Ronke
Adesina

Why NTU?

Why did you choose to study a postgraduate degree?

"Having had a previous postgraduate degree, the decision to study and acquire a postgraduate degree in the UK was made from the need for self-motivated professional development. I wanted some professional education and empowerment that would impact the effective delivery of my entrepreneurial foreign education services."

What’s your experience been like of your course so far?

"The study experience was quite different in the sense that it was more independent study than tutor/classroom dependent - an approach that greatly boosted my self-awareness, development, and confidence. I was exposed to reflective practice, which helped me to turn my experience into learning, self-evaluate my performance, and identify my strengths and weaknesses. I had the support of professional, student-centric, and empathetic tutors and course mates with whom I worked to enhance my interpersonal and multicultural sensitivity and skills."

Have you been involved in any projects or extra-curricular activities that have supplemented your studies run through NTU?

"I was a course representative for my cohort, thereby serving as a link between the course development team and students for feedback and information exchange to continuously improve teaching and learning designs and provisions."

On Placement

Have you completed any work placements on your course?

"A 20-day placement was a mandatory part of my course, and I had the privilege of doing this with the NTU Employability Team. NTU Employability provides career-related services that are central to my course, so it was a great place to have an industry practitioner experience.

As a placement student, I shadowed one-to-one employability service deliveries for CV/cover letters/ application forms reviews, and career options. After the shadowing level, I moved to the level of taking the lead in each category above, under the supervision of career consultants.

This experience improved my listening, interviewing, presentation, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills, among others. I understood what being a career practitioner would be like. It was a great way to confirm that I was on the right career path because of the passion I had for each delivery, the sense of fulfilment from students’ positive feedback, and the opportunity for lifelong and wide learning from supervisor/mentor’s feedback."

Support

What do you think of the support available from tutors and staff at NTU?

"The course leaders and tutors in the Career Development department are supportive, professional, and student-focused in their course design and delivery. As an international student, I enjoyed the practice of equality and inclusivity."

Outside of the Lecture Theatre

Did you find it easy to make friends and settle in at NTU?

"This was very easy for me because of the diversity and inclusion practice at NTU, and the several platforms to socialise, some of which I took advantage of. For instance, my course mates were my first set of friends, and the course rep position brought me in contact with other reps in the NTSU. The global week was another great time to socialise and meet people. My placement experience helped me to make friends with staff members, as well."

The Next Steps

What’s next for you after NTU?

"My placement experience and performance got me a 20-hour part-time with the Employability Team as an International Student Employability Project Officer. Currently, I work full-time as the PG & International Student Employability Project Officer. My immediate goal is to get an academic position in Careers."

How is NTU helping you to achieve your career goals?

"NTU has played a huge role in my career journey, first as an NTU scholarship recipient to study a course of my choice, providing an enabling teaching environment and empowering faculty, giving me the placement opportunity within a team of lovely people that moved me from being a student to being a staff member, still doing what I love!"

Has the employability team helped you plan for life beyond NTU as a postgraduate student?

"Greatly! I have benefited from a placement opportunity, job application tools reviews (CV, cover letters, and interview prep), and a full-time job."

As an International Student

Why did you want to study in the UK?

"I had previously visited the UK as a tourist and the experience always resonated as my kind of place to learn, work, and live, whichever is achievable within legal provisions. I have researched the UK as one of the best study destinations for international students because of its globally recognised education system, wide-ranging history, and incredible culture, and I believe that studying in the UK will impact my personal growth and life experience. I also found the study visa application procedure to be less complex to deal with."

What experiences have you had as an international student at NTU?

"As an international student at NTU, I have experienced no systemic/institutional barriers to the achievement of my goal, engaging with my course and mates, or making friends.

There were challenges with getting part-time jobs, but I chose to start doing factory and support work to start building the UK work experience and amassing skills for my CV, all of which helped me get a part-time job supporting international students’ employability."