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Some pictures from in and around Moor Hall
| | Comments from some past and present students
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"Thought I should drop you a note now that the MSc is over! .... I really enjoyed the
course and on reflection, I can't believe how quickly the last
year has gone. Hopefully the three colleagues that I recommended
the course to will meet the standard of achieving a distinction
too! (Just a shame that your new £20 Amazon voucher offer per
new enrolment didn't exist when I recommended the course to the
three of them!) ..... When I needed to
contact MDC for things, queries were handled promptly and staff
were very helpful. ...... I know you used a quote
from me in your last newsletter, and if you need to use someone
as a case study in future, feel free to get in touch." ....... Marcus Bailey, Lloyds TSB (graduated Jul
03) |
"The MSc course in Marketing offered by MDC is perfect for
those who want to develop specific marketing expertise and gain
an MSc qualification within a year. The course is certainly a
contrast to the prescriptive nature of the CIM exams - it was
refreshing to be able to develop an individual perspective on
topics and be encouraged to 'accept nothing and question
everything'. It has certainly made me look at things in a
different light. The two residential weekends were great and
gave us the opportunity to meet individuals from all corners of
the world and develop some friendships that are still strong
even after completion of the course. There is no question that
the MSc was challenging, stimulating and very hard work (you
can forget about a social life for a while!), but the experience
is one that I'd definitely recommend. The dissertation can be
based on a topic of interest and as such I really enjoyed every
aspect of it. The team at the MDC were very supportive
throughout and tutors at the University of Glamorgan
were extremely encouraging and helpful."
From:
Gillian
Pinkhardt, Marketing Manager EMEA, ATG (Art Technology Group) |
"Support
and guidance that I have received from University has
been very good. The weekends were very informative and
fun!"
Hayley Yule, Product Manager, Schwarz Pharma
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"The MSc
course to date has been well organised, challenging, and
extremely enjoyable. Both the staff at MDC and the tutors
from Glamorgan University have gone out of their way to
be helpful. The support from others on the course has
been really motivating and encouraging."
Carole Carlow, Senior Commissioning Editor,
NFER-Nelson |
"As for
the academic content..the delivery of material is done at
a pace which is very different to the past exposure of
mass content and becoming lost in a Kotler or Porter
matrix. The presenters are able to offer some useful
insights and provocative if not at times controversial
opinions on the various topics which stimulate group
interaction.
Materials for the course are well prepared and in
sufficient quantity where one can review most of the 3
days in a flight from Heathrow to Frankfurt. As for the
electronic stuff..some hiccups, but to be expected.
"Geoff Whitehead, General Manager, Novo Nordisk
Pharma, Korea |
Tony Snowdon: "The first
weekend was very good, but the experience of then being
thrown straight into an assignment was traumatic; not
having a semester to work up to it. Having said that I
should have expected it !
Come the second weekend, I think I was shell shocked, and
poorly prepared having spent so much stressful and
perhaps poorly directed effort on the first assignment.
Perhaps a week between handing in and the next
residential might have been in order.
Having said all that, ''I am now 'into' the second
assignment and a lot more focused and organised, and
really enjoying it''. The residential weekends are great,
if a little frenetic, and I feel that we have a great
group - students and lecturers, not forgetting all at
MDC.
Networking is starting, I sense that the support will be
brilliant, and potentially even better than seeing one's
tutor once a month for half an hour ! I have
perhaps been cynical about distance learning in the past,
feeling that I might feel too remote and not too
motivated, but things just seem to be warming up.
If you (MDC) offered another residential weekend, I think
that I would be the first to accept. I think that the
communication aspect is crucial, to help pull everyone
along, and if anyone struggles for short periods, it is
important that they can share experiences with the rest
of the group, to help get them back on track."
Tony Snowdon, Marketing Director, FTL Seals Technology
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"It's 21
years since I did the Diploma so you can imagine my
trepidation at joining the MSc course. I'm not sure that
there is anything which can allay those sort of fears.
However, at the first weekend, I was really impressed
with the whole set up. The other course members were good
fun and I really enjoyed the time I spent with them. The
aspects of learning about other people's markets and
business issues was quite fascinating and very enjoyable.
I enjoyed the social aspects and thought the facilities
were excellent.
The course tutors, especially Robin, were first class and
paced the weekends well. I actually enjoyed the weekends.
The course content is very valid for my work life and
helps me to keep ahead.
So far the assignments have been quite difficult, but
that has more to do with the concept of academic
references and the way of writing, compared with the
normal board reports which are done here.
The e-group link is really useful and I've made good use
of it (although admittedly more as a lurker!)
All in all I am really glad I did consider this
course."
Stephan Phillips, Director of Advertisement Sales,
Eastern Counties Newspapers Ltd. |
and here's a
follow-up from Stephan
How have I got on? Well it's been tough, and there
was a time in November when I looked all around me and
reflected on my success to date (however limited!)
without an MSc, and thought, well do I really need this
study thing?
And then I saw my 15 year old daughter studying for her
GCSE's, putting more effort into her modules than I had
put into my MSc work and then I had a re-appraisal.
I completed the lit review and methodology quite quickly
(for me). In the weeks before Christmas when everyone was
thinking of good cheer (and I was thinking of good beer)
I was standing in the street, accosting complete
strangers whilst I recruited 24 people for 4 focus
groups. These focus groups where most revealing and I
became very interested in the subject, which was a huge
spur..........
During the whole process lurking on the yahoogroup has
given me a lot of encouragement, and Lynn, my tutor has
been really excellent, using just the right skills to
help me and coach me to achieve the next stage.
Without her support it would not have happened.
I did hit a block and nearly gave up, but am
through it now, and looking forward to getting the
project completed, whatever the outcome.
A colleague at work is 3/4 way through a PhD, and has
stopped for 4 months. He's hit a block, and I'm busy
trying to persuade him to keep going. He doesn't have the
support mechanism that this group gave me, so thanks for
all the encouragement, because without it I would not
have gone as far as I have.
I think you can't do this type of study in total
isolation. You need people who know what you are going
through, or at least a knowledge that other people are
going through what you are!
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again, hopefully
with those funny hats and coats. (at the graduation
ceremony - editor)
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"Having
only completed my diploma last summer (sorry to make you
feel old Stephan) I would say that the MSc is a huge leap
forward. No longer can you just pick up a book, learn it
and recite it back, now you actually have to
think!!
This makes it challenging yet stimulating at the same
time and is a definite advantage when applied to
business.
PS
However you can forget about having a social life!!" Steven Cook, Direct Marketing
Coordinator, Centrica Financial Services |
"It was a
marvellous experience" Susan Cherrett, Executive
Agency of the Department of Health (graduated with distinction) "I had no
idea how far marketing theory had developed ..... there's
a wealth of valuable thinking and research going on
.... the academic literature I came across contains real
practical applications in my job.
Finding the
time took planning .... I put greater effort into being
organised at work, delegating more, and managing time
more effectively" Bob Doe, Lincoln
Co-op
"At 52, it
was not easy initially going back to the grind of
studying late into the nights .... but it became
progressively easier .... it was a very satisfying
experience and the sense of achievement on graduation day
was overwhelming", Ray Chan, Nestle Pacific
"An
excellent stimulus for renewed learning and catching up
on the latest knowledge. The Masters can be
flexed to be applied in an area that is useful for your
personal career, and importantly for your
employer" Jerry Bond, Burmah Castrol
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Comments from 3 delegates from Lloyds TSB:
Marcus Bailey,
Propositions Manager at Lloyds TSB in Bristol, "The
important thing for me was to get through the MSc as
quickly as possible – I didn’t want to spend my
evenings or weekends at a local college or complete loads
of assignments and sit exams".
Sarah Lawes, Senior
Manager in Market Intelligence says: "Talking to Marcus, it was the length of
the programme that was attractive as I wanted a clear end
to focus on…Again, the practical application of
learning was probably its greatest appeal".
Gary Lapthorn, RouteMap Development Manager, who
attended the latest residential weekend, states;
"It’s a great environment to meet and learn
from interesting people and the quality of tuition seems
great".
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