Benefits of networking at college and SEVEN tips on how to go about it

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Like most young adults, my time at university was spent hanging out with friends and doing the bare minimum to get through the programme. Unfortunately for me, apart from my friends, I interacted very little with my other classmates, alums, and professors. I was friendly and polite when spoken to but did little to leave an impression, positive or negative, on them.

Age and hindsight make all your mistakes more apparent, and my mistakes are so evident to me now.

With just a little effort, I could have made many more friends (some of them might have been lifelong), got a better job or formed future business partnerships. There are so many great examples of businesses formed from networks made at universities, such as Facebook and Apple, to name a couple.

Photo credit: By geralt from Pixabay on Canva

The following are seven simple ways to help you form your network and the benefits you could get from them.

(1) The professors

Photo credit: By Yan Krukov from Pexels on Canva

Unfortunately, some students view the professors as the enemy put on earth by a vengeful deity to torture the poor innocent students with assignments and tests. But the truth is that most professors are there to help and want to help, and most students have a good relationship with their professors. For students who show potential, professors have been known to connect them with alums they are in touch with and help the student get started in their careers.

(2) That classmate who always slept in class

Photo credit: By kanchanachitkhamma on Canva

Most students form some connection with their classmates. Regardless of how irresponsible your classmates might seem today, with time, things will change, as change is the only constant in life. And these classmates go on to build careers across various fields, and companies or even become entrepreneurs. If you have made a strong connection and network with these classmates, it will benefit both of you over time. But don’t limit yourself to only your class; if the opportunity is there to network with students from other courses, then don’t miss out on networking with them.

(3) Alums

I remember meeting with a difficult client a few years ago. My team had been struggling to close this client for a while, and for some reason, they could not do so. When I met with this client, after the initial introductions, we learnt that we had studied at the same college, which broke the ice. We reminisced about old times and the professors we had in common, it was indeed an enjoyable meeting, and we reached a mutually beneficial business understanding. Most universities/colleges try to maintain a good relationship with their alums as the relationship can be helpful for both of them and the college’s current batch of students. So, try to use this relationship between the alums and the college or even the professors with the alums and build a network with the alums.

(4) Social Media

Photo credit: By geralt from Pixabay on Canva

A game changer today, but unfortunately for me, it was in its infancy when I was in college (for those who know, something called Orkut used to be around then). But today, with sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, with a professional profile, your reach can go well beyond your professors, alums and college mates.  

(5) Social Events

Evens like the graduation ceremony, residency, and other cultural events are excellent grounds for networking. You are exposed to a large group of happy like-minded people, and even a short conversation with someone could lead to the start of a networking opportunity.

(6) Job Fairs

Photo by Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu on Unsplash

I think this is a subcategory of the above point, but job events are also an excellent opportunity to network, even if it might just be superficial. But with social media, a connection can be made quickly and passive. This network can work for you in the background without your active involvement; you will be able to view updates posted by them, some of which might benefit you sometime in the future.

(7) Make the first move

Don’t be afraid to make the first move. What is the worst that can happen? They say no, they are not interested in networking with you. But making the first move is not enough; you are not there to add them to your social media and give them your resume. It would help if you made an impression, however small, with the limited time you have to interact with them. Try and make your conversation interesting and engaging, something you could call back on when you connect with them in the future to recall their memory of you. If you are having trouble with the conversation, ask questions relevant to them; we all like to talk about ourselves!

Hopefully, these points will help you build a robust, professional and beneficial network. If you have any other tips that might help our readers improve networking skills, please share them here.

If you are ready to add to your network and, at the same time, increase your professional value with a globally recognised master’s degree, then take a look at our list of programmes and see if we have anything you are interested in doing.

You can also chat LIVE on WhatsApp with one of our Education Advisors for more information on the programme that is right for you, the application process, and details on discounts we might offer.

FIVE Benefits of studying for a degree in International/Global Management

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In today’s global economy, we take international brands/companies setting up shop locally for granted. And for most of us, it does not matter what went on behind the scenes to enable that company/brand to choose a location.

Today’s global economy with multinational brands. Photo by Nik Shuliahin 💛💙 on Unsplash.

There are many challenges and considerations that a company takes into account when opening any new location, especially when opening a new international location.

A programme in international business will help students develop key skills in various business disciplines, such as supply chain, human resources, marketing, finance, etc., within a global context, thereby helping students gain a global perspective to be successful in business.

Most of Robert Kennedy College’s (RKC) 100% online programmes focus on the international aspect of business management. The following are five reasons why you should consider doing a programme that focuses on the international aspect of business management.  

1. An international perspective

Photo by Nadine Shaabana on Unsplash.

Businesses face many challenges, but when viewing these challenges with a global lens, each of these challenges takes on characteristics that are unique to the country. The programme will better prepare students to tackle these challenges, giving them the knowledge to understand different perspectives and problem-solving skills with a broadened worldview. Another advantage of doing a programme with a global context is the knowledge and skills learnt can easily be used when managing local businesses as well. 

2. Learn new skills

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Like any graduate programme, students will gain new knowledge and skills. But unlike a typical graduate programme, a student in international business management will learn skills that are dynamic and useful in various environmental and economic conditions. Skills that will help students integrate with organisational and operational structures that differ significantly. Apart from mandatory skills any manager would require, such as presenting and reporting, students would also learn skills such as communication, leadership, strategic thinking, etc., from an international business point of view.

3. Global workforce management

Photo by Alex Kotliarskyi on Unsplash.

Effective management of the workforce can be complex in the best of times. However, this difficulty increases manifolds when you consider a multinational organisation. Not only will managers have to consider local sensibilities when formulating a policy, but the decisions made when hiring or layoffs can significantly impact the local economy. Students will learn to examine the changing nature of organisations in a global context and understand whether an organisation’s policies and practices can genuinely be global or if national and cultural sensibilities must be considered.

4. Business practices

Students will learn the theory of cross-cultural interaction and different cultural identities and see how these influence management practice in ethics, leadership, decision-making, communication and negotiation. Students learn to conceptualise ethics, responsibility and sustainability in diverse global settings and develop an insight into the expanding role of sustainable development, corporate governance, responsible business practice and the ethical dimensions of organisational policies and procedures. 

5. Become more employable

Photo by Cytonn Photography on Unsplash.

The most crucial point for any student. Most businesses today are multinational, looking to go multinational or have partnerships with vendors in other countries. The skills students learn from a programme in international management will make them very employable. And even if organisations are not looking to go global or have only local business partnerships, the skills learnt from a programme like this will be just as valuable as those with a more traditional business degree.

Hopefully, these points will help you better understand the value of a degree in international/global management. If you have already completed a degree in international/global business management, please share your experience and the benefits you got from the degree. I am sure our readers would appreciate and benefit from it.

If you have been thinking about doing either a BA, MBA, MSc or LLM degree with an international/global twist, look at our list of programmes and see if we have anything you are interested in doing. 

You can also chat LIVE on WhatsApp with one of our Education Advisors for more information on the programme that is right for you, the application process, and details on discounts we might be offering at this time.

#DILO (A day in the life of) a master’s student – Patrick Kyamanywa

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Have you been asking yourself – What is the best way to study online? Should you do an online programme? How to better manage time when learning online?

Photo by Emily Morter on Unsplash.

These are all questions that we at Robert Kennedy College (RKC) get regularly asked by students looking to join one of our online programmes. Undertaking to do an online master’s degree programme will be an additional commitment to your time and finances, and it is wise to get information beforehand.

Through this continuing series of blog posts, some of our past and current students have shared their experiences, thoughts and opinions and given their feedback on handling some of these choices and situations. This series has fast become one of our most appreciated blog posts. This “day in the life of” series focuses on the challenges and rewards our students derive from doing an online master’s degree with us, and we have been blessed with students who were more than happy to volunteer their time and share their experiences.

Hopefully, this will help you to make an informed decision!

An Introduction

Photo by Rock Staar on Unsplash.

Who are you?

I am Patrick Kyamanywa, a professor of surgery and medical educator heading a health sciences university campus of Kampala International University. I am an active researcher in the fields of human resources for health and injury epidemiology, and socially I am a family man with a large extended family under my care.

Which programme did you choose and why?

I chose the MBALIC. Having been in educational leadership for over 10 years, I found that many higher educational institutions were lagging behind just because of poor leadership. In addition, I was seeking to position myself for even higher leadership opportunities. Therefore, I found it necessary to find and pursue formal leadership training to cement my competencies.

The Study Plan

Plan how you are going to study. Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash.

How did you plan to study each module, and what was the reality? For example, how many hours did/do you have to put in each day/or in a week?

Taking on a demanding program while still serving as a full-time head of an educational institution was a brave move I had to make, although it was not the first time I was doing so. I enrolled for and successfully completed a PCAP at York St. John in 2009, and with this experience, I believed it would still be possible. What has always worked for me is starting my day early when the rest of the world still sleeps. So, for this MBALIC program, I set aside three hours every morning (4am to 7am) and occasionally added an hour or two after work (8pm to 10pm), depending on how the day had treated me. Discipline and consistency paid off, and I am happy that I achieved distinction grades in 3 of the 4 taught modules.

What part of the day did/do you find most suitable to study? (e.g. early mornings, lunch break, evenings, weekends?)

As mentioned above, I am most efficient in the early mornings, and this enables me to produce a piece of work in half the time I would take if I did the same task during working hours.

How much time did you devote to each assignment?

I always started the assignments early in the module. This allowed me to identify and archive relevant resources early enough, and after the first assignment, I had a template to work with. I knew what the expectations of the program were in terms of depth of literature review, quality of critical analysis and arguments required. With this, I was able, at some point, to have two overlapping modules.

Travelling and Communication

Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash.

How did travelling impact your ability to study?

Travelling often allowed me more private time. Being away from family and office demands afforded me extra hours during the day, depending on the mission demands, and so I was able to read and write more.

How were you able to interact with peers and/or professors, given the time differences?

The 24/7 forums and the ability to email colleagues and professors personally made it possible to keep in touch on all manner of issues.

A typical day as a master’s student

What does a typical day as an Online master’s student look like for you?

A typical day would start at 4am with 3 hours dedicated to study. I would usually go through the typical working day and then try to find another 2 hours at the end of the day. I tried to fit all office work within the 8am to 6pm working day. I also endeavoured to keep up with my 30 minutes to 45 minutes workout sessions at least three days a week. The workout sessions helped relieve the stress.

Any advice?

Any advice you have for students to better plan their studies?

My honest advice is to carve out protected study time that one can reliably and consistently devote to the program. The second is the need to start early and dig deep with every module and assignment and to ensure that one collaborates with peers and regularly engages in forum discussions.

We at Robert Kennedy College are here to support you through the entire process and encourage you to get in touch with our team of Education Advisors and chat with them Live on WhatsApp if you have any questions about our programmes, fee structure, the application process, or details on discounts we might be offering at this time.

If you have already made up your mind and are ready to apply, then just click here.

SIX tips to help you write your master’s dissertation

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For most of us, thinking about writing our dissertation can be the most stressful part of our master’s programme. Almost from the first day of the programme, you start hearing about doing the dissertation and how stressful it can be! Such talks and peer pressure are bound to add stress to the experience of doing your master’s. Additionally, not all institutions will provide you with the support and guidance you might require.

Doing your dissertation can get daunting. Photo by Redd on Unsplash.

When I was doing my dissertation for my master’s programme, I remember I got no support from my professors regarding my dissertation. In their defence, I never went to them for advice or guidance. But the point is, no one ever brought it up, and I did not feel comfortable or confident approaching anyone. I did not want to be singled out or laughed at for not knowing something. I managed with the help of my peers and a few of the senior students who had previously completed a dissertation.

While my experience was not the best, it was far from the worst. However, things are changing for the better the world over. Professors have become more approachable, and colleges and educational institutions have implemented processes to support students through their dissertation experience. I am sure most of our alums would agree that Robert Kennedy College is an excellent example of this.

The following are six tips to help you get started on writing your dissertation.

(1) Picking your topic

Narrow your focus. Photo by Paul Skorupskas on Unsplash.

Picking your topic is probably the most critical aspect of your dissertation. Everything starts from this point. However, the mistake that most of us make is in thinking that the broader or generic the topic, the easier it will be as we will be able to find information/data easily. And this is true to some extent. However, the broader your topic, the more there is to cover. Your fifteen-thousand-word dissertation could end up being a two hundred- and fifty-thousand-word book. And nobody wants that.

Get as specific as you can with your topic.

Let’s say your topic is on how a company tracks sales performance. This topic can be huge depending on the size of the company. So, get specific. Rather than tracking the sales performance of the whole company, track the company’s sales performance in a particular market/country. Then specify it some more. In this market, track the performance only for a specific channel, let’s say, online sales. By narrowing down what you will cover in your dissertation, you will have more control of your dissertation.

(2) Be organised and make lots of notes

Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash.

The devil is in the details. The thing about doing a dissertation spread over several months is that you could lose track of the details (by just forgetting about them). There are several tools available that can help you organise your research data, but even if you don’t use any of these tools, just create folders in your system for everything. And in each folder, create files for everything.

Maybe you could create a folder for each chapter/topic you cover and then make several files in each folder, such as a chapter draft file, a reference draft file, a notes file, etc. Have a file for everything, so you don’t forget where you got your information and why you put it down in your chapter draft file. Don’t put anything in your chapter draft file other than your draft for the chapter. Any notes, changes, or thoughts should be made a note of in your notes file and all references made in the chapter to be entered in your reference file.

This way, you know where all the information is, why you used the information and your references, and when you are finally ready to draft your master file for the dissertation, all you have to do is copy and paste from the chapter draft file.

(3) Date every version

Every time your professor or supervisor gives your feedback on your master draft file or even a chapter draft file, create a new version of the file incorporating the changes suggested. Create a separate notes file for feedback received (for the chapter draft or the master draft) and how you integrated it into your dissertation. Sometimes, a seemingly inconsequent suggestion by a professor can have a butterfly effect on your dissertation, so you must keep track of when and who gave the suggestion to track the changes.

(4) Schedule

Incorporate your dissertation into your schedule/calendar. Make sure you put aside time exclusively to work on your dissertation and stick to it. You can set deadlines by when certain parts of your dissertation must be completed and monitor your progress to ensure you can complete the dissertation on time. The longer time you have to complete your dissertation, the more milestones you can have to monitor your progress. By tracking your progress, you will not only be able to finish on time but also be less stressed during your dissertation.

(5) Reward yourself

It is essential to acknowledge your victories, even if no one else does. So, celebrate it, pat yourself on the back and maybe even reward yourself when you achieve a milestone in completing your dissertation on schedule.

(6) Review

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash.

Once you have completed your chapter draft or master draft file, take a break and get away from your dissertation for a couple of days. Then come back and read and review the file carefully. You will be surprised by how many mistakes you will find in the draft. You might have overlooked simple things when typing or reading the draft immediately after finishing. You might have thought you had written it a certain way, and your mind would have filled in the gaps to look like you wrote it the way you thought. So, get away from the draft for a short period, then once you get back, edit before you submit it.

Hopefully, these six tips will help you get started on your dissertation. If you have any other tips that might help our readers improve their dissertation and how they work towards it, please share them here.

If you have been thinking about doing either a BA, MBA, MSc or LLM degree, and are ready to challenge yourself, look at our list of programmes and see if we have anything you are interested in doing. 

You can also chat LIVE on WhatsApp with one of our Education Advisors for more information on the programme that is right for you, the application process, and details on discounts we might be offering at this time.

Four benefits of Taking a Break

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After reading this blog’s title, most of us would have thought, “yeah, this is a no-brainer”. But the fact is, not many of us even realise when we are overworked, close to burnout and in desperate need of a break.

In 2011, I was overworked and struggling professionally, my personal life was dragging its feet, and I did not even realise this. Luckily for me, my friends were planning a month-long trip around South-East Asia and forced me to go with them. No matter how much I said NO!

And so I went. It was the best thing I ever did in my life (until then).

When I came back, I was almost a completely different man. I felt like I wanted to go swimming with sharks and skydiving, and within the year, I was a married man (what does that tell you?). I wanted to do something that pushed me professionally and personally, and all this happened because I went on a break I did not know I needed.

The following are four reasons why I feel it is essential to take a break from work (or school).

Mental health

Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash.

No matter how much we love what we are doing, our jobs will add stress to our lives. Those lucky enough to do something you love might not even realise that some form of work stress is still always added to your lives. Then there is personal stress of managing the family, the kids, school work, etc. We have covered managing stress in a number of our previous blogs.

Taking a break from the daily grind of life can help you get away from the routine of life, giving you the time needed to reflect on your life and the choices you have made. But even if you don’t reflect on your life choices, don’t underestimate the power of relaxing your mind and letting it go blank.

Physical health

Photo by Israel Andrade on Unsplash.

Between work, family and being stuck in traffic (or since the coronavirus, being stuck at home), there is no time. Or at least that is the excuse most of us use for not exercising. Having a healthy body goes hand-in-hand with having a healthy mind. Taking a break might just help you kick start your physical system, reminding your body that it needs to be exercised.

One of the countries we went to on our break in 2011 was Cambodia, and my God, just walking around the temples in Siem Reap felt like a year’s worth of exercise. So you don’t have to go on nature walks or hiking on your break to get in your physical activity. You could get it from club hopping, swimming, or playing a game with your kids on the beach.

Take advantage of this added physical exertion and try to keep it going once you return to your routine.

Sleep

Photo by Kate Stone Matheson on Unsplash.

Sleep is one of the first things we compromise on when we fall behind on our routine. We always think that we can make up for the loss of sleep at a later time, but chances are bad sleep habits will be cultivated and will become regular sleep habits. Getting optimal rest at night is vital to having an efficient day. I know I am much more motivated to get to work when I have slept well and am a lot more pleasant to be around.

A break is an excellent opportunity to fix your bad sleep habits and to correct and better regulate your sleep cycle.

Productivity

Photo by Andreas Klassen on Unsplash.

There are several studies that have shown the correlation between taking a break and an increase in productivity, from being able to sleep better and being in a better mood after vacations to a rise in productivity and less exhaustion. And this proof is necessary because you should never just take someone’s word as fact. But speaking from personal experience, I know that taking breaks improved my productivity. And the break I took in 2011 was a life-changing one for me!

So go on your break. Recharge your cells. And when to get back to your routine, challenge yourself!

If you have taken your break and are ready to challenge yourself and have been thinking about doing a master’s degree, then take a look at our list of programmes and see if we have anything you are interested in doing.

You can also chat LIVE on WhatsApp with one of our Education Advisors for more information on the programme that is right for you, the application process, and details on discounts we might offer.

3 simple ways to keep motivated through the day

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It might just be me, but I don’t think that I have personally ever seen anyone (and I am talking about working adults only here) go through a whole workday with a positive, motivated attitude.

Well, that might not be entirely accurate. I remember my first job out of college was fun. Most of the workforce was also fresh out of college, many of whom were from my college and my friends. It was all fun, and we used to get paid for it. But time and responsibility have weight and can slow you down.

There is no avoiding responsibility; it is an integral part of life and growth. And responsibility is not a bad thing; a lot of us get motivated because of the responsibility we have.

However, several things could happen during your day that could bring down your enthusiasm and energy during the day, such as getting late for a meeting because you were stuck in traffic, getting yelled at by your manager, having a disagreement with your spouse, having to discipline your child, having the water stop halfway through a shower. The list can be endless!

So, what can you do to remain as motivated as you can during the day? Here are three simple tips you could use that might help you stay motivated right through the day.

Sleep

Photo by Kate Stone Matheson on Unsplash

How often have you stayed up through the night and started your day crankily and performing far less than your usual efficiency? Getting optimal rest at night is vital to having an efficient day. I know I am a lot more motivated to get to work when I have slept well and am definitely a lot more pleasant to be around.

We have covered the importance of a good night’s rest in several of our blogs and have a few that we have gone into more detail on, such as 7 ways to better understand your Sleep Cycle and Are you an early riser or a night owl? Which sleep pattern is best when studying for the online master’s degree?

Reactivate your senses

Photo by petr sidorov on Unsplash

As human beings, we can react positively or negatively to what we see, hear and smell—sight, sound, and scent.

How often have you gotten distracted by something playing on the television only to realise that you delayed what you were supposed to do?

How often has your efficiency improved when working to the beat of a song? I remember driving home from my grandparent’s place (about 600 kilometres) and listening to an album with a collection of songs from different artists. I was so caught up in the music that I think it was the fastest (DO NOT SPEED, PLEASE), smoothest and most enjoyable drive I have ever had.

Photo by Mohammad Metri on Unsplash

And finally, how often has something you smelled in the air taken you to your childhood and calmed you right down? The smell of cookies always takes me back to Christmas mornings as a child and fills me with happiness. It reminds me of waking up and seeing the Christmas tree.

So, when you wake up in the morning, don’t go straight to your phone. You never know what you will see there; you have no control over it. It might be a message that is just going to get you all wound up. Let the first thing you see be something that inspires you or something you love or, if you are religious, something motivational from a sacred text. And your day is already off to a bright start.

And stay away from cute cat videos on YouTube; you will never get anything done.

I have already said what music can do for you, but it also can cut down on the static noise around you that can distract and disturb you. It will help you focus your attention on what you are doing. Not everything will help you focus; some might even distract you. So, find what works for you.

Last but not least, the sense of smell. I keep a scented candle with a scent that I have come to associate with peace of mind in my room. It is not always lit, but I light it up when I feel stressed, and I know it helps me calm down quicker.

Be in the present

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

When we are working or studying, many of us are thinking of the next thing we must do. We are very seldom focused on what we are doing, resulting in not doing justice to what we must get done right now. And when we don’t do things right, we get demotivated. And then the downward spiral of your day begins. Hopefully, by activating your senses, you will be better able to focus on what you are doing, thereby finishing your tasks efficiently and staying motivated throughout the day.

We understand that the challenges of doing a master’s degree online, along with working and managing your family, can get stressful, and there might be times when you feel demotivated. Hopefully, these three tips will help you stay motivated a little longer.

What other thing did you do to stay motivated right through your day? Let us know in the comments. We would appreciate it.

If this blog has motivated you to challenge yourself and do a master’s degree, then have a look at our list of programmes and see if we have anything you are interested in doing.

You can also chat LIVE on WhatsApp with one of our Education Advisors for more information on the programme that is right for you, the application process, and details on discounts we might be offering at this time.

#DILO (A day in the life of) a master’s student – Peter Spratling

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This series has fast become one of our most appreciated blog posts. This “day in the life of” series focuses on the challenges and rewards our students derive from doing an online master’s degree with us, and we have been blessed with students who were more than happy to volunteer their time and share their experiences.

There is no better way to learn than from those who came before and see if what worked for them. It will help you become a better student and, hopefully, help you make an informed decision.

An Introduction

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash.

Who are you?

I am Peter Spratling, a Robert Kennedy College (RKC) and University of Salford (UoS) MSc student.

Which programme did you choose and why?

MSc in Human Resource Management and Development alumni to support me in a Head of (International) School position.

The Study Plan

Photo by Jessica Lewis on Unsplash.

How did you plan to study each module, and what was the reality? For example, how many hours did/do you have to put in each day/or in a week?

I planned to have time during my last year of headship at my last international school as things were established and running well. Then COVID-19 happened! I can’t count the hours, and there are many late nights as I have a 5-year-old daughter, and she’s important too 🙂

What part of the day did/do you find most suitable to study? (e.g. early mornings, lunch break, evenings, weekends?)

Late nights as I have a 5-year-old daughter, and she’s important too 🙂 Weekends too. I feel guilty sometimes escaping from swimming etc.

How much time did you devote to each assignment?

It’s really hard to answer this, but every night reading material, discounting some, using other sources, moving from using books to recent, or more recent Google Scholar articles (thanks to Dr. H :))

Travelling and Communication

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash.

How did travelling impact your ability to study?

I have not travelled, except for personal reasons, to the UK to see my parents.

How were you able to interact with peers and/or professors given the time differences?

Easily using the UoS/RKC blogs and forums. The professors have been absolutely great. Supportive, understanding, and appropriately challenging at times 🙂 That includes Dr. Costa as Principal.

A typical day as a master’s student

What does a typical day as an Online master’s student look like for you?

Long but enjoyable and rewarding. Starts at 06:00 am and ends at midnight. That’s partly due to my role as a dad and headteacher.

Any advice?

Any advice you have for students to better plan their studies.

Yes. The tutors, the professors, doctors, and librarians are all there to help us. They are approachable, as I found at times of stress, particularly during COVID-19, they made all the difference. Use Google Scholar or similar, Dr. Susan Harwood does a great workshop on this. Start early and get involved with the forums, they will help you in your essay writing.

We at Robert Kennedy College are here to support you through the entire process and encourage you to get in touch with our team of Education Advisors and chat with them Live on WhatsApp if you have any questions about our programmes, fee structure, the application process, or details on discounts we might be offering at this time.

If you have already made up your mind and are ready to apply, then just click here.

#DILO (A day in the life of) a master’s student – Khuong Ho Thi Uyen

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Continuing with our popular blog series that answers some of the questions we at Robert Kennedy College (RKC) get asked frequently by students looking to join one of our online programmes, we asked some of our past and current students to share their thoughts and opinions, to give their feedback on how they handled the challenges of online learning. Hopefully, this will help you to make an informed decision.

Let’s learn from those who came before and see if what worked for them will help you become a better student!

An Introduction

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash.

Who are you?

My name is Khuong Ho Thi Uyen, a Robert Kennedy College and University of Cumbria MBA student.

Which programme did you choose and why?

I am working in the healthcare industry – medical devices as a leader. Therefore, specialized knowledge is needed. That was why I chose the International Healthcare Management course.

The Study Plan

How did you plan to study each module, and what was the reality? For example, how many hours did/do you have to put in each day/or in a week?

Before the module, I just planned to dedicate the two days of the weekend so that I could save four days per month for learning. However, the reality was messy! My classmates were active in the class forum discussion right after the professor posted the learning theory for each objective and the critical discussion areas. Many responses and comments from classmates were posted every day, including the individual analysis of the learning theory plus sharing their work experiences, all creating a proactive class forum. Therefore, I had to change my plan and re-arrange my life and include every night after work and any free time, if possible, to keep up with the class momentum.

What part of the day did/do you find most suitable to study? (e.g. early mornings, lunch break, evenings, weekends?)

Early mornings, in the evenings after work, and at weekends.

Make sure you are ready with a schedule to maximise your study time. Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash.

How much time did you devote to each assignment?

Usually, at the beginning of each new module, I read through the overall module components, obtained an outlook on how many units per module and, which topic per unit, what was the assignment requirement to think about during the module time. Looking for an assignment topic was important and required more time consumed. Coming to the module’s assignment, I devoted at least a month to completing it.

Travelling and Communication

How did travelling impact your ability to study?

In fact, travelling had a positive impact on my studies. I utilized the waiting time at the airport and the flight time while in the aeroplane to read books, paper, and cases and think about that. Travel helped me refresh my knowledge and gave me the time to consider the subject from different angles, which enabled me to come up with more new ideas and deeply understand the discussion objective.

How were you able to interact with peers and/or professors given the time differences?

It did not matter if we were in a different time zone from each other. We were able to connect directly in the class discussion forums. There was a window for you to leave any message you would like to ask the professor; you were also able to recognize who was online at the same time you were online so that you could connect them via module forum or by email easily as each classmate and professor also had an email which was told to us. Thanks to technology, I experienced that my classmates were prompt in their responses despite being in different time zones. Besides, at the beginning of each module, there was an introduction session, and via that, we set up another class group chat like on WhatsApp.

A typical day as a master’s student

What does a typical day as an Online master’s student look like for you?

It becomes a routine and feels normal to me!

Any advice?

Photo by Medienstürmer on Unsplash.

Any advice you have for students to better plan their studies.

  1. Order recommended books for each module: Whether you plan to purchase a hardcopy or soft copy book, you should well plan this. Make sure you have the book ready with you before the module’s starting time so that you can refer to the books. This will facilitate your learning.
  2. Prepare your finances to pay for school fees on time and to purchase online books (if required).
  3. Time dedicated to the study is significant. You should plan it in advance and follow it strictly. With a scheduled study plan, you will know what to expect.
  4. All of your classmate’s comments and discussions in each module forum will add value to your learnings.
  5. Please do not hesitate to ask or comment or share. The more you ask, comment, and share, the more you are valued by the professor and your classmates.
  6. Read more: including recommended books, papers, and discussions. These are valuable sources for your study. 

Thank you, and enjoy your learning!

I hope this blog has answered some of your questions, and please watch this place for similar blogs. So, if you have been thinking about doing a master’s degree and now understand how to study better for an online programme, look at our programmes and see if anything interests you.

You can also chat LIVE on WhatsApp with one of our Education Advisors for more information on the programme that is right for you, the application process, and details on discounts we might be offering at this time.

5 ways to develop Self-Discipline!

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Over the years, I have developed a lot of bad habits. It is not difficult to develop bad habits, and I have collected them since my university days.

I have worked hard to get rid of some of these habits and have failed more often than not, and it has been my experience that the single biggest reason for my failures has been the lack of self-discipline.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash.

So, I figured the first thing I had to do was work on my self-discipline. Of course, developing self-discipline will benefit all aspects of your life, not just helping in kicking your bad habits. I imagined my self-discipline to be that aspect of my willpower that blocked temptation from removing logic from my mind.

My thinking was simple. Why am I tempted to do something that is not beneficial to me? The answer – is because I enjoyed doing it. I had experienced that thing that tempted me many times before, and I wanted to experience it again. I needed a shield that blocked the temptation with logic and reason.

The following are five tips that I followed to help me develop my self-discipline. Hopefully, it will help you get started as well. 

1. Give yourself a purpose

Figure out why you are doing what you are doing! Photo by Austin Chan on Unsplash.

The worst habit I developed during my university days was smoking cigarettes. Over the years, I tried several times to kick this habit, and I succeeded many times. Try as I might, I just could not kick the habit.

When my wife and I decided to have our first child, I decided to quit smoking, not for my health but the health of my child. And that was the purpose I needed to quit smoking finally. Every time I felt the need to smoke, I thought about my purpose and stopped myself.

Find your purpose, and it will give you the reason and strength to persevere.

2. Information to drive the purpose

Following up on the previous point, once you have your purpose, it might not be enough. For the mind to accept the purpose, there have to be reasons. So do your research on what you intend to achieve and back up your purpose with facts. For example, when I decided to quit smoking cigarettes, the purpose or reason for me to quit smoking was my child, but I also backed it up with facts on the benefits of quitting smoking cigarettes. On how smoking had a detrimental effect on not only my health but also the health of my family.

3. Make it a habit

Once you have achieved the self-discipline required to achieve your goal, you must constantly work on maintaining this self-discipline. It is very easy to lose focus once you have achieved your goals, and then you will lose all the hard work and effort you put into developing the self-discipline required to achieve your goals. And then you will have to start all over again to achieve the same goal. So, once you have reached your goal, maintain the self-discipline required. Develop it into a habit.

4. Teamwork

Teamwork works. Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash.

My wife and a group of her friends wake up very early in the morning and go for a long fast walk. They all do this six days a week (weather and health permitting). She can do this because of the strength, motivation, and competition she can get from her friends. They wear smartwatches that track the group activity and can push each other to achieve their goals. When she started, she was alone and did not have the drive to get up every day in the wee hours of the morning to go for a walk, and she used to give up constantly. But now, because of this group, it is possible.

So, don’t live on an island with a population of one, and take the support from friends, colleagues and mentors when possible.

5. Reward yourself

It is essential to acknowledge your victories, even if no one else does. So, celebrate it, pat yourself on the back and maybe even reward yourself when you achieve a milestone in developing your self-discipline.

Hopefully, these five tips will help you develop your self-discipline and achieve your goals. If you have any other tips that might help our readers improve their self-discipline, please share them here.   

If you have been thinking about doing a master’s degree, and are ready to challenge yourself, look at our list of programmes and see if we have anything you are interested in doing.

You can also chat LIVE on WhatsApp with one of our Education Advisors for more information on the programme that is right for you, the application process, and details on discounts we might be offering at this time.

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