Abigail Mbugua

What has been a highlight of your time at Birmingham Business School?

During my time studying MSc Supply Chain Management at the University of Birmingham, one of the highlights of my degree was completing a Company Project with Costa Express. As an international student continuing my studies at Birmingham, beginning postgraduate study was already a huge experience for me, but the opportunity to work on a real business challenge gave me the chance to take what I had learned in the classroom and apply it in a professional environment.

What made you choose a Company Project?

Towards the end of the MSc, students have the option of completing either a traditional dissertation or a Company Project with an organisation. Having already completed a traditional dissertation during my undergraduate degree in Business Management, a Company Project isn’t necessarily easy. You are expected to take ownership of your work, understand a business problem, work with information that may not always be straightforward and produce recommendations that are both academically sound and practically useful. But that is exactly what makes the experience so valuable.

What advice would you give to students considering a Company Project?

My advice to anyone considering a Company Project would be to fully commit to it. Make the most of the opportunity to learn from your company contacts and academic supervisor but also pay attention to the soft skills you develop along the way. I was also proud to graduate with a distinction, with my performance in the Company Project playing an important part in that achievement.