Chencen (Janice) Zhang

Video transcript for Janice’s success story: Engineering Management MSc Online graduate

Why did you choose the University of Leeds? 

I was looking at the university rankings, and the course and material that Leeds was offering. What was also very attractive was that it also had the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) accreditation. 

What was your experience of online study and your MSc Engineering Management course? 

I like the flexibility of it. If I can't do certain courses at a certain time, I'm able to halt and then wait. So that's what really attracted me to the course. Having access to the libraries to get the books and research papers was really good. I saw there was software as well that students can use, and I also played around with that. It wasn’t directly related to the course, but it helped, and it works well.

What surprised you about the course? 

I really enjoyed the amount of different subjects the course covered, and the perspectives we could all bring. I think a lot of the students come from more developed countries, so their perspectives were very different from mine. I was also able to offer a different view on things like AI and using drones on construction sites, and it was great to have these conversations.

What were the greatest challenges throughout your degree? 

I was in the middle of South Africa and sometimes with no internet. It becomes a bit difficult! But the tutors were very accommodating. If I couldn't attend a class and I explained to them, we would find other ways round it.  

What are your plans for the future? 

After completing the course, I've realised that I don’t enjoy people management as much as I initially thought. I used to think I wanted to move into a senior management role, but I’ve discovered I really enjoy staying in a more technical role for now. Maybe, in the future, when I’ve gained more experience, I’ll transition into management. For now, I'm planning to apply for Chartered Management accreditation as my next step. 

What experiences at Leeds helped with your career? 

It’s taught me a lot about like management of things, but it’s not just management and finance. It’s given me a better view of what it takes at a more senior level.