UCL Careers Service: Focus on Management 2011

UCL Careers Service's annual flagship event, Focus on Management, took place on 14 and 15 June.

The course, sponsored by PwC, provided students with a valuable opportunity to gain an insight into different aspects of management and leadership through working on four business case studies over the course of the two days. 74 undergraduate and postgraduate students attended the course from all years and from across all disciplines.

This year the case studies were provided and delivered by Unilever, Oliver Wyman, PwC and Centrica. Students worked in teams in order to design solutions to the tasks they had been set. Tasks ranged from analysing the viability of two organisations merging to developing a marketing strategy to launch a new brand of luxury ice cream.

Each team was led by a team manager provided by a different employer. Each team manager had a coach who observed their leadership style and approach and provided them with one-to-one feedback after each case study exercise. Coaches came from the Civil Service Fast Stream, Robyn Peel Consultancy, HM Revenue and Customs and Cancer Research UK.

The course also provided students with a unique insight into the commercial world through having exposure to the fourteen employers represented at the event from a range of industry sectors. It also gave students the opportunity to develop essential transferable skills such as team working, analysis, problem solving and presentational skills. Students were also able to network informally with employers participating in the event at a drinks reception on the first evening which proved to be an enjoyable and lively event.

Students and employers were asked to provide feedback on the design of the course and whether it met their expectations. Here are a few of their comments.

Students

"Challenging. Very intensive and useful. Excellent opportunity to develop teamworking skills and to get insight into management duties."

"The course helped to add a breadth and depth to my commercial awareness, qualities which will enhance my cv."

"I was really pleased with the amount of work we each got to contribute and with the feedback we received. I feel it was really helpful to improve my confidence."

"Beyond expectations. It was the first time in my life I felt that I was out in the real world working with a group of inspirational young professionals which forced me to push myself and face my weaknesses."

"Fantastic course, busy yet not too intensive. Very rewarding, good variety of case studies"

Employers

"Very well structured. A lot of opportunity for feedback to continue improvement not only within the team but also as an individual."

"Brilliant couple of days."

"Very good opportunity for understanding recruiters, students and our team managers."

"We thought the event was valuable for us as an employer and for the students."

Elaine Denniss, Careers Adviser, UCL Careers Service

Link: UCL Careers Service