Our vibrant student club ecosystem
The NUS MBA student club ecosystem is the heart of our vibrant MBA experience. Whether you are looking to form new friendships and connections, pursue new interests, or simply to have fun, the clubs extend the learning experience in exciting ways beyond the classroom.
Hear from some of our students who are also student club leaders as they share their experience in facilitating the myriad of activities that transform and empower our students.
4 ways student clubs can enrich your NUS MBA experience
Student clubs at NUS Business School provide various advantages to participating students. Here are four key ways student clubs can enrich your NUS MBA experience and set you up for success in your future career.
1. Help you pivot or transition in your career
An MBA is often seen as a qualification that can help you switch location, function, or industry. However, an MBA degree alone can’t change the direction of your career.
For instance, if you want to enter a new industry, then you’ve also got to make sure you have specialist knowledge of that field, which might not be part of the curriculum. However, one way of getting that knowledge is through a student club.
Gaurav Gupta, a current NUS MBA student, is a Sustainability, Ethics & Impact Club member. He says a club like this can help those interested in non-traditional MBA fields, like sustainability.
“If somebody wants to pivot and transition in a career, the first step would be to enhance the club itself by participating in it and then to get some knowledge,” he tells us. “Because sustainability is a subject matter you need to know a bit more about in technical terms…[if you want to] take a managerial role.”
2. Learn valuable soft skills
Student clubs are a great way to gain technical knowledge. They’re also a great way of developing the soft skills so vital for working with others.
NUS MBA student Joanna Zhou Yuqiao, explains that her student club has given her excellent experience in stakeholder management. She explains, “Because when you’re organising an activity in a student club, you need to cooperate with your sponsors, with the MBA office, with other clubs, and you also have your core team.”
3. Network with industry leaders
The events NUS student clubs take the shape of workshops, talks, or discussions with leading industry figures.
“[The student clubs] will invite relevant speakers from the industry and they will come to share with the students,” explains Soe Myat Hein, another member of the NUS MBA Class of 2023.
“Students can actually join the event and get to know them, ask questions directly to the industry practitioners. These events are very helpful for [those of] us who are trying to get into an industry.”
These events are an opportunity to glean valuable insights from people working in your target industry. They’re also a great chance to start building your professional network. It’s your chance to speak directly with industry professionals – and maybe even open yourself up to future job opportunities.
4. Learn from your peers
An MBA is not simply a one-way dialogue between the faculty and the students. In reality, what you’ll learn from your peers can be as important as the things you’ll learn from your professors.
As NUS MBA student Amit Samdarshi puts it, “Practically speaking, we need business leaders to guide us, but we have leaders of tomorrow within our cohort. ” Not listening and learning from them would be a missed opportunity.
The NUS MBA is about learning new things, opening up to new opportunities, and throwing yourself into new experiences. Joining a student club gives you a chance to do all of these things and make your time in the MBA all the better.
This article is an adapted version of the original article, “Why the MBA student clubs enrich your NUS experience” by MBAGRADSCHOOLS.
