Author: Nicole Barker

Information Systems Management – Programme Experience

By Haijuan Li (Cara), MSc Information Systems Management

Before starting my course in Sheffield, I looked forward to getting some new technical skills from this programme and believed it could enhance my competence in the fierce job market. Moreover, I regarded it as a chance for me to plan my future career while experiencing a new learning environment in the UK. In addition to these advantages, I found that learning in this programme brought me many soft skills. I would like to say the Information Systems Management programme is beyond my imagination after finishing the autumn semester courses. This programme is designed for those students who are interested in how information science adds value for various types of companies.

This programme is jointly delivered by the SUMS and the Information School, so we can enjoy the resources and opportunities provided by these two departments. I think this is one of the most significant features of this programme. For example, we usually receive reminder emails about international companies’ recruitment from the Information School and the Management School, Also, students in MSc Information System Management are allowed to choose their supervisors of the dissertation from a staff list that consists of relevant teachers who come from SUMS or Information School. Furthermore, as a postgraduate student of the Management School, I made friends both from SUMS during the six-week pre-session English learning period and the Information School during the autumn semester, that was fantastic I think, because we had several of the same modules so even could become group members to do some group assignments together.

From the perspective of modules, information systems’ modules and management’s modules count for 60%-70% and 30%-40% respectively, there remains flexibility on optional modules for students to choose. The main assessments of information systems’ modules are individual coursework and group coursework both based on several real case studies. In contrast, the main assessments of management’s modules are examinations, which were real challenges for students whose first-languages are not English, so we have to work hard to prepare for examinations. The practice is very important. In particular, teamwork is the most impressive experience for me, we sometimes were required to cooperate with other students who come from different cultural environments or with different knowledge backgrounds, as a result, communication was a little bit time-consuming but we usually could generate a completed and brilliant result. That was not easy but really interesting. It’s believed that our several significant soft skills have improved, such as the ability of teamwork, communication, and working under pressure, by taking group coursework seriously and cooperating positively.

This is one of my fantastic student experiences in Sheffield, I look forward to sharing more experience in the Management School with you in the future.

How to be productive working from home

By Vicky Xian, MSc Occupational Psychology

Working from home can be seen as a luxury at first. At whatever time of day, when you wake up, you can be drafting emails or writing that assignment almost immediately. But after a few days, or even a few hours, the novelty wears off. Your flatmates play loud music, parents at home forget you still need to revise for 5 exams. You don’t feel like you’re in class or at work, so why work? Your friend wants to video call you and because you’re not in class or in the library, that should be fine right? This is when productivity becomes an issue. So, here are some tips I’ve learnt that keeps me at my desk, and therefore my productivity levels high. 

 

  • Create a routine – and stick to it. 

 

Yes, the bed is right there, beckoning you to come back and snuggle in the warm, duvet covers. However, it’s important you incorporate your class/work life into your home. Got a 9am on a Tuesday? Make sure you set the same alarm as if you were leaving the house. Instead, use that time you would be in class to do some work for that module. Waking up early anyway, will mean you will get the most out of your day. What I like to do is try to be at my desk for 9:30am everyday Monday – Friday, and 11:30am if I need to work weekends. 

This is where to-do lists become very handy, I write everything I need to do in that day on a sticky-note and place it on the cover of my diary. Breaking down longer assignments into daily, more manageable tasks, or even the little, mundane tasks like reading an email helps me visualise how much I can do in one working-day. Then, in a diary or on google calendar, delegate a time for each task.  I’ve learnt to be the most productive when I spend about 3 hours per assignment. Incorporate work tasks with house chores or well-being activities like making lunch or doing an at-home workout.

 I find this gives my day more variation, and it also means I’m moving around the house or flat, which gives my brain and body little breaks in the day. Here’s an example: 

 

  • Ensure you have a dedicated workspace! 

 

This has benefits to both your physical and mental well-being. Having a dedicated workspace puts you into the mind-set of class/ work environments. First thing I do in the morning, for instance, is make my bed. It’s the little things that can have major impacts on your productivity. If the bed is made, my mind becomes more at ease with a tidier room, and it encourages me to not slip back under the covers – genius! 

Also, I never work from my bed, as this can lead to a sneaky nap which will disrupt my entire day. Instead I have a ‘workstation’, where I have a place for all things work-related: my laptop, a desktop, all my books and pens. I never relax at my desk and I never work in bed, and this separation is important in having high quality periods of production.

In the mornings, I get ‘ready’. I get dressed in a comfortable, yet presentable outfit. Don’t dress in what you wore the night before, I’ve learnt that this will keep my mindset in rest-mode, and therefore my productivity will reduce. I even put on some make-up, while this isn’t for everyone, this helps me feel like I’m in class or the library as it mimics my external work-life. 

Finally, it’s so imperative that not only you ensure a work-like environment, but everyone else does too! Tell your flatmates, family members, or partners that you need the respect of appropriate work-life behaviour. Your mate wouldn’t come to your 10am Well-being at work lecture and ask for a chat, right? If there’s nothing that can be done, put your headphones on and turn some on relaxing music. I personally like to really mimic work-life by going on YouTube and playing an 8-hour café soundtrack to help me visualise studying in a coffee shop. 

 

  • Don’t push yourself.

 

Sometimes working from home is only because you couldn’t find a space in the library. Other times it’s because you just don’t feel like leaving the house for a couple of days, and sometimes it’s for reasons even deeper than that. No matter the reason, make sure you keep regular checks on your mental health. Working from home, especially for long periods of time, can really put a strain on an individual’s well-being – the term cabin fever comes to mind!

When I get into these ruts, I take a 5-10-minute break. I tell myself it’s ok if I can’t finish what I wanted to do today. It’s healthy for the mind and body to rest and not put too much strain for too long. This is especially significant when there’s a more serious reason for why I’m working at home. I also ensure that I give myself the evening to cool off, and most weekends. I’d like to think my brain has a chance to recharge – like a battery – no matter how much you fill a cup with water, at the end of the day, you still only end up with a one cup of water.

My Favourite Things about my Occupational Psychology Course

By Callum Van Dyk, MSc Occupational Psychology

I can guarantee you everyone finds it difficult to decide which postgraduate course is right for them! I was fortunate enough to know I wanted to study Occupational Psychology (OP), but I still found it incredibly difficult to decide where I should study. Therefore, to make things a little easier on you, I thought I’d share my top four favourite things about the OP course at Sheffield, showing you why it is a great place to study.

  • Vast Variety of Opportunities

Throughout my time at Sheffield, I’ve received countless messages from academic staff highlighting the diverse range of opportunities available within the management school. However, being an OP student, you have even greater access to opportunities specific to your course. To date, I’ve been involved in designing an assessment centre, stewarding an international conference, and working part-time for psychological consultancies on a variety of projects. The key message is that you can be as involved as you want and there is something for everyone.

  • Small, Multicultural Cohort of Students

Previous OP Cohorts have typically been made up of around 20 students from Britain, Europe, and Asia. Hence, when studying at Sheffield, you will be interacting with a close group of people varying in age and nationality. I have found this experience to be invaluable as not only have I made friends from multiple countries around the world, I have also gained an immense appreciation of different cultural perspectives that have been shared in classroom discussions. 

  • Guest Speakers

An appealing aspect of the OP course at Sheffield is its wide network of alumni and notable academics. Over the past two months, we’ve had multiple guest speakers visit us to discuss contemporary issues in OP, their career paths, and the work they perform daily. These sessions have been crucial in gaining insight into the life of an occupational psychologist and have helped me to frame my career path. After each session, the guest speakers have been more than willing to individually advise us and have always provided us with a means of contacting them later. It is this type of friendly, supportive and informal atmosphere that draws people into the field. 

  • Applied Nature of the Course

By far the best thing about the OP course at Sheffield is its applied nature. Most OP courses primarily focus on the academic side of OP, whereas our course has multiple elements designed to develop your ability to use research and knowledge to solve real world issues. Numerous assignments have focused on hypothetical scenarios where we have to design solutions and support them with evidence, mapping what would be expected of a psychological consultant. The support I’ve received helping me to complete these assignments has really taken away my fear of applied work and has built my confidence in my consulting ability. Overall, preparing me to enter the world of work!

Productivity: Capitalising on your motivation or lack of it!

By Callum Van Dyk, MSc Occupational Psychology

During my first semester at University, I came across an approach to productivity that has enabled me to exponentially increase the amount of work I can complete in a day. Finding this approach has been of great benefit to me, so here are a few of the techniques I use on a daily basis to stay productive.

Breaking Down Projects

A key process in productivity is knowing exactly what to do next. It’s easy to treat an assignment as if it’s just one big task, however thinking like this depletes your motivation. By doing this you picture an assignment as a huge task that cannot be completed in one go. Fortunately, a little change can make you massively more productive!

Breakdown your projects into as many mini tasks as possible.

An assignment is not a task, it is a project made up of multiple tasks. That’s why this technique is highly effective because you’ve taken a single ambiguous project, and broken it down into smaller, less ambiguous tasks. Through doing this you’ll begin to discover that assignments contain fewer tasks than first thought. Also, this approach reduces the total time taken to complete a project because you aren’t spending time trying to figure out what to do next. 

Organising Tasks

A large element of productivity is capitalising on demotivation. By this I mean it is important to schedule doing certain tasks at times when you’re more motivated and doing other tasks for when you’re less motivated. This takes a little while to get to grips with, but it is crucial in becoming more productive. 

Categorise the difficulty of your tasks and know your energy levels.

By knowing these two things, you can schedule completing difficult tasks to when you are feeling motivated and have a lot of energy to tackle them. For example, I know that I am most productive between 11am and 3pm. Therefore, I attempt my most difficult tasks during that period (e.g. assignments) and complete any other tasks (e.g. correspondence) outside that period. 

Reviewing Tasks

I have about 10 reminders a day on my phone. This may seem like a lot but compared to how many other notifications I get, it is nothing. The reason that I have multiple reminders is because I am forgetful! I cannot remember everything I need to do and why I need to do those things. This is why I suggest…

Do a weekly review of your tasks and a daily review of your reminders. 

Every Monday I schedule my whole week by creating reminders for each day. These reminders are based on the tasks I need to complete. Every morning I review these reminders and ensure I complete them all by the end of the day. It does take a bit of practice to know the difficulty of your tasks and how many you can complete in a day, but I’ve found it to be well worthwhile. 

By following these few tips, you can find and capitalise on your motivation. If you want to go even further, I suggest you read the book Getting Things Done by David Allen (this is where I developed my approach).

Sheffield, one of the masterpieces of England

By Zipeng Zhou, MSc Marketing Management Practice

As an international student from China, I believe many international students like me are impressed by the charm of Sheffield. Sheffield is one of the masterpieces of England and there are many amazing sights in Sheffield whenever and wherever.

  1. Everyday beauty of Sheffield

As a student of the Management School, I think the charm of Sheffield starts from the first ray of sunshine at the school gate in the morning. The old school badge shines brightly in the sun, which makes me feel that the pioneers’ spirit of explored the truth is still well inherited since 1828 when the University of Sheffield was founded. 

At noon in Sheffield, the sky is blue, the clouds are white, and occasionally there is a rainbow after rain. What changes is the weather, and what does not change is the beauty of nature. As long as it’s sunny, you can see it everywhere in Sheffield. Imagine that you are sitting in a coffee shop, ordering a cappuccino or latte and looking out the window. Maybe that’s how life feels.

At sunset, students from the Diamond, the University of Sheffield’s library, are greeted by a fuchsia sunset. The setting sun and the lamplight of the steps echo each other, sketching an aesthetic picture of the fusion of nature and humanity. I believe that all students who study hard and seek the truth deserve to enjoy the beautiful sunset.

Throughout the day, you will find that the sun is the most competent decoration workers in Sheffield and it not only dotted the city day as well as night, but also living in this land to bring comfort to the people.

2. A trip to Sheffield

Sheffield is located in the heart of the whole of the UK, and it is very convenient for travellers to travel to other parts of the UK. Public transport in Sheffield is very convenient. In the morning before dawn, you can take the first trains to different cities.

Chatsworth House, not far from Sheffield, is a must-see attraction. On a rainy winter day, the staff of Chatsworth House, displaying the gentlemanly attitude of the English people, invited me to use the fireplace in Chatsworth House. This brings me back to the Dukes of Devonshire era. 

Walking into the magnificent and reserved hall of Chatsworth House, I was deeply impressed by the numerous precious paintings and furniture. I have also been to royal gardens or houses in France, Austria and other countries, but Chatsworth House is obviously different from those in these countries. Everywhere is a kind of astringent nobility, a kind of gentleman’s taste. It’s also a great place to take silhouette photos. Don’t forget, Chatsworth House is just one of Sheffield’s many attractions. I hope to share more of Sheffield with you.

My favourite places in Sheffield

By Vicky Xian, MSc Occupational Psychology

Sheffield is full of amazing places, from lush green parks to hidden little gems down every crevice. Here are some of my favourite places in Sheffield for anyone who has some spare time, wants some inspiration or would like to get to know the city on a more personal level. 

Crookes Valley Park 

This park is a stone’s throw away from most students’ front door. I walk past it most days, and I’m constantly awed by the colours, which changes depending on the season. My favourite season is summer, the vibrant colours of the sky, fields, and cherry blossoms are the perfect backdrop for a barbecue! This lovely photo and more like it can be found on the Instagram account: cmm__photo.

Made by Jonty Café 

This little café is found on Sharrowvale road, and was discovered one rough morning after a night out. This serves the best English fry up in town (in my opinion). What’s even more amazing is the breakfast is served all day, so even when dragging yourself out of bed well after noon you can still get your well-deserved fry up!

Botanical Gardens

These 19 acre gardens contain 18 different garden areas, including a beautiful large botanical greenhouse. This is free entry on most days, and in the summer it’s a great place to meet up with friends, and chill with food and music. Here’s a picture of the fountain and behind it the greenhouse: 

Steamyard Café. 

Although very popular, this café is still a gem in my eyes. The café is tucked in a little courtyard on Division Street. The coffee is excellent, but the atmosphere is even better. The coffee shop has an outdoor seating area and is great when there is good weather, but my personal favourite time is when it’s pouring it down with rain outside. Also, they provide a lot of options for vegans or vegetarians, which is great. There is one thing to consider though, it can get very very busy, but I’m not surprised as other people must agree with me! 

The Peaks

Do you have a day aside and a car? The peaks is a short drive away, and the drive itself can be jaw dropping. The green rolling hills can really take you away from city life, and maybe even distract you with its never ending grass peaks. Take a group of friends, some food and snacks, a flask of Yorkshire tea, and you can spend a good part of the afternoon hiking up the hills. In the summer the surroundings can drown you in stunning green. However, my personal best time is in the autumn, covered in vibrant purple ferns and with a setting sun it can really feel like a different world. The picture below includes a gorgeous view of Bamford Edge.

Why I chose a masters in Occupational Psychology

By Vicky Xian, MSc Occupational Psychology

I am currently studying a master’s in Occupational Psychology. I also have completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology. I can understand that choosing a degree can be challenging and at times overwhelming. So, in this blog post, I would like to share with you my experience of how I ended up choosing this course and the Management School. 

Like most students, I was unsure what my next steps were after university. I didn’t feel like I was ready to take that big leap into working a 9-5 Monday to Friday. So, I took a step back and assessed my situation, through both logic and emotion. Firstly, ‘did I enjoy what I was learning?’ I knew I did, I have always been fascinated by psychology before I started my undergraduate degree. 

Secondly, I asked myself, ‘was what I was learning going to realistically lead to a career that I wanted?’  With a straight psychology degree, my options were fairly open. But I was confused by the amount of options, and the obvious paths were such things like social work or clinical psychology. I knew that these realistic career choices were not what I wanted, I wouldn’t be happy. 

Thirdly, I then asked myself, ‘am I ready to go into work?’  I knew I wanted to learn more, and become more specialised in a field. This could be a conversion course, or a more specialised psychology course and this would also increase my employability. However, I felt that I needed another year in education to really give myself that step up into the right path. 

So, I concluded that I would look into the available masters’ courses that the university offered. You can search for postgraduate courses yourself ‘here’: 

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught 

As I did my undergraduate degree here, there was an alumni discount to consider and I also was confident in the quality and student environment. I therefore did extensive research into possible careers with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. I found that Occupational Psychology (OP) ticked all my boxes: it was relevant to what I had already learnt, I enjoyed the type of work a typical OP would do, and most importantly I would be happy studying and working in this field. In order to become an OP, I would therefore have to complete a master’s course in order to gain the right credentials. 

Additionally, I also did research into the specific course the University of Sheffield had to offer. The Management School is well respected, with a Triple Crown accreditation. This gave me reassurance, which is important when choosing where to study as a postgraduate degree isn’t exactly cheap!

 

Exploring the Peaks

By Abigail Cook, MSc Management

If you’re looking to get out of Sheffield, explore the surrounding areas, and do something a bit different, there are plenty of exciting places to visit nearby. These are a few places that I found out about and enjoyed visiting at the weekends when I wanted a break from lectures and the library.

Poole’s Cavern:

Poole’s Cavern is a natural cavern in the Peak District, approximately an hour’s drive from Sheffield. A one hour guided tour takes you around the cave and you can also learn more in the exhibition centre. Remember to take a jumper or a coat as it can be a bit chilly underground in the cave! You can also spend some time visiting the café and the shop. While you’re there, it’s also worth visiting the panoramic viewpoint at Solomon’s Temple. It’s a very pretty and tranquil walk through the woodland which takes about 30 minutes. Poole’s Cavern makes a great day out if you’re looking for something a bit different or unusual. 

Renishaw Hall and Gardens:

Renishaw Hall and Gardens is another enjoyable day out. It is still a lived-in family home, so it can only be viewed by a guided tour which lasts about one hour. You can also explore the stunning gardens and, if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, you can walk through the woodland and down to the lakes as well. If you start to feel hungry after all your exploring, the café also has a great selection of food and drinks. There are lots of different events that take place here throughout the year, so it’s worth checking out their website before you go to see if there’s anything exciting on.

Stanage Edge:

My final recommendation for a day out in the Peak District is Stanage Edge. This is one of my favourite places in the Peaks that I never get bored of exploring because of its amazing rock formations and beautiful views. Stanage Edge is particularly popular with rock climbers, who can usually be seen clambering up the dramatic rock face. There are several different ways that you can walk to Stanage Edge across the Peak District and you can take in some of the scenic views along the way. This is definitely worth saving for a sunny day, especially because it can get a bit windy and chilly near to the top!

Top tips from my year in Sheffield

By Abigail Cook, MSc Management

After living in Sheffield for the past year, I have discovered several things which I would like to share with other students to help them make the most of their time in Sheffield. 

Join societies and clubs:

My first top tip for any student, whether they’re new to Sheffield or not, is: join societies and clubs! At the start of the academic year, it’s worth going along to the Activities Fair at the Students’ Union, where you can get involved with hundreds of different societies. Societies allow you to meet new people, try new things and develop your hobbies and interests. It’s also fun to be involved with something outside your degree course. 

One of my favourite things about this year was being a member of the Dance Society, which is actually one of the biggest societies within the University. The Dance Society holds workshops and weekly classes in lots of different styles which range from beginner to advanced level, so there is something to suit everyone. This year, I joined one of the competition teams, so I was able to compete at several competitions against other universities. Competitions are great fun because you get to travel around the country and meet other people who share the same interests as you from different universities. I also enjoyed going to lots of socials and balls throughout the year with the Dance Society. Overall, being part of the Dance Society was a great experience, which is why I would highly recommend joining societies and clubs during your time at Sheffield.

Explore the Management School’s opportunities:

My next top tip is to explore what the Management School has to offer. In addition to teaching, lectures and tutorials, the School offers lots of different opportunities for you to get involved with outside of your degree programme. It’s also worth taking the time to visit the Employability Hub located on the School site, which enables students to access careers support, job and placement vacancies, and attend skills workshops. 

This year, I was fortunate enough to go to Canada with the Management School to attend the International Graduate Competition. I spent one week in Montreal with three other students from the Management School, and we met, worked with and competed against teams from other universities from around the world. As well as attending lectures and workshops, and putting together our own reports and presentations, we also had a bit of free time to explore Montreal. This was definitely one of the highlights of my year in Sheffield, and it was all arranged through the Management School.  

Discover Sheffield:

My final tip for anyone studying at Sheffield University is: explore the city! Sheffield has so much to offer for everyone, and there are always new things happening. If you walk around the city centre, you’ll find some lovely cafes, shops and restaurants which are only a short walk from the Students’ Union and the IC. Many different events also take place in Sheffield throughout the year, such as Tramlines, a three-day long festival in the city. Whilst you’re studying at Sheffield, it’s a great opportunity to explore and discover the city that you’re living in.