Can working in groups on your degree course help your future career?

If you’ve been looking at the many different university degree courses available in the UK, then you’re no doubt wondering why working with other students from different cultures is going to help you achieve merit – both on the course and in your future chosen career.

When looking for a great business school to extend your knowledge, experience and understanding of the international business world, many students across the world turn to a leading UK university to advance their education, knowledge and understanding.

And, whilst nearly all of the 300 UK universities offer reduced tuition fees compared to those in Australia and the USA, there are many other advantages to choosing a UK institution.

Choosing a UK university over others is simple: there’s a higher ratio of international students, from different countries, studying on Masters degree courses than in any other country. It may be that such UK universities have a long-running reputation of excellence for quality degrees in your country, but the fact is that so many international students choose the UK because it has institutions that are highly regarded in the international business community. Business owners, VPs and CEOs know that if you have studied on a UK degree course then you have been educated and enriched to a high quality and with a level of knowledge that means you are able to excel.

How group work can help your business writing

Writing isn’t an easy process to undertake when you’re a student, and it’s especially difficult when you’re working with students from a number of different countries, who all speak many different languages. The common language used may be English, but for most this is their second or additional language – and this is where barriers to communicate can present themselves.

With the prospect of speaking and writing in English, you will work, communicate and negotiate with your fellow students – with the idea that you are working with the international leaders of tomorrow. Your peers, who are in the same position as you, will help you to understand more than the written language of English; you will come to understand why and how you can communicate with different cultures and people in a business context.

On many Masters degree courses surrounding business, marketing and management, there will be project work where students are given a brief consult from an outside business organisation (commonly referred to as a business consultancy project). This process will help you, as an international student, to understand future business to business interactions with other organisations – not only if you are acting for a consultancy company but if you are in the purchasing position of a large multi-national chain hotel group such as Hilton. In relation to dealing with other businesses in the international community, this experience is vital.

Developing your writing 

English is without doubt the key language used in the international business community – wherever you are in the world. And, with writing being a main form to sell and communicate with people (through advertising and emails to both customers and suppliers), your standard of written English needs to be high. But, it isn’t necessary for it to be excellent when you are thinking of studying at a UK university, since when you are working in groups you will get input from other individuals who have a varied level of achievement. It’s important then that English editing is sought to bolster your written work on the course in order for you to identify the many different improvements you can make, as 10 percent of your final grade does rely on your use of the English language, including grammar, style and punctuation.

So too, it will be important to develop your writing through your time in the UK’s academic community, so you can learn how to improve your written English and develop an individual ‘voice’. Your writing ability will develop gradually, but the time spent learning about the common mistakes made during your time studying will lay the foundations for your improvement.

How writing helps you to negotiate business deals

Understanding different terms and contractual obligations, so that you don’t put your organisation in trouble, will help you to move forward in your company. You want to ensure that you get the best possible outcome for the money, time and effort your company is putting into a partnership – whether this is through supplying products/services to a customer or suppliers delivering products/services to you.

Also, when negotiating deals with fellow business managers and owners, it is important that the information being given on any type of deal is clear – and, since you will have experienced negotiating and development with your fellow international students on your UK degree course, you will find this a lot easier.

Career development 

Having developed, learned and communicated with many different people and cultures in your group degree work, you will have an advantage over fellow colleagues in the organisation. Should you choose to work for an international organisation then you will be a prime choice for progression, as the knowledge and understanding you gained from being in the UK – not only on the course but also in social activities outside of study, for example, in terms of learning different cultures – will have allowed you to understand many different point of view and opinions.

And, as people have differing opinions, your role as a manager and leader in your organisation will be to develop and lead your team and those you interact with in the future – a key part of what you learned during group work with other students on your course.

A UK degree course with group work, of which most are, will allow you to develop your own uniqueness, see and experience other cultures, but most importantly understand that English in the international business world is still of key importance – and that doing well in this field will help you to progress in the future.

Additional sources:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/sep/24/internationalstudents-students

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/internationalstudents

http://www.supaproofread.com/blog/