Student views

“I was looking for a course that would set me up to move into a career in IT, but neither 'pure' computing nor business degrees quite seemed to fit the bill. The ITMB course stood out to me because it involves studying both business and technology alongside each other with a practical focus on applying that knowledge in the real world. I also saw the opportunities to interact with employers and learn first-hand from representatives in the IT industry as unique benefits that I couldn't pass up.

I like the variety involved in studying two different but interconnected subjects, particularly as each lend themselves to developing complementary skills. Studying areas of IT such as computer programming has helped me to acquire logical and analytical skills, while studying business and management has helped me to learn presentation and interpersonal skills. I've also had plenty of practice in working in teams which I know will be useful experience for the future.

The ITMB course is unique in the way that it promotes a high level of engagement between employers and students. 'Guru' lectures have provided great opportunities to discover more about the interaction between business and IT in the real world from knowledgeable experts. ITMB student events are also great opportunities to meet employers from different industries who are looking to recruit in the future, providing us with a great head-start on securing a job when we graduate. I think these aspects of the course add value that can't be found anywhere else!

I am highly confident that the ITMB course will help my future career because I know it is helping me to develop the specific skills that graduate employers are looking for. I am also confident that I can take these transferable skills to a wide variety of roles and industries and be successful with them. The course has already helped me to establish contacts within several companies that will help me to secure internships or placements. In the future, an ITMB degree on my CV should help me to stand out from the crowd and ensure career success.”

“I graduated from the IT Management for Business (ITMB) degree in 2008 and am now one year into an exciting career in technology at British Airways (BA).

ITMB is a great degree because it is focuses on graduate employability from day one, with employers shaping the course based on what they really want from graduates. Also, because it’s an innovative and evolving degree it has a lot of support and recognition from a range of well-known companies.

I’ve always been interested in IT because it’s such a diverse industry that shapes the way we live our lives today. I originally found out about the ITMB degree when I attended an open day at Northumbria University – I was there to enquire about another course but when I heard a presentation about the ITMB I decided it was for me. I was attracted to the employer-developed mix of IT within a business context and the unique opportunities it provided to get direct contact with people already in the industry.

For me, contact with employers is a unique and invaluable aspect of the ITMB degree. From the beginning, you are given the chance to meet with big-named employers such as BA, Microsoft, ITV and Sainsbury’s, through site visits and summer placements. These visits all offered me the chance to develop a real feel and understanding of how the companies use IT to meet their business needs.

I also found the ‘Guru Lectures’ – an annual series of lectures by leaders in the IT industry – really interesting and helpful. They gave me a good idea of the kinds of issues faced by professionals in the IT industry and translated the theory of what I was learning into practice. It also gave me the chance to ask questions and get practical advice.

I would have to say, however, that one of the biggest benefits of the ITMB degree were the mock interviews, recruitment days and CV clinics with employers. Exclusive to the course, these meetings were fantastic and meant I was able to get feedback directly from employers.

As part of my final year dissertation, I went on a placement at BA for three months, during which time I made friends and began to develop a feel for the organisation and its culture. I enjoyed working there and wanted to stay, so when I found out about their graduate programme I decided to apply. The mock interviews and CV clinics really helped me throughout the graduate recruitment process and secured my place on the programme.

So far in my career at BA, I have found that the ITMB course content really reflects the knowledge you need in a business setting. The interpersonal skills (including team work and presentations) that I developed on the ITMB course have been very valuable since joining BA. I am required to deal with a range on people from on-site and off-site team members to customers, and rely on the skills I gained at university to communicate effectively and efficiently to achieve my objectives.

The ITMB degree gave me the skills and connections I needed to secure my position at BA. I loved every minute of the programme and would recommend it 100%.”

“Ever since I was a sixth form student, I have wanted to study ITMB and nothing else! I was attracted by the integration of business and technology, the way the course had been designed by employers and the opportunities it would ultimately give me when graduating. I’m now a second year undergraduate studying ITMB at UCL and have never looked back!

ITMB is really giving me a varied education ranging from the necessary theory to the very important practical skills. The numerous support networks available to us while we’re on the course and after we’ve graduated offer a wealth of knowledge when searching for a placement or job and also teach us how to succeed in the workplace.

I have been impressed by the sponsorship and collaboration from external companies for the course along the way, in addition to the endless support they provide no matter what the economic circumstances. It has helped me to focus on the key business skills that are essential to a graduate entering into any number of industries.

The 'Guru' lectures have provided us with a keyhole through which we’ve been able to gain an insight into graduate recruitment processes and the general everyday functioning of global firms, as well as gaining valuable information from a range of influential business leaders.

I really think ITMB is bridging the gap between Information Technology, communications and management in a way that no other course out there can offer. It does what it says on the tin!”

“I’m about to go into my third year of the ITMB degree. At Manchester, the ITMB students have really formed a community; we call ourselves the ‘ITMB Lot’. The ITMB degree has helped me to make new friends away from home, network with industry, and not only develop professional skills such as communication, IT, business and industry knowledge, but it has helped me socially in meeting some good friends who are intelligent and great people to be around. At the e-skills UK National ITMB Event last year (when Manchester won the debate competition) we were commended for having such a superb team spirit.

When I think about why I chose the ITMB Degree, I think back to my school days when I was working at BlueZone Study Centre at the Manchester City Football Ground. I helped young children learn how to use software, and learn about maths, science, history, english using computers. It made me realise that my skills were in IT, business and interacting with people of all backgrounds and ages. Subsequently at college, I studied subjects that gave me the skills to think ‘outside the box’; skills that someone doing IT and business needs to develop in order to have that innovative and competitive streak. All of the projects I worked on whilst at college involved industry which made me want to look for further opportunities to work with industry during my university studies, so I ‘googled’ everywhere, until I found the degree that seemed perfect for me – ITMB!

So, it was really a long time ago that I began to map out my choice of career and it remains my ambition despite the current climate. In fact, the ITMB degree helps you to develop the skills to survive in an economic downturn.”