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 Rebecca McIntyre
Genera MBA, University of Sheffield
Undergraduate education: BA Hons in History
Country of origin: UK
Age: 29
Career History:
Since completing my undergraduate degree in 1999 I have spent seven years working with the nonprofit and public sectors; first as management consultant providing in business planning and organizational development advice to a range of arts, cultural, and regeneration projects, and more recently as grants manager for a national education charity.
Why Sheffield?
Having a top-class university on my doorstep (I currently live and work in Sheffield) the University of Sheffield was the obvious choice for my MBA. However, while it was close to home, the MBA experience was anything but homogenous. It was both taught and attended by people from a range of cultures, backgrounds, and experiences--exactly what I was looking for to broaden my knowledge base. I had carried out distance learning courses in the past and while these were great for combining with work, I felt with an MBA I needed to focus fully on the course and not be distracted by other demands. As such the full-time MBA at Sheffield University suited my needs perfectly.
What was the program like?
The program at Sheffield runs for a full 12 months, with the first semester providing a good grounding in traditional management subjects through a range of compulsory modules. In the second semester there is the chance to choose from a number of elective modules allowing the student to explore areas of particular interest in more depth.
The taught part of the course ends with an intensive two-week management consultancy module, which is unique to the university and is essential study for anyone wanting to take a new perspective on problem solving. The remaining time is dedicated to writing the dissertation (either an extended project or two shorter pieces of work) which students develop during the second semester.
Most importantly the program does not simply rely on theoretical case studies or the simplistic learning of standard management models. With numerous links to existing businesses, students can help solve real management problems through both the experiencing enterprise module (semester two) and during the dissertation. A dedicated member of staff works to secure these opportunities on an ongoing basis. Class-based learning is also brought to life with visits to local businesses and guest lectures by entrepreneurs and experienced managers. Teaching materials are often real-life scenarios which the staff have been involved in, providing the student with the opportunity to devise their own solutions and then compare these to what really happened. Emphasis is always on application of knowledge, and the adaptation or development of models is both encouraged and expected.
And Life Outside the MBA?
The MBA cohort formed firm friendships during the year, celebrating together many important events from the different cultures represented in the class. The student committee also organized end-of-term events which provided an opportunity to celebrate success and relax together. On a day-to-day basis both the city and university offer world-class sporting, arts and cultural venues, a huge variety of parks and gardens and, of course, the nearby Peak District national park, an ideal place to relax after the day-to-day rigours of the MBA program.
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