Portsmouth Business School
Dave Corkill
David Corkill is a senior Research and Development (R&D) executive at Pall Europe in Portsmouth, UK. Through a manufacturing apprenticeship he graduated from Portsmouth in 1990 with an honours degree in Engineering and Business Studies and subsequently obtained an MBA from the University of Portsmouth Business School in 1995. David is currently studying part-time for a DBA, where his current research interests are in innovation management and risks in R&D strategy.
For the last seventeen years he has worked in the filtration industry, starting as a support engineer and then in subsequent management roles, gaining extensive experience in international product development, continual improvement processes and marketing. David has seasoned skills in defining and solving problems, establishing objectives, planning, organising and implementing effective team action. His projects have brought innovative solutions to organisations within the aerospace, powertrain and industrial sectors.
He chose to study the DBA at Portsmouth because of its location and reputation as one of the top business schools on the south coast. ‘The level of teaching is of a consistently high standard,’ he said. ‘We have a great deal of exposure to professors who are experts in their field and to staff who have had years in business themselves. It really is top class.’
David sees the course as a conduit facilitating the transfer of knowledge between the University, himself and the organisation. He said ‘I’m gaining a wealth of knowledge and tools which will have a direct impact on my role at Pall Europe’.
As with his first two degrees at Portsmouth, David said that mixing with other students on the programme has been an important element. When asked what he was getting out of the course he commented, ‘The DBA attracts a fantastic cross-section of senior business people and the opportunity to discuss theories and practices with them has been extremely valuable. We discuss real-life scenarios in relation to the course content which means we all benefit from a perfect balance of academic and practice-based learning’.
David’s life interests encompass a broad variety of leisure activities ranging from art to cycling, science fiction to Greek mythology, chairing a social club and reading the latest Colin Bateman.
Ed Derbyshire
Ed Derbyshire, 50, is the director of testing for COMDEV Ltd who supply microwave and electronic equipment to commercial, space and defence markets around the world. The organisation is moving forward into some new and exciting phases and Ed decided to undertake the DBA to help him manage the new challenges he would face.
‘I wanted to be in the best possible position to take the business forward and that meant developing my knowledge and skills,’ he said. ‘I already had an MBA but the DBA has moved me into a different league altogether.’
Ed said that he found the depth of research and analysis on the DBA extremely rigorous from day one. ‘It was a substantial step up from the MBA level, but it’s been a tremendous opportunity to significantly develop my capabilities as an individual.’
He said that anyone undertaking a DBA needs to be hungry for knowledge, have plenty of self-discipline and be interested in developing themselves.
‘For me it was very much a personal challenge and it’s taught me to be systematic, reflective and it’s given me more confidence,’ he said.
‘It’s been an illuminating year so far and other people are already noticing a change in me. Personally I’m already reaping the rewards.’