Master of Business Administration (with Business Placement)
Prems Srampical
Prems Srampical founded Colvill Banks in 2007, a global business that provides recruitment research and talent related intelligence to executive search firms and corporations. The company employs over 200 people and has headquarters in the UK with further offices in Australia, Singapore and India.
'I joined Portsmouth in September 2003 and knew I was joining a good school which was reasonably priced compared to some of its peers back then. I liked the course Portsmouth was offering which had two resident programmes and projects in real companies as part of the curriculum.
I chose to do an MBA because I’d only had a few years work experience after my bachelors degree and although I was doing well managing a team of over 150 people I felt I needed to hone my business and management skills to further my career. I was young and knew that this investment up front would help me further down the line.
The course helped me work and collaborate with people from different cultures in class. Today Colvill Banks has clients across different continents and I feel that the joint projects undertaken with people from Asia, Europe and America during my time at the Business School have helped me to understand clients better.
I thought the Business School was a great place to study and, more importantly, network. I also love the city – so much so that, six years after leaving university I still live in the area, despite the fact that I have to travel to London to meet clients three days a week.'
Hua Ping Liu
Hua Ping Liu, age 30, recently completed her MBA. She is now starting her own company back home in China.
'The best thing about doing my MBA at Portsmouth was that the course didn’t just impart knowledge, it also taught me how to be a good businesswoman. It's changed my view of the world, broadened my thinking and improved my analytical and management skills.
Before coming to the UK I worked for four years in the shoe industry in China and learned a lot about being in business there. Entrepreneurship is a big thing in China and I’ve always wanted to run my own company. My parents have always encouraged me to stand on my own two feet!
My first degree was in international trade and English and I completed my final year in the UK. Spending time in another country means you get to know the culture and that can be very important in business. I’ve learned how to communicate better and the clients I have now trust my understanding of western customer needs.
I absorbed a lot from my time in the UK, but I wanted to return home and it’s definitely the right time to start a business in China. The market there isn’t very mature, but it’s changing rapidly and the country has already learned about the importance of branding.
I've recently set up my own company which will trade in shoes, bags and furniture because I have friends producing these commodities and this is the market I know. My fiancé makes furniture, so it will be a partnership in more ways than one. We plan to get married soon, but the company is just taking off so I’m putting business first!'
Sarah Miles
Sarah Miles, of Littlehampton, West Sussex, spent 20 years running a business which made bespoke dresses for foreign royals, publishers and wives of top chefs, international polo players and rock stars. She also designed and made high-end fashion for magazines and television programmes.
After spending 20 years running a business which made bespoke dresses for foreign royals and wives of top chefs, international polo players and rock stars, Sarah Miles wanted a change of direction. Following an MBA at the University of Portsmouth Business School, she is now running a two-year project with the UK market leaders for humidification, as well as studying for a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA).
After completing a higher national diploma in the subject - and coming top of her class - she enrolled on the final year of a degree at the University of Portsmouth Business School and a year later again came top of her class gaining a first in BA (Hons) Hospitality Management. She then applied for, and was granted, a scholarship by the Business School to study for the Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Sarah is now working for JS Humidifiers, running a two-year knowledge transfer project in connection with the University of Portsmouth. The focus of the project is about improving processes, implementing a robust system for business analysis and financial reporting, as well as developing a decision-making framework for evaluating new revenue streams.
'The MBA gave me a real breadth of experience - I learnt about operations, marketing, finance and strengthened by general business skills. Undertaking the MBA with students from all over the world has widened my networks and created global business links. The company I work for exports to the Middle East and as a result of the MBA I have a number of contacts in the United Arab Emirates, which have proved extremely valuable. I am now studying for the DBA, another challenge which I'm enjoying. It is the highest level of professional and academic achievement so is a very desirable qualification to have.'
Juliet Osbourne
Juliet combined study for a Master's in Human Resource Management and work as a Sales and Marketing Manager for US multi-national corporation Seaboard Marine in the Cayman Islands. She then decided to take a year out and is currently studying for the International MBA at Portsmouth Business School.
'I wanted to do something internationally recognised, with real currency, which was also challenging and well taught. Having just completed my Master's at Portsmouth, I knew how good the teaching was and the MBA seemed like the next logical step.
The MBA programme is AMBA accredited, which is crucial for me as it gives the course real gravitas. I decided to do the MBA full time so I could immerse myself completely and this has really paid off. The studies have been challenging, stressful, infuriating at times, but above all it has been fun! It takes a huge amount of focus, but the support you get is superb; staff are accessible and accommodating from day one.
I have learned so much at Portsmouth and will be leaving with deep business knowledge, which I can't wait to put into practice. Studying here has also opened my eyes socially and politically – it was terribly exciting to be here during the general election and I now know much more about British politics and social characteristics.
The MBA is a great experience and whether I return to my role in the Cayman Islands or pursue work in the UK I know I'll see the benefits immediately.'
Ian Stevens
Ian, who is originally from South Africa, has a wealth of business experience. He has worked for Unilever, Gillette and Boots, as well as initiating numerous entrepreneurial ventures.
'I wanted to do my MBA 20 years ago but it’s only recently that I felt it was the right time and I was in the right place to do it, given the support that this commitment requires. British education opens up an international playing field and I was keen to enrich my experience with the credibility of an AMBA-accredited degree.
Living in Gosport, Portsmouth Business School is on my doorstep and once I met the staff I knew this institution really meant business. They encourage the synergy of minds so you learn from interaction with other students as much as you do from the lecture theatre. They are also extremely knowledgeable and approachable, which makes for a fantastic, challenging learning environment.
The MBA at Portsmouth allows you to find your feet. I have taken all my business successes and failures and filtered them through current thinking and methodologies. This analysis has helped me to reflect, to learn, and to fine-tune my business skills in a structured way.
The Business School is part of a vibrant university, which isn’t bogged down with old buildings and old attitudes. It is full of modern methods, and challenging minds and experiences, which will deliver real value in the workplace.'
Jórunn Jonsdottir
As a result of completing a full time MBA at Portsmouth Business School, Jórunn has set up her own travel company, which specialises in holidays to Iceland.
'I was studying for an undergraduate degree in Iceland, my home country, and was desperate to go abroad to study further. I have family in the South of England, so finding the right course for me at Portsmouth was absolutely perfect. The city is ideal – it’s not too big and it’s not too small, so it’s great if you’re a foreigner – you soon get to know your way around.
If it wasn’t for the MBA I’d never be running my own business. The course really makes you think outside the box. My tutor was incredibly supportive and made me feel that I could really achieve whatever I set my sights on. I started to think about setting up my own company when I was mid-way through and the more I learnt the more it cemented my decision.
I set up my travel company, All Iceland Ltd, with my business partner in 2009 and we started trading in August 2010. The business is expanding rapidly and doing well. The travel industry is an exciting place to be and I feel the MBA has prepared me well to face the constant challenges that crop up when running your own business.'
Eric Cerneaz 
Eric works as a project manager for Classic Folios, the UK’s leading supplier of bespoke luxury leather folders and branded leather binders.
“I wanted to do an MBA to enrich my management experience and to add a commercial and strategic dimension to the technical competencies I’d acquired in my previous degree and professional experiences as a mechanical engineer.
I chose Portsmouth Business School because it was good value for money and the course included a residential to Brussels, which included a visit to the European Parliament. I also wanted to study in the UK to improve my business language communication skills.
The course required a great deal of direct contribution from students and I enjoyed the interactivity with fellow full-time students and also those studying on the part-time executive course.
As a result of studying I am now leading a strategic project at Classic Folios, which is part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) – a collaborative project between the company and the University. With the support of the University I'm helping the company to improve its business processes and reinvent itself as a technology-based firm in order to reach much higher growth rates.
In addition, through the KTP I'm allowing Classic Folios to broaden its portfolio of products and expand into profitable new markets. All in all the experience is providing me with a solid foundation for a career in business.”