My experience as a student ambassador on the Full-time MBA International module

Full-time MBA participant Priyanka Agarwal discusses her experience as a student ambassador on the International Design Thinking module at Aalto University.

Finally, the time has come to share my experience on one of my first international MBA courses!

My name is Priyanka and I am a Marketing Manager from Canada. I chose to study an MBA because of my curiosity for the business world, and desire to learn more about the different fields within it. I also wanted to upgrade my skillset and I am proud to share that I have done so quite successfully while I have been here at Warwick Business School (WBS)!

I chose WBS for three reasons. Firstly, it is triple accredited and ranks high amongst other business schools in the UK and the world. Secondly, they provide students with several opportunities to travel for learning and, having been to 49 countries as of last week, this sparked my interest. Finally, WBS boasts a large network of alumni and company relationships, a tool that was invaluable to me.

I value appreciating cultural differences and travelling has helped me tremendously gain a better view of the world and its intricacies. WBS places a huge importance on diversity and cultural appreciation, which is what I look for in a university. There are 22 different nationalities this year in our course and over 33% of our cohort is female!

The Design Thinking module at Aalto University in Helsinki stood out to me because of my quest to learn more about entrepreneurship and new venture creation. I’m interested in learning how to place the customer at the top of the priority list, understanding their pain points and working to solve them which is why I chose this international module.

I even had the incredible opportunity to serve as a student ambassador on this study tour. This experience was truly enlightening, offering profound insights into the design thinking process. The interactive workshops and hands-on activities facilitated by the knowledgeable and approachable staff at Aalto University were invaluable. They guided us through each step, from empathising with users to prototyping, and testing innovative solutions.

I especially enjoyed the group activities, creative prototype building, and social activities where I was able to connect with different classmates and staff members. The collaborative environment fostered creativity and critical thinking, leaving me with a deep appreciation for the power of design thinking in solving complex problems. And after the lessons were completed, I felt a great sense of validation because the delivery of the module was so successful. I truly appreciate the group tasks, interactive learning, flow of concepts and approachability of instructors-  everything was top notch! It was obvious how successful they were in teaching us by the exam success rate: everyone passed on their first attempt! I would highly recommend this international course to anyone looking to study a Full-time MBA at WBS.

Beyond the academic enrichment, the personal experiences in Helsinki were equally memorable. I had some fun shopping memories, thrifting and buying my now favorite coat for only €5! I also enjoyed mixing it up with students from the other Full-time MBA cohort - I got to know students I had not really had the opportunity to speak to before, and that was wonderful, especially being the social butterfly that I am.

For example, I even met a student who was daring and wild enough to go to the Löyly Traditional Finnish Spa with me the night before the exam, and we had a lot of fun jumping in the Baltic Sea and then going into the hot sauna five times! We were even revising for the exam in the sauna and that will be a core memory for me now.

The hotel was comfortable and ideally located, making it easy to explore the city. The food was so tasty and I enjoyed the vegan variety so much. Even the Aalto University food is something we talk about and miss all the time. Exploring the vibrant nightlife and culture of Helsinki added a unique dimension to the trip. The module leaders were so approachable and friendly - they even gave us recommendations for karaoke bars and night clubs!

This study tour not only expanded my academic horizons but also enriched my cultural understanding, making it an unforgettable journey of learning and personal growth. I am grateful for this opportunity and I thank everyone (you know who you are) who made it possible. Not to mention my personal goal of finally being able to reach my goal of visiting 50 countries by the end of the year!