What was your first job? What did you learn from it?
My first job was as a Trainee Machinist on an Engineering Training Board Scholarship; my time was mostly spent in the Training School. Several job moves later whilst surrounded by colleagues close to retirement I released the prospect of 40 plus years in same environment didn’t inspire me, other than to look for an alternative!
However, I can give you an interesting tour of Coventry’s Retail Parks and give you an overview of the industrial heritage they sit upon.
What is it that motivates and drives you in your career as an academic?
Simply put: helping people to realise their potential and to tap into that potential.
Tell us something about the Management MA Programme – what will students learn and experience and what will they take away with them?
The Management MA Programme has a number of pathways Certificate, Diploma and an Advanced Standing pathway in addition to the standard Masters pathway. It has part-time and full-time modes and entry in both September and January.
It is targeted at supervisors and line management, at operational to tactical levels.In content it is classic Management qualification, which provides management-level knowledge and understanding across the range of activities and disciplines that mangers will encounter. But, it is embedded in the School’s research-informed teaching for professional application vision, with its diverse international nature with student and staff from around the world.
The design of the Programme enables study over a year full-time or two years part-time for the full Masters.
With the addition of part-time programme ‘stepping into management’, which provides a flexible approach building through the Certificate and/or Diploma and Advanced Standing through to the Masters. This flexibility, for both students and employers allows study to be set around changing work and personal commitments, and organisational requirements.
If you had five top tips for new postgraduate students at Westminster Business School, what would they be?
1. Work hard, and manage your time;
2. Plan and prepare;
3. Build your networks of friends and contacts;
4. Make the most of London;
5. Enjoy yourself!
What did you do in your career before working for Westminster Business School
This has been a seemingly eclectic journey, having joined Westminster Business School in 2002 for a second time after a spell as a Research Assistant and visiting lecturer in the mid 90’s. Having moved after six years at London South Bank University in the School of Computing Information Systems and Mathematics. Leaving School saw a move into engineering as a Trainee Machinist and Machinist, followed by spells in Logistics, [working in Warehouses and as Delivery driver!], with another shift after study into residential social work and crisis intervention. Then the real shift after taking my degrees back to back as a mature student, which led me indirectly into academia as a practitioner academic, tying together teaching, research and knowledge transfer/enterprise, with Course management.
Which area of academia are you most passionate about and why?
Essentially translating theoretical concepts and ideas to relate them to practical application
My area of teaching, research and knowledge transfer broadly comes under Information Management. However as by definition my two degrees International Relations and Office Systems Management cover multiple disciplines it is the ability to span the boundaries of disciplines and opportunity that underpin my worldview.
Latest posts by Westminster Business School Blog (see all)
- Team Atlas Makes It To The Semi-Finals Of The Universities Business Challenge – The World’s Leading Event For Employability And Enterprise Skills - December 18, 2015
- #LoveFestive Photo Competition – What Does Festive Mean To You? - December 1, 2015
- Business Economics Course Attends Institute Of Fiscal Studies Conference - November 30, 2015