Stephen Slater

Employment/ Place of Work:

Sales & Marketing for IT and Related Markets

Country of Residence:

United Kingdom

How I fit the course work into my life

Full time employment has complicated the learning experience although careful time management makes all things possible. Every public transport delay is an opportunity to read course material. 15-20 hours per week for each module of the MA ODE - somewhat a conservative estimate, 15-20 hours for research and at least that again for collaborative interactions.

My most cherished interaction on the programme:

All interactions on the 3 year programme had some value - nothing stands out as spectacular. The ability to challenge the establishment on H802 was stimulating.

Which of the different course models suited me best?

H802 was by far the most suitable for my type of investigative research. H801 I found proscribing and H804 was for me - very constraining and not at all what I had expected.



Answers to the Vice Chancellor's questions:

In what ways am I putting into practice the ideas and understandings I developed on the programme:

In attempting to apply the concepts (although somewhat evolved) to a commercial sector (not formally academia) so that personal development within industry is a supportable activity.

What did I find the most stimulating part of the programme:

Challenging established views and especially those of the faculty. Some were noticeably more open others more defensive... I hold my opinions about why.

What value was the global nature of the programme to me:

Communications mage the global nature of this programme - INSIGNIFICANT - I had the same interractions with peers from around the world as I would have expected from those around the corner.

Did I find it isolating or impersonal to study this programme?

Personally no - as my work is by nature periods of sole activity followed by periods of frenetic group and collaborative activities. There is a problem with the 'lack of immediacy' when minor misunderstandings are allowed to escalate...

Did I find this relevant to my work:

The disciplines required to study (seemingly in isolation) are an integral part of today's Knowledge Workers.

Has it changed my life in any way:

Life-changing no - life enhancing yes. Checkout my video.