Zixuan Xiao – MSc Business and Management 2024
Building skills for success: How Zixuan Xiao's experience on the MSc Business and Management course has paved the way for a promising career.
Zixuan Xiao, an international student from China, studied for an MSc in Business and Management at Nottingham University Business School from 2023 to September 2024, to gain professional knowledge and skills. She said: “I chose to study at Nottingham University Business School due to its excellent teaching reputation in my home country China and the educational resources available.”
Zixuan enjoyed the teaching style and interactive challenges of her course, which enhanced her educational journey. She explained: “I particularly enjoyed the interactive and practical modules on my course. In the first semester, ‘Managing People and Organisations’ was my favourite module due to the professor's innovative teaching methods, including the use of short films and animations to explain complex concepts. This high level of interaction made learning both engaging and memorable.
“In the second semester, I enjoyed the ‘Strategic Entrepreneurial Growth’ module. The group coursework included the Paper Plane game, which was interactive and provided me with a great sense of participation.”
As part of her studies, Zixuan undertook a Business Project, an alternative to undertaking a dissertation, designed for students at the Business School. The project enables students to collaborate in groups to tackle real-world challenges in a business environment, giving them valuable experience. Zixuan explained: “This hands-on experience allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios, which helped me to prepare for the challenges of the business world.”
While studying for her MSc, Zixuan had the opportunity to get actively involved in various extracurricular activities. She joined the Art Society and volunteered at the University of Nottingham's Confucius Institute during the Chinese New Year celebrations. Here, she taught young children about Chinese New Year crafts and stories. This role allowed Zixuan to connect with the local community and helped her to develop teaching and communication skills.
During her studies, Zixuan took on the role of Senior Course Representative, with a commitment to improving the student experience at the Business School. She said of her experience:
"As a class representative, I facilitated communication between students and the Faculty of Social Sciences by collecting student feedback across various courses using online questionnaires. After summarising key issues, I presented them in regular formal meetings with faculty professors and staff where we discussed potential solutions and follow-up actions.
These discussions covered both specific and broader issues to enhance the student experience, particularly for new students. I appreciated the faculty’s genuine commitment to our feedback, and it was rewarding to see our efforts lead to meaningful improvements for current and future students.
Not only did I improve my communication skills, but I also acquired data collection and analysis skills, leadership, and teamwork."
In addition to her volunteer work, Zixuan secured a three-month marketing internship in Nottingham through the university’s alumni network. She conducted market research, managed social media platforms, and applied her academic knowledge to real-world projects. This experience provided her with valuable professional skills which she plans to use in her future career. Zixuan explained: “I applied my knowledge to different projects and acquired many professional skills, such as project management and market operations.”
After graduation, Zixuan intends to move to London to pursue career opportunities that will allow her to further develop her skills and gain valuable work experience. Her goal is to establish a strong professional foundation that will support her long-term career ambitions.
Speaking of her time spent at Nottingham University Business School, Zixuan said:
I liked the peace and greenery in Nottingham. Although it is not as bustling as London, when you live there, you will find inner peace and have the chance to encounter various wildlife. It gave me a lot of energy to see such a great ecological environment, where humans and nature exist in harmony.
My suggestion is to cherish your time at Nottingham as it goes by very quickly. Step out of your comfort zone to attend more activities and meet more people. Nottingham is safer than you might expect!
