Studied by supported learning in South Africa

In Sharon’s case, the most important factors when choosing an MBA course was its international recognition and the option of studying via internet. She had enrolled on the course with University of Bedfordshire in 2008 and completed the course by supported learning in two years.

Sharon is a retired senior officer of the South Africa National Defence Force and was unemployed at the time of starting the course. During the course of her studies she managed to secure a position of a personal assistant to a Director and held the position of the marketing manager. She says that the Bedfordshire MBA helped her in this role: “the information learned on the marketing module made the work as the marketing manager easier and I was able to communicate my thoughts easier.”

The course not only helped Sharon in her marketing role but also in other areas of her job: “as the personal assistant I was able to have thoughtful and insightful inputs into business decisions made in my directorate [particularly] personnel development and positioning of the company.” As the national president of her sporting code, she was also able to implement the knowledge of marketing gained on the MBA course in promoting her interests on a larger scale.

Sharon believes that a good support base at home and at work is essential when completing the course. Having a better internet connection in her workplace meant that she would stay there after hours to work on her assignments, sometimes coming back home after 11pm. Despite the time she would need to spend away from her family, Sharon has enjoyed the course and believes it has helped her not only in professional but also personal life.

“The studies have attuned my approach to life,” she explains, “in that I am more aware of what is happening around me and that things happen because someone somewhere is calling the shots. I am more thoughtful as a person – now I think before I act and I am more conversant and knowledgeable when attending meetings.” Having completed the course, Sharon is now working as a school teacher.

However, with the knowledge and experience she has gained, she would like to enter South Africa’s sport environment on a senior position.

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