enough, this is also a perishable asset. As such, students must learn to value their time and prioritise their activities. However in order to value their time, students must start by valuing themselves, otherwise they will not know what to do (and what not to do) with their time.

How do you relax out of work? What are your interests/leisure activities?

It is difficult to relax if one strives to remain steps ahead in his areas of responsibility (teaching, student supervision, publishing in reputable academic papers etc.) and combine all these with family life. As such, it is not unusual to run into some “hard core” colleagues on a Saturday or Sunday looking to create extra time beyond the call of duty. I am very good at lawn tennis and chess and I indulge myself in these games whenever the opportunity presents its self.

About
Latest Posts