MSc International Master Project Management: a diverse experience

With the aim of upping her knowledge of project management, Gayatri Kale chose to do the MSc International Master Project Management. Here, she shares some insights into the 18-month programme which takes place in both Italy and Scotland. 

Before starting this programme in 2022, I ran a company called Finden Go Digital for five years, gathering clients from all across the world in sectors such as hospitality, fashion, and oil and gas. My business helped people move to digital by engaging with them to understand what it is, how it worked and how it would benefit them. 

I was doing well on the entrepreneurship side of things but I thought it was important to work on my skills to get a broader perspective on how projects work. I had experienced a few hiccups in my project phase with companies with timeline or scope issues and that's when I decided I should think about project skills and how I could improve.  

So I started looking at options – initially I thought about a short course but on reflection I didn’t think that would do it justice so my thoughts turned to a full time course. I researched options for a full year: I had sales skills and was already in a leadership position with my business so I knew I needed a more technical programme. I then listed all the fees, associated costs, duration and what ranking they all were – that was my criteria - and then I started applying.  

I saw the Polimi Graduate School of Management and Strathclyde Business School both had good rankings and their joint degree had a duration of 18 months which gave me enough time to learn, network, implement and act on the learning. The MSc International Master Project Management programme is based in Milan, Italy, and here in Glasgow, Scotland.  

It’s been quite a diverse experience as a student. Coming back to study was quite an experience in itself – I found it very challenging to sit through longer lectures after being in work. At Strathclyde I was living on the campus, getting the whole university campus experience. I am a big fan of the Strath Union – the activities and social clubs are great. The campus experience has been amazing and quite different to Italy but it was great having two very different experiences in one programme. 

At Strathclyde there were a few classes I really enjoyed and we learned through doing case studies, hands on group activities, lots of discussions - all very helpful and enjoyable and, while I did find some subjects to be challenging overall, Strathclyde has a good approach.  

The programme also incorporates an internship – I did mine with MBM Print. My professor at the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship referred me to Alasdair MacKay, Enterprise Solutions Lead, and, following a discussion with him, he referred me to MBM Print. After an informal interview with them I got through and, at the end of the internship, I got some excellent feedback and recommendations from them.  

As a student of Project Management, I aspire to become a consultant and project manager in the future in the UK, while working towards the betterment of student life in the UK in collaboration with the Consulate General of India.
 
My task now is to channel this experience and my newfound role into making a positive impact on the Indian student community in the UK and fostering collaboration between Indian and Scottish businesses. It's a challenge I'm eager to embrace. 

I plan to leverage my project management skills and my cross-cultural insights to develop innovative solutions and nurture a thriving startup ecosystem. I'm committed to working tirelessly to bridge the gap between two rich cultures and create opportunities for growth. 

In terms of my own business, I've moved from a full-time position in India to an advisory member – my role is now more that of a board member that helps out whenever they need.  

I would recommend this programme: a double degree from two different countries is challenging, especially for non-Europeans in terms of two visas and different languages of the countries. While the professors in Italy speak in English, there are different accents to contend with. Be prepared for different kinds of accommodation too – I’d recommend talking to students who are already there. 

Overall, it’s a very small cohort so you will get special attention – we had 26 people - and that’s a plus point. You have two different cultural exposures which is good to experience as well; if you work internationally, you have to work alongside people from all over the world so it’s good preparation. 

When applying, I spoke to current students – I would definitely advise people to do that. There's a lot of material on the Strathclyde website which is amazing. I enjoyed doing the 18 month course – 12 months would just not have been enough as it goes so fast and I wanted to enjoy coming back to be a student.  

With regard to selecting a university I would say prepare yourself for the subject you’re choosing – at the end of the day we have to come back to the world of work and a lot of investment is made into study – you want to know what the end result might be before you even start.  

We Strathclyders are blessed as we are in Glasgow – there are a lot of conferences and events that are free to attend, which presents you with a great chance to network. Networking is not for everyone but you can make it more enjoyable by picking topics you enjoy then at least if you don’t connect with people, you have learned something – plus there’s always free food and drinks! 

For those applying, I’d recommend also that they follow the social media channels for Strathclyde; they’re very active and also the best way to start off your university life is to join communities, clubs, societies – the union has a lot of societies with something for everyone.  

I enjoy living here and want to work here as long as I can. I’m proud of myself coping with the challenges I encountered such as accommodation and language – one thing that helped me a lot is realising you might not have friends around all the time but you can make sure you have company – attend all the events and clubs you can and stay social; network and keep active. I’ve met so many amazing people. Finally, I was surprised at how Indian Scotland can be – there’s lots of opportunities to enjoy Indian food and so many people to meet. 

About Gayatri Kale

Gayatri did the MSc International Masters Project Management, a joint programme offered by Polimi Graduate School and Strathclyde Business School. She set up her own digital business Finden Go Digital and is also pursuing project management opportunities in the UK.