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High ambitions for Nika!
Here at the University of Bedfordshire we see a lot of international students pass through our doors, from countries all around the world. If students join us at postgraduate level, we can often see some similarity between their first degree and their MSc, MBA or PhD.
It’s not often that a first degree in engineering leads to marketing qualification but that’s exactly what Nika Firista is striving to achieve, having completed a degree in Electrical Engineering at Trisakti University in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Nika explained: “After graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering I became an account executive at the leading political magazine in Jakarta, the capital and largest city of Indonesia.
“I volunteered as a teacher for a while so I could work with under-privileged children in Jakarta. I then worked as a graduate trainee at Danfoss, a multinational electrical and mechanical manufacturer. Places on the trainee programme are limited and one of my proudest achievements was representing the business abroad when I spent two years working in Singapore and Denmark.”
It was around this time that Nika realised that for her career to really take off, she needed a sound understanding of marketing and business management. She said: “I chose Bedfordshire as the MSc course matched what I was looking for and complemented my work experience, plus the campus is quite close to London.”
Nika joined the University of Bedfordshire last month and is now studying towards an MSc in Marketing and Business Management.
Explaining why decided to put her career on hold and return to university, Nika said: “While working for Danfoss, I became a marketing executive and realised I wanted to carve out a new career for myself.
“So far, I’ve really liked the fact that the modules are inter-related and the material we learn from is up-to-date and relevant. The lecturers are experienced in their fields of expertise and motivate students to learn and succeed in their studies.
“I am very impressed by the excellent facilities and the wide variety of books. I would also like to take this opportunity to praise the University for having online learning facilities, which enables all students to learn and communicate with lecturers online.”
Since moving to Bedfordshire Nika has enjoyed socialising with friends and continuing her salsa dancing. Life in the UK has surprised Nika: “It’s not as expensive as people think and there are opportunities for part-time jobs to help fund your studies.”
Looking ahead, Nika is excited by what the future might hold: “When I complete my MSc next year, I would like to get some hands-on marketing experience in UK through the International Graduates Scheme, which allows international students to work in the UK for up to two years after they graduate.
“I then plan to return to Indonesia and find a marketing role within an international business. Long-term, I’d love to run my own business and provide marketing services to companies around the world.”
This shows that the sky really is the limit for Nika!
