Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Childhood and Early Years Studies (Top-up)

I previously worked in sales before joining the People’s Association. I then decided to pursue a Degree in Guidance and Counselling to enhance my career and improve my conversation skills in order for me to guide and counsel others more confidently and professionally.

By applying the knowledge that I have gained from the programme, I am now able to counsel individuals across different levels. I am also able to efficiently collaborate with my colleagues and stakeholders to serve the community more effectively. The Mending the Gap: Collaborative Learning with Service Users module was applicable in terms of helping me bridge the gap between people. By learning and applying techniques that I have learnt, the community would feel more comfortable sharing their concerns with me.

I will recommend this Degree programme as it can be completed in 18 months on a part-time basis and is suitable for people holding a full-time job in the day. During my course of study, I was even promoted from Assistant Manager to Manager.

I felt lost in 2020, about to turn 40 in a couple of years and unsure if I should switch to a career in Logistics. I had heard that the Logistics sector is fast paced, where there are limited opportunities given my age and lack of experience. At the same time, I did not see myself being able to further progress in my then-career in engineering.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, I saw studying at Northumbria University as an opportunity. Based on the number of modules I needed to take, the duration of the programme seemed manageable. Furthermore, my friends, who had also graduated from this programme, had shared very positive feedback. Hence, I decided to begin my learning journey with Northumbria University at Kaplan.

The programme offered modules that allowed us to study about global logistics companies and how their operations changed due to the macro environment, and the modules were helpful for those finding a foothold in the Logistics and Supply Chain Management industry or those who want to learn more about the industry.

Not only was the curriculum fully assignment-based, but we could also ask questions about the assignment or seek clarification on the lesson. Although I had no prior background in this industry, the lecturers were supportive and helpful, and they were always willing to answer all my questions.

Through this programme and the attainment of my Degree, I have successfully transitioned into a new career as a Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) Procurement Leader at Safran.

When I entered the workforce, I was young and did not have many qualifications. As I continued working, I realised the importance of having proper qualifications to progress at work. Furthermore, I wanted to do something more meaningful and helpful to others.

Hence, I decided to pursue a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Guidance and Counselling at Northumbria University. As I am responsible for assisting clients in achieving a better quality of life, I found what I had learnt from my Degree programme can be applied when meeting my clients.

This Degree programme not only boosts my confidence and self-esteem at work, but also provided me with a sense of achievement. My achievement was validated when I got promoted from Programme Officer to Programme Executive.

I would definitely recommend Northumbria University as it takes only 18 months to attain a Degree. Moreover, the lecturers are very engaging, and they are willing to guide us whenever we need help.

I was driven to pursue an MBA as I felt stagnant in terms of my level of knowledge and desired a breakthrough in terms of my professional network. The in-depth and stringent MBA programme broadened my knowledge in managing the business with a practical approach, allowing us to apply knowledge learned through the assignments.

Networking is the best part about taking up an MBA. In my cohort, there was a surgeon from a public hospital and there were many students in senior positions in large companies from various fields. This helped me to grow my connections.

My advice to those who are thinking of taking up an MBA is: Don’t think, just do. Taking up an MBA is not just a career-propelling act, but has taught me to prioritise the things I do daily while advancing my knowledge and challenging what I thought I knew, having managed a business for a decade. Furthermore, have an open mind and practice good time management while learning, re-learning and challenging yourself to greater heights.

With a growing percentage of the population holding at least a Bachelor’s Degree, it is imperative to have an MBA to stand out among your peers. From middle management executives to busy business owners like myself, taking the time and effort to achieve an MBA qualification will bring you a new skill set and mindset. Because Kaplan offers a manageable timetable for the programme, it is not difficult, speaking as a married man with three kids, similar to many peers in my class.

What drove me to pursue my MBA was the desire to gain new knowledge and learnings that are relevant to what I do in my current job.

The modules covered were very relevant and were the most beneficial part of the programme to me, and they helped me gain the knowledge necessary to lead my business. The programme allowed me to apply what I had learned in real work situations, such as in managing people, financial management and strategy planning.

For example, in the Strategic Marketing module, the various theories and models related to branding helped me to review and apply my internal and external brand positioning in my business. In the module, Managing in the Digital Economy, I learned to relate strategic issues such as technology adoption, digital marketing platforms and more, and consider how these could be broadly applied across business lines.

Furthermore, there was the opportunity to learn through group discussions and research work. As part of my assignment in the Leader Identity and Leadership module, I had the opportunity to interview a leader to understand his challenges and analyse his leadership style. Through this, I could reflect on my own leadership style.

My advice to those thinking of pursuing an MBA is to be mentally prepared that the end goal is not just the certificate, but the opportunity to expand one’s learnings and business knowledge through classes, study groups and research. Networking is certainly the best part about taking up an MBA programme. I had a regular study group where we met up regularly to catch up about work, apart from discussing assignments.

In my opinion, those who aspire to grow into a leadership role should take up this MBA programme.

Attaining a Degree has always been a personal goal of mine and achieving it has proven my capabilities. It has served as a ticket to job interviews and opportunities for career advancement. As my Diploma was in Legal Studies, it meant that I had no business-related background. Knowing that attaining a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management would add value to my portfolio, I chose a University with modules with real-world practicality.

Northumbria University was my choice as it is well-established and recognised worldwide, holds the Dual AACSB Accreditation and offers a Direct Honours Business Degree.

Through this journey, I learnt the important life skill of time management, as I had to manage my full-time job while attending classes at night and on the weekends.

I stand by the belief that the decisions I make today will determine the direction of my life tomorrow. Even though the journey was not smooth sailing, the support given by the University was immense and I am proud to have completed my programme with First Class Honours.

I had worked full-time at the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities Senior Activity Centre for three years and recently started working as a Programmes Executive at YWCA. Here, I aim to equip young women and mothers from marginalised backgrounds with work skills to improve their lives through employability.

I find it meaningful to work with the elderly and devise interventions to help with their gradual memory impairment and physical limitations. I am also passionate about reaching out to people in difficult situations and making a difference in their lives.

These reasons motivated me to pursue my education with Kaplan, first with a Foundation Diploma, followed by the Diploma in Psychology. This then gave me exemptions to pursue my Bachelor’s Degree with Northumbria University, where I chose to study the Bachelor of Arts in Guidance and Counselling.

The Degree is well-suited to my goal of becoming an asset to organisations that strive to improve the welfare of those in need. Northumbria University is well-recognised for its outstanding teaching, so I feel confident about achieving my Degree here. The lecturers, who are experts in their respective professional fields, also share their experiences and knowledge with us.

The programme may serve as a stepping-stone for those who aspire to expand their career opportunities in the sector and work with people from diverse backgrounds. All the modules covered have been comprehensive and applicable to my job scope.

After I have completed the programme, I plan to further my education with a Master’s Degree in order to be empowered to care for and understand how to work with people from diverse backgrounds.

I decided on Northumbria University because I liked the University’s approach to my programme, even within each module; and I chose my major because it perfectly complemented my career aspirations.

The programme has helped enhance my job performance. I now take steps towards self-improvement in my problem areas and continuously learn by setting personal benchmarks and reviewing them regularly. Learning leads to a better quality of life, boosts confidence and aids in personal development.

I would recommend my University to others as my overall experience was fantastic! I made a great group of friends as my class was big, and we always had laughs with the tutors.

Thanks to my tutors’ help and the content delivered, I exceeded my own expectations by achieving excellent grades. The lessons are completely related to the job you want to do, and the programme has made me rethink what career I want to pursue because it has opened the door to so many higher-paying jobs!