Some pictures from in and around Moor Hall

Comments from some past and present students

From: Gillian Pinkhardt, Marketing Manager EMEA, ATG (Art Technology Group)

"The MSc course in Marketing offered by the 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."
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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)

Here are some earlier comments (unedited)

also click here for the Lloyds/TSB experience so far

"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

"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

"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 (27th Jan 02)

Yes, I've stopped lurking for a minute.
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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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

"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

Some comments from people who have completed their studies: