Our Postgraduate courses in Information Management, Information Systems and Librarianship are available as 'Professional Enhancement' courses alongside their 'standard' routes. Our student ambassador Anirban shared his thoughts on studying one of these courses and why it might be right for you.
I am pursuing an MSc in Information Systems Professional Enhancement at the Information School. Professional Enhancement is a separate programme designed for candidates with two or more years of relevant experience who want to pursue a higher degree to gain knowledge and learn new skills.
Before coming to Sheffield, I worked for 3.5 years as a Java developer at Infosys and Capgemini in India. I wanted to pursue a Masters degree in a course that is a good blend of technical and non-technical modules which would enhance my existing skills. The Information Systems programme exactly fits the bill. The Professional Enhancement programme gives you more flexibility with electives. The number of core modules is lesser than in the general IS programme and there is a wider range of electives to choose from like Introduction to Data Science, Data mining, etc. I chose IS Professional Enhancement because of this flexibility. Most importantly the Information School of the University of Sheffield is ranked No 1 in the World for Library and Information Management in the QS World University Rankings by Subject.
I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 2018. After graduation, I joined Infosys, an Indian IT Consulting firm. I worked for an American financial services client. As a junior developer in the team, I learn many things from my seniors and managers. All the technical knowledge, business etiquette, human values, and communication skills that I learned helped me become a better professional and person.
The Professional Enhancement programme is tailor-made for experienced candidates. There are three main core modules, namely Professional Issues, IS Project Management, and IS Modelling. Then there is a wide range of electives to choose from, including Database Design, Business Intelligence and Digital Business. Most modules in the Information School are coursework-based and do not have exams. You have the flexibility of choosing and dropping your electives every semester even after the classes have started, so that you can make an informed decision.
I intend to work as a Java or Software Developer after graduation. The modules I am learning are very relevant to me. For example, in IS Modelling I learnt how to model the business requirements so that they can help developers during software development. As developers, we prefer clear business requirements so we can develop the software as required. However, that is not the case very often and requirements keep changing. Thus, it is good for developers to understand business requirements and their modelling. In the spring semester, there is IS Project Management which is again very relevant to my career since I hope to become a project manager in future. In a nutshell, the knowledge you gain studying at the Information School will be invaluable no matter where you go.
I have enjoyed every day I have been here. All the lecturers are very knowledgeable, approachable, helpful, and friendly. In fact, the tutors, graduate assistants, and other staff have all been very helpful. I learn new things every day.
Lastly, Sheffield is a beautiful, student-friendly city. There are students from all over the world studying here. I am sure you will feel at home here like I do!
Anirban Manna
MSc Information Systems student
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