Wezi
Munkhondya

Tell us your name, where you are from and what course you studied?

My name is Wezi Munkhondya from Malawi and I studied MSc Management and Global Supply Chain Management in the 2019 to 2020 Academic Year.

Why did you decide to come to NTU? How did studying in the UK differ from your home country?

My aspiration has always been to work with a big and well reputed organization and I knew that to accomplish this goal, studying at a prestigious institution like NTU was very essential since it would open up my eyes to a world of opportunities. The subjects offered by NTU on the course that I studied made me an all-rounded procurement and supply chain professional. Also, the learning and assessment styles at NTU put me in a proper position to achieve the aforementioned goal.

Studying at NTU meant stepping out of my comfort zone and being exposed to a new environment of different dialects, sights, people, and an entirely new culture. Almost everything that I was seeing was new to me. At first, I found it challenging since everything was new to me but then with the passage of time, I got used to a new way of doing things. One of the greatest things that happened to me while studying in the UK was exposure. I was exposed to a new way of doing things and thinking and this has forever changed my life.

What was your first impression of NTU and Nottingham?

My first impression was that NTU is a lot more than what I see online. When I got to the university on the first day, I was awestruck with what I was seeing. The magnificent structures and facilities left my jaw hanging.

Nottingham, being the city it is, is vibrant and has a cultural and social status in the region; it was a good city for me to study in. Learning in Nottingham certainly meant being exposed to a diverse range of cultural setups. This meant an enhanced global awareness and versatility which has made it easier for me to manoeuvre in any different cultural set up in each society I find myself in. This experience affected my outlook on life in a positive way. While at NTU, I took it as an opportunity to learn more about myself and teaching me how to think on my feet and acclimate in different cultures. My time at NTU shaped my personality and I have since experienced great personal growth.

What did you enjoy most about your course? What did you think about the facilities you used for your course?

One thing that I enjoyed about my course is that it was very interactive. I was not only being told what to do I class; rather I was given the freedom to use my mind to think and be able to contribute my ideas in the class. I was being encouraged to be innovative through workshops like Thinkubator. It did not only focus on lecturer and student class sessions but there were a lot of other activities that ensured proper engagement between lecturers and students. There were a lot of workshops and presentations that I attended and presented respectively. The facilities used for my course were superb. I like the fact that high-end technology was built all around the facilities which made it much easier for us as students to navigate through our course.

Were you ever involved in any live projects or work experience?

Yes, I was involved in a Consultancy Project as the final part of my studies. In this project, together with a team of fellow students (7) we focused on advising a client based in Nottingham (UK) on the possible benefits of switching suppliers and how they could improve performance by considering alternative modes of transportation.This was one of the best exercises in my course. This brought the theoretical concepts covered in class in real life. I enjoyed working directly with the company and reviewing their processes and then later suggest what would work well for the company. I enjoyed bouncing off ideas with my fellow students for us to come up with the best recommendations for the company.

What kind of support was available at NTU?

I started receiving support while I was in Malawi. I was receiving communication on how I could get myself ready before I travel and how I could settle down once I travel to Nottingham. This communication was not only focusing on my school side of things but also my general welfare as an individual.

While at the university, I received enormous support from faculty members and other services offered at the school. For example, there was the employability team that coached me multiple times on how to approach the job search market the moment I graduate. During my studies, there was also some sort of support that NTU was offering. I got myself involved in different societies and clubs that offered more support while studying. Also, during my time of study, Covid-19 was at its peak but the university ensured that students could get all the support required during this time.

What was your favourite memory of being a student at NTU?

The thing I loved the most was the diversity of the student community. My class was full of people from all over the world and that made learning much more exciting because I could learn about different things. I met people from different parts of the world and created a strong friendship bond and to this date, we still keep in touch.

Can you tell us more about your current job? What does your current day involve?

I am now working with the NHS Highland in Scotland as a Lead Procurement Officer. In my role, we implement contracts for the NHS Highland under Framework Agreements that have been awarded nationally by the Scottish Government or the NHS National Procurement authority.

In my role, I also work to achieve best value for the NHS Highland through local tendering including appropriate evaluation of Quality (including sustainability aspects) and Cost (including whole life costing) ensuring compliance with all legal obligations placed upon the NHS Highland Board at a National level.

On a random day, my job involves reviewing contractual terms and conditions in the national framework agreements from different awarding bodies and ensuring that there is proper compliance when end users and requisitions are ordering or making requests. I also rectify and resolve any other issues that may arise between end users and the vendors.

How did your NTU degree prepare you for your current role?

As the name my degree suggests, I was prepared for the “Global” world. The way my course was taught, the emphasis was on having a global perspective rather than just thinking locally. I was exposed to how international supply chains operate and this opened my mind to new thinking.

After finishing my studies, I have worked for four different companies and I can attest my success in these roles to my degree. It is quite evident that my thinking had also changed because of my degree.

One this that I can credit my studies at NTU is the improvement in people skills and soft skills. One thing my degree did was not only teach me the technical side of my course but to also teach me management, strategy and leadership skills. Aside from the technical knowledge, these skills have been very beneficial in my current and previous roles.

What have been the highlights and biggest challenges of your work life so far?

The biggest highlight is when I got a job with the NHS Highland from Malawi. I applied for the job in Malawi and was called for online interviews which later led into being given and offer.

The biggest challenge, which I see as an opportunity, is transitioning from working in Malawi in my whole career and finding myself working in Scotland. These are two different systems at play. I find it as a challenge because everything is new but I see it as an opportunity for me to enhance my skills in my career. It has been great so far and I see it as one of the best moves in my career.

What are your plans for the future?

I registered a Procurement and Supply Chain Consultancy firm – Progile Consult - in Malawi and my plans are to have it fully established across the Southern Africa Region in the next ten years. In the meantime, I am trying to gain more knowledge in my field while I build the firm in the background.

What is Nottingham like for international students?

Nottingham is the best place for you to do your studies if you are an international student. I will mention three specific reasons; all linked to how diverse Nottingham is.

• The diversity of the community in Nottingham. By this, I am not only talking about the student community but the whole of Nottingham in general.
• With the culture being diverse, you are assured of different things happening around the city. There are always things to keep you entertained during your stay in Nottingham. I always remember the Goose Fair.
• With the same diversity I have talked about, you can rest assured that you will find all the types of food that you want. Before going to Nottingham, I thought I would not have access to my Malawian food. However, when I got there, a lot of food outlets were there ready to sell me Malawian food.

What is your advice for new international students?

Do not think twice about this.

Make sure you grab the opportunity with both hands. You will never regret doing your studies at Nottingham Trent University. You will live to cherish the memories at the school and most importantly, the degree that you get will take you to places.