Tyough Beetseh    Nigeria   PPM Graduate 2009-2010

“There’s so much to be experienced and so much to be gained. You just have to go out there and grasp every opportunity to make things happen.”

When Tyough Beetseh arrived at WMG from Nigeria in 2009, he was determined to make the most of his year with us. That meant balancing his academic studies with opportunities to experience the life, community and spirit of Warwick.

“You only get your time at Warwick once, so it’s important to get as much as you can out of every day,” began Tyough. Having recently completed his MSc in Programme and Project Management, he was keen to reflect on the previous year.

“It was definitely hard work,” he said. “It did stretch me, both academically and personally. But that’s why I chose Warwick in the first place. I wanted to gain the skills I need to stand out from the crowd.”

Achieving that sometimes meant moving out of the traditional classroom environment, as Tyough explained. “Working with other students in simulations of real-life scenarios was a standout feature for me. For example, I had little understanding of financial analysis. Working through a simulation gave meaning to the terminology. I quickly learned to appreciate how financial factors impact on actual business situations.

“The same thing happened when we carried out a simulation based on the management of change. Again, I had very little knowledge of this area, but by working through a company takeover scenario - with members of my class taking on actual roles within a business - we all learned the full implications of transition and change from both a corporate and a personal perspective.”

Tyough described how he found this to be a much more effective way of learning than sitting in a classroom soaking up information. “It ingrains it all in the memory very powerfully, and you are able to put theoretical ideas into practice right away.”

Although his first degree was gained in Civil Engineering, Tyough chose the Programme and Project Management course as he was keen to broaden his future career options. This would, he felt, give him the skills and insight he needed to take his career in a new direction. Tyough is also very interested in e-business, and the programme’s choice of e-commerce related elective modules meant that he could build his awareness of current developments in this fast-evolving field.

Looking beyond his academic studies, Tyough was heavily involved in the wider Warwick community. He was Resident Tutor at the University’s Hurst Residencies for example. “That was an opportunity I jumped at,” he explained. “I do enjoy helping people, so this was ideal for me. Basically, my job was to foster a spirit of community among undergraduate students, and to facilitate a responsible and supportive environment. I was also there in a pastoral role, helping students overcome any problems they might have.”

But earlier, Tyough described his course as ‘hard work’, so didn’t volunteering put a strain on his studies? “Not at all. You just need to manage your time and keep everything in balance. In any case, this kind of role brings huge advantages: you get to know new people, you’re contributing to life at the University and it looks great on your CV!”

Tyough also acted as Postgraduate Forum Co-ordinator and was a member of the Film Team, contributing to a documentary to celebrate One World Week. “That was a great little project,” he added. “It was about all of the cultural identities represented at Warwick, featuring a range of personalities from across the University.”

Tyough’s involvement in this wide range of extra-curricular activities led to him achieving the Warwick Advantage award. This recognised the effort he put into supporting others within the student community. But as he was quick to point out, pursuing these activities brings bigger advantages that just having an enjoyable time.

“Employers these days are looking for more than just a good academic record,” he said. “They want individuals with a broad mix of life skills and experiences: people who are willing to contribute at every level and make a positive impact on those around them.”

Having gained a Distinction for his masters degree, Tyough certainly excelled at every level during his year at WMG. Without doubt, this was down to his approach to his studies – and to life. “There’s so much to be experienced and so much to be gained. You just have to go out there and grasp every opportunity to make things happen.”