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.