Business success requires a breadth of knowledge and abilities of efficient management to survive in fierce global competition. The economic backbone of contemporary world is backed by business and creative management that can administer and conducts operations with strategic action in different functions. Since my academic interests and career visions evolve in the area, I have made decision to study the MSc International Business Management programme with 6 month internship to implement my plans.

From my detailed research on the course and modules, I have gathered clear idea about the learning areas and outcomes I will gain from the study. One of the vital modules of the course is Applied Management Project. The study of this module will involve how to formulate a problem, identify information needs, retrieve information, synthesise information, Produce creative solutions, produce a well argued and supported report in response to the problem identified, work effectively in a group, work effectively in a time constrained situation, reflect on the learning achieved through the process. These areas would develop my knowledge in business and management while provide me the essential practical skills to conduct business operations successfully and manage organisations efficiently.  

The Business Data Analysis module will provide me tools and techniques in the areas of business statistics, descriptive statistics, exploratory data analysis, probability, probability distributions, the normal distribution, sampling distributions and the CLT, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, correlation and simple linear regression. These would equip me with ability for statistical data analysis for business and finance and I will be in position to make informed decision and recommend alternatives within a business environment. I will have opportunities to work with various data sets; in particular, retrieving of financial data from internet data bases such as yahoo.finance and morningstar.com and their structured, methodical and detailed analysis leading up to writing a technical report will be the main focus of this unit. Excel and statistical software such as SPSS and R will be used as tools for data analysis.

One of the most important modules of this MSc is Corporate Finance. This module has been crafted with cogs that move business organisations forward and help sustaining growth. From this module, I will develop myself as a potential financial manager through the study of money measurement and global philanthropy, measures of shareholder wealth, dividend policy, capital structure, mergers and acquisitions, agency theory, risk management, portfolio theory, options trading, market efficiency etc. I will have gained knowledge and competencies in financial market, lending, borrowing, buying, selling of financial assets and how my decision as a manager will impact corporations. I will develop an understanding of the nature of risk, return and shareholder value.

In the concurrent age of digital business, studying Digital Business Management module would provide sharp edge in my accomplishments. Here, I will have the chance to learn the applications and directions of digital information systems, emerging trends in digital business, digital business strategy, achieving operational excellence, e-Commerce, internet marketing and eCRM, social networking for business, business intelligence, managing knowledge, enhancing decision making, ethical, legal and social issues in digital information systems. These domains of knowledge will provide me innovative and creative tools for gaining competitive advantages over other organisations while managing. The module would provide some challenging skills and exciting tasks which are drivers of modern business organisations that are so very digitalised.  

Learning from the intellectually designed, Financial Analysis module will help me to become a more effective and enterprising manager in a knowledge-based global economy. Areas including introduction to financial statements, income statements and balance sheets, analysing and interpreting accounting statements, use of ratios, analysing and interpreting accounting statements, working capital, cash and gearing, reading and analysing published reports, management accounting, relevant costs for decisions, cost – volume – profit analysis, costs for decision making, full costing and overheads, budgeting, control and performance, capital expenditure appraisal will provide me with framework for management decision making and control.

Intercultural Business Contexts module is one of the unique modules that truly differentiate this course from that of other universities. The module will provide me with distinctive management attributes including culture shock – successful adaptation and time management, persuasive writing, social media and networking, working in groups and teams, barriers to communication and making communication work, meeting styles, self-presentation and impression management, work relationships and managing across cultures, working with case studies, integrating different approaches, brokering diversity, putting it together, group presentations including group report. The unit will develop a set of skills including interpersonal and collaborative communication skills, soft skills in a diverse and global environment.

International Marketing unit will promote my skills by providing me with applied knowledge in the scope and challenge of international marketing, the international trading environment,  understanding customers’ buying behaviour in different countries/ regions, international marketing research and opportunity analysis, formulation and management of international / global marketing strategy, market entry: choices, selection and decision, international product management: portfolios, standardisation and adaptation, international marketing communications: availability, constraints, suitability, pricing strategies for international markets, international distribution & logistics, marketing in emerging economies, evaluating and controlling international marketing strategy.

International perspective of organisational behaviour and development of human capital resources has been articulated in the Managing People unit of this MSc. From this unit I will gain understanding in the introduction to managing people, groups and group processes, leadership, power and influence, organisational structure, communication, national and organisational Culture and leadership, creativity, innovation, learning and knowledge management, motivation and job satisfaction, individual processes and individual differences, staffing and developing the organisation, international perspectives and managing diversity. The unit will not only provide me executive management tools but also develop me as a strategic leader.

The Marketing module will complement International Marketing module above and will converge further knowledge from the area of marketing concept, the importance of marketing planning and strategy, examining the marketing mix, managing and developing the brand, the value of segmentation and targeting, examining integrated marketing communications, evaluating consumer and organisational buyer behaviour, developing pricing strategies, the role of marketing research, formative presentations, understanding services marketing, recent developments in marketing.

To cultivate management career at the top, the MSc offers The Personal Brand unit that covers career development, barriers to communication and making communication work, evaluating social media and networking, using persuasive strategies, communicating across cultures, self-promotion and impression management, constructive alignment, work environments and interactions, international relations, working in international teams, managing career.

The 6 month internship at UK companies will equip me with hands on work experience and a great opportunity to transform my learning from the course to professional competencies. It would be an unique selling points in my CV and give me competitive advantage in getting jobs.

After completion of this MSc, I will gain a set of skills and competencies along with academic depth in international business and management – these will create career opportunities for me in international companies in Bangladesh. Since I am graduate in English at present, despite my career ambition in business and management sections, I could not develop my career at higher level though I availed a part time position as Assistant Manager at M/S Mamun Entreprise. My target is to build a career as a business development executive, operation manager or marketing manager in construction or property development industry and develop it to higher position in next 5 years. In the next 10 years, I could see myself in strategic level of management position or become my own boss as an entrepreneur while having my own business organisation.

I have chosen to study this course at The University of Bedfordshire, because the university promote Skills Development including Communication, Research and Evaluation, Creativity and Critical Thinking in teaching. The University of Bedfordshire support the learning by stimulating contact time that includes lectures, workshops, seminars and case studies.  The modern campus in Luton is vastly resourceful with rich library, sufficient IT facilities, students’ lounge, and cutting edge classrooms. The tuition also integrates career supports by clarifying ideas, developing a career focus learning and making aware in effective techniques for job interviews and applications – no wonder 92% graduates of the universities find jobs within 6 months of their graduation. It would be life-time educational experience to become part of the vibrant, diverse colourful learning environment of the university’s Luton Centre.