We invited former Warwick Business School student who worked with loveUK, Rene Ivan Saracho, to tell us a little about his experience at WBS, in the UK and with our service.
During Warwick's Week we hope you fall in love with this university that is the ninth best in the UK, according to The Guardian, and has the best MBA program in the UK, according to The Economist. Ah! For the fifth time in a row!
This is the University of Warwick. Recognized for its academic excellence from foundation year to postgraduate programs, it offers a complete infrastructure just 1 hour by train from London. In other words, it is perfect for those who want to focus on their studies, but still want to have the London experience.
Sign up here for the Webinar with the WMG department representative on February 13th at 6pm.
Without further ado, let's meet Rene Ivan and his experience as a WBS student:
LoveUK: Why did you choose Warwick?
Rene Ivan Saracho: There were several reasons that led me to choose to study at Warwick Business School. First, its reputation. The WBS FT-MBA program is among the elite of the world's leading business schools. Based on the “2019 Global Ranking by The Economist” survey, the program ranks as follows: 1st in the UK, 5th in Europe and 24th in the world. Second, the program itself. It was a 12-month truly immersive, intense and engaging experience. This includes some international modules (in my case, China, Ireland and Finland), unlimited coaching, work with iconic companies and a group of participants with different backgrounds, cultures, mindsets, etc., effectively a privileged environment for diversity. In addition to countless lectures, seminars, group exercises, case studies and projects. And third, its location. WBS is located in the city of Coventry (approximately 1 hour from London), which allowed me to live in a very quiet city, while still focusing on my studies and much more economically compared to big cities like London. At the same time, with easy and quick access to other UK cities.
LoveUK: What course did you take at Warwick and for what year?
RIES: I did the Full Time MBA program, cohort 2017-2018.
LoveUK: What do you have to say about the University as a whole? From the infrastructure? Do you support foreign students?
RIES: The infrastructure of WBS, as well as the University as a whole, is extremely modern, comfortable and safe. Everything is done so that students can focus on their studies and make the most of everything it has to offer. For the international community, there is a specific department to help clarify any doubts and provide assistance in solving any problems. It also has a huge number of academic centers (societies) that cover dozens of topics. You will certainly identify with some of them and will want to participate. In addition, there are restaurants and pubs on campus where you can share social moments with other students, colleagues, friends, etc. For those who practice sports, there is a range of options for almost every sport. Not to mention the countless events that take place on campus throughout the year, from academic lectures in every area you can imagine to shows and concerts. The infrastructure is also a real differentiator.
LoveUK: How was your adaptation process?
RIES: My adaptation was relatively quick and easy. Despite returning to academic life after almost 9 years, I didn't have any major problems. The language (British accent) and especially the teaching method are challenging factors in this regard. The classes greatly explore your engagement and critical thinking. Your active participation and that of your fellow students contribute substantially to the success of the classes. I advise anyone interested in studying there to research these factors, teaching methods, assessment methods, etc. thoroughly. This will be valuable for your adaptation process. The climate, the food and living in a highly diverse environment are also important factors in the adaptation process. In my case, I didn't have any problems in this regard. Oh! I can't help but mention that the company of my wife Simone on this journey was fundamental, vital to my success. I was also fortunate to meet three other Brazilians in the same program who greatly enriched this experience: Ana Paschoini, Arthur Bernardes and Diego Moreira.
LoveUK: Tell us about a memorable experience from your year in the UK.
RIES: For those who live a journey like this, there is no shortage of memorable experiences. Believe me, everything is memorable!
LoveUK: Did your expectations meet reality?
RIES: I can say that yes, my expectations were met. In some aspects, they were exceeded. Of course, not everything is perfect and I would like to highlight another important factor here. The program team was very receptive to criticism and suggestions on various topics and was quick and efficient in correcting some specific deviations.
LoveUK: How did having a master's degree abroad reflect on your professional life?
RIES: The program opened new horizons for me. Today I feel much more capable of not only resuming my professional life in the area I have always worked in, with a much broader vision, being able to add new value in any segment and/or market, but also allowing me to undertake new challenges. From a practical point of view, in addition to expanding my knowledge of the business world in a more comprehensive way, in the areas of operations, marketing, finance, strategy, leadership, etc., it was extremely valuable to be able to develop a series of soft skills such as: the ability to work in teams; work with a wide variety of people; solve complex problems; build, maintain and expand networks; time management and prioritization; strategic thinking; the ability to positively influence; resilience, among others.
Repeating my statement recorded in the WBS brochure:
“The program is one of the greatest transformation platforms. A set of lessons for a professional career, a fantastic life experience.”
What a story, huh? I think we can only conclude that this experience was definitely life changing…. Thank you for sharing it with us, Rene!
Want to know more about the University of Warwick? Visit: www.instagram.com/loveedu
