Bradford University School of Management

Yogesh is a professional cricketer who has played first class cricket in India for 9-10 years and represented the state of Madhya Pradesh. Yogesh has also represented India at the India-'A' tour to Zimbabwe and Kenya and played for Middlesex County Club (Lord's) as an overseas professional. In addition, Yogesh is a Computer Science graduate and has worked in the Banking sector for 7 years with the State Bank of India.

"I just felt that now was the time for me to take a step up in my career. Hence, I decided to undertake an MBA. I wanted to make best use of my past experiences of working in the banking sector and playing cricket within a management framework and therefore opted for the full-time MBA programme at Bradford University School of Management.

"I chose to come to Bradford University School of Management due to its high rankings, impeccable reputation, accreditation and the program structure. It was reassuring to complete an MBA at one of the UK's oldest established university-based business schools.

"I particularly appreciate the way the program is designed, which allows plenty of time for class attendance, team work and self study unlike some other business schools where the program is very hectic and rushed.

"For me undertaking the MBA has meant not just learning from a text book, but also learning and sharing experiences with my class-mates. As everyone is from different countries, cultures and professional backgrounds there is plenty of scope to look at problems from different perspectives for better overall management solutions.

"I have taken a combination of finance and operation modules in my electives and going to Tilburg (Netherland) for Financial Risk Management was definitely a highlight of the programme.

"In future, I would either like to work in the field of finance or get in to sports management. I feel that the management tools, techniques and the knowledge which I will gain at Bradford will certainly help me to make the most of my past experiences and achieve my goals."

During his years of employment, he experienced a change in his career from a largely technical to a management person. This shift made him realize that in order to continue growing in the areas he wanted to he needed to acquire concrete business knowledge. And what better way to gain this knowledge than to undertake an MBA programme?

"The Bradford MBA almost appeared tailor made for me because of the following:

a. A highly respected top ranked UK MBA from the UK's oldest ranked university based business school.
b. Value for money
c. Opportunities to study in other EU countries - I will be visiting TIAS Nimbas in April to attend an elective course in Entrepreneurship.
d. MBA in one year meant less time away from family and work
e. Very strong associations with the Middle East business community via Bradford's presence in Dubai and the GCC.

"I particularly valued the opportunity to interact with greatly experienced peers from different industries and countries, the excellent amenities for students and the exceptional selection of electives. The friendly and supportive faculty and staff, especially the career service is an excellent source of both encouragement and resource which is guiding me in my quest to achieve my ideal position.

"Post MBA, I would like to work with a real estate developer in a management capacity. This would enable be to marry my technical knowledge of Civil Engineering along with the comprehensive business knowledge learned during my time at the Bradford University School of Management.

"I totally believe the Bradford MBA will help me achieve my ideal position. The programme is exhaustive and fast paced yet it is very well planned and all I can say is that you cannot go wrong with an MBA from Bradford University School of Management. Need I say more?"

"As a software engineer with a unique blend of experiences, I wanted to help organizations improve their operational efficiency. I chose the Bradford MBA because it would help me to explore decision-making methodologies, understand the way in which they help to structure problems and provide real business solutions.

"In particular, the management project helped me put my new skills into practice in the real world. It gave me the opportunity to work with the business companies, understand their problems and created a chance for executing my new ideas with help of the knowledge gained through MBA core modules and electives.

"The Bradford MBA gave me the unique opportunity to interact with different people from a range of organizations and professions. I was able to share experiences with my peers, discuss business issues that will enhance my learning and capacity to become an effective team player."

"The January start date and limited course duration was a timely short break from my professional work. The programme helped to strengthen my appreciation and capabilities in business management and administration as I progressed from R&D, through Project Management into company management and business leadership.

"The programme topics complemented my skills, experience and development needs. Access to the themes and issues within Sustainable Operations in particular will have a long-term impact on my approach
to personal and business management.

"The significant work-load certainly tested and improved my ability to manage my time and priorities, achieve on time and "in full" delivery against immovable submission and exam dates. The Effective Learning support from day one has been invaluable, it is a real asset to the School and a powerful aspect of the educational experience.

"I enjoyed fantastic conversations with and support from colleagues and academic staff as we grappled with relating theory to business practice. Sharing these few months with so many colleagues from further afield, helped me gain a deeper appreciation and respect for their cultural heritage, insight and values."

"I had always resisted the idea of an MBA because I was a manufacturing guy and thought they were only for commercial people. When I started the degree I was worried about my age, but these fears were totally unfounded. My experience meant I was able to make real contributions in all lectures.

"Bradford was my choice because if I was going to invest nearly two years I wanted a qualification of value. My company, Bayer CropScience, was paying so I also wanted them to get value for money.

"I needed to do a part-time course because I still had a day job. Bradford gave me a quality MBA which elevated my self-belief.

" I used what I learnt about operations to lead my site team to win a national manufacturing award, and to put together a proposal for a management buy-out of a redundant site."

"The programme provides the resources and instruction to transform individuals into knowledgebased decision makers. It prepares students for the ever-changing world of business by creating thoughtful responses to difficult situations. It's not just a regurgitation of information; it's a framework for knowledge creation. Bradford truly helps to create individuals who can put knowledge to work.

"I now work as the Executive Director of a non-profit organization in Toronto with responsibility for over 45 staff and 250 volunteers. We serve a client base of over 1,000 families and provide relief for the present and hope for the future.

"It would be impossible to separate the knowledge gained through my MBA from the attainment of my current position. Board members, including Chief Executives of multinational corporations, are highly impressed with my acumen. I credit this success to Bradford's integrated approach and proven MBA programme."

"My major was in mechanical engineering. Before studying here, I had no idea about fundamental commercial knowledge such as economics and accounting. The MBA can enhance my knowledge in preparation for my future career," commented Sheng-hung, who has completed nine months of the programme.

"After beginning the MBA programme, I realised that I have a keen interest in investment - so I plan to change my career path from being an international sales manager to being a venture capitalist. Both the compulsory and elective modules can help me get ready for my new career."

"Although I had studied management before, I chose this course at Bradford because it reinforces knowledge about techniques and tools and concentrates on their practical application, as the MBA is mainly built upon case studies.

"At the beginning of the course, it was very intensive due to a tight timetable including several core modules. But you 'grow with challenges', so it helps you to focus on the important bits. During that period, the management foundations were taught and it was interesting to discuss these with people from different industries or educational backgrounds.

"The second part of the study was increasingly enjoyable because of the electives which allowed me to choose all the subjects that represented my interests. During this time I have also worked on a Personal Development Planning module which has helped me identify my strengths and areas for improvement and given me a better idea about what I want for the future.

"Besides all this, the MBA has also meant a lot of fun because of all the new friends."

• Visiting lecturer in accountancy, industrial relations and labour law at the Universidad de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay
  
• Team manager with a major accountancy firm

"I find the lectures to be very interactive with emphasis on learning practical issues in management. I hope the Bradford MBA will be my entry ticket to the world of global business organisations, which probably would have been difficult with my previous degrees and experiences in India.

"The Bradford MBA is definitely the course for people who are willing to acquire quality education at a reputed traditional institution at reasonable rates. Moreover, Bradford is a place which offers a wide variety of living options and tasty food catering for different nationalities, at prices much lower than in other UK cities."

"The courses at Bradford focus on learning by doing. We covered a lot of case studies, had a company-based assignment and the business game. These gave a more realistic experience of business and therefore helped us to understand the theory.

"By doing the MBA I have gained a lot of up-to-date business knowledge which has proved very helpful in my current job - it has changed the way I think. Although I concentrated on marketing, I still found the foundation modules in finance, human resources, IT and so on greatly helpful.

"I do think the Bradford MBA has been a hugely positive influence in my life and has made me more confident to do all sorts of jobs.

"The living costs in Bradford are also much lower than other areas of the UK and the value that the MBA programme brings to students greatly exceeds the tuition fees."

"I already had fairly broad work experience, but wanted to back this up with a clear understanding of the latest business thinking.

"Bradford University School of Management attracted me through a combination of its UK and international reputation, its Financial Times ranking, the course content and structure and the fact it offers an intensive twelve-month course all for a competitive price.

"The standard of teaching has been excellent. Most of the lecturers back up academic theory with examples from their extensive industry and consulting experience. On top of the core and elective subjects are many extremely valuable personal-development and skills workshops. As a Bradford student there are opportunities to network with alumni and to attend events run for local business executives, such as the SME Knowledge Network, the Innovation Network and the Business Excellence series of lectures.

"I have gained new insight into, and understanding of, business situations, and been armed with a set of practical tools. I now have the confidence to tackle a wide range of business situations."

Namhla took a first degree in industrial psychology and biochemistry and a postgraduate diploma in human-resource management before joining Deloitte Consulting in South Africa. Here, she was involved in developing options and strategies for the establishment of a South African social-security agency, developing a change-leadership strategy for the South African National Ports Authority, and developing a communication strategy and client-specific training material for Transnet Group and its subsidiaries.

Namhla also helped authors John Kotter and Dan Cohen to collect material for their book, Heart of Change.

"I have acquired new skills - such as how to procure financing - which will equip me to run my own business successfully and, most importantly, I have also gained the confidence to pursue my dream of becoming an entrepreneur.

"I would honestly recommend Bradford to anyone who is looking for a truly international experience, with students from all corners of the earth working out solutions together."

"The course can be very demanding at times and it teaches you a lot about how you react when under pressure. However, with that commitment comes the reward and the MBA is an excellent example of 'you get out what you put in.'

"In the medium term I would like to take up a position which allows me to build on and apply the learning from my MBA. My longer term aspirations are to move into a general management position.

"To anyone considering applying for the programme, I would say satisfy yourself with the time and financial commitment, then go for it!"

"I wanted to use the MBA as a conduit for re-entering the commercial arena and to facilitate a change in career direction. The structure of the course is such that your personal development is made an integral part of the comprehensive programme, which you then tailor to meet your needs.

"The course has been challenging and engaging. It has also enabled me to learn smarter ways of working and been a fantastic networking opportunity. The course has developed my capacity to think strategically, problem solve and communicate more effectively, which in turn has built my confidence in preparing for the next stage in my career.

"Such is the breadth of the course, I am currently exploring a number of avenues for my next career move. I would say to prospective students that if you are looking for a challenging, refreshing and practical course operating in a highly professional environment, then Bradford University School of Management is for you."

"The first year of the course had a robust structure and ensured all the basic management principles were covered. The second year gave complete flexibility. I could choose which subjects I wanted to include in my masters and also how and when I wanted to take them - daytime, evening, weekend blocks or full week blocks.

"My plans for the future are to continue progressing my career to the highest level. Already, the MBA has influenced my working style and contribution. It allows me to communicate and constructively contribute at all levels and on any subject within business. Such demonstration is recognised, acknowledged, and opens doors for progression.

"I would say to any prospective student that Bradford is a first-class school and one that ensures the MBA relates to the practice of business which provides you with a real value-added qualification.

"It is possible through hard work to gain an MBA despite not having a first degree or A-levels."

• Managing director of an instrumentation and control business
  
• Consultant
  
• Managing director of Connect Yorkshire
  

Systems manager, Bradford Council