DISTINCTIVE APPROACH

Developing career capital:

how Heriot-Watt Online is preparing professionals for a complex world

Our increasingly complex world presents us with new demands. In every sector, there is growing demand for leaders and managers with the ability to navigate change, uncertainty and disruption, and with the capabilities to formulate and implement different strategies in response to new challenges.

Career capital puts you in a better position to make a difference. It can help you to secure a fulfilling career and prepare you to become a leader of the future. One of the ways we support many individuals to develop the career capital they need is through Heriot-Watt Online.

Russell Brooks, CEO of Heriot-Watt University Online, explains: “Our Heriot-Watt Online courses and degrees have been designed to help individuals develop the personal adaptability to stand out from the crowd and accelerate their careers – securing jobs and promotions and moving into high-growth sectors”.

Over 8,000 students study with HWU Online, from those at the beginning of their careers to established professionals. “It is with some pride that we celebrate the truly global community of future-focused leaders studying our online programmes,” comments Russell. “Our range of digital education programmes spans business, engineering and energy, supporting those who aspire to make a positive difference in the world to gain the skills and knowledge to succeed.”

Heriot-Watt has spent several years undertaking a detailed analysis, identifying where the gaps are in skills and talent to ensure its courses are being directly matched to the requirements of industry. “We work with businesses to co-create and co-deliver solutions for current and future talent needs,” explains Professor Gillian Murray, Deputy Principal of Business and Enterprise. “Heriot-Watt Online is our responsive global education initiative that offers Masters in subjects like leadership, data analytics, supply chain logistics, sustainability and energy transition, that will help to create learning-agile leaders capable of driving transformation in our rapidly changing world.”

Find out more about our Online Courses

We create learning-agile leaders capable of driving transformation in our rapidly changing world.”

Professor Gillian Murray

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STUDENTS WITH HERIOT-WATT ONLINE

Developing strategic and responsible leaders

Our online Master of Business Administration (MBA) can provide a transformative opportunity to develop career capital, with its blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills and the flexibility to be personalised to almost any career path.

Jessica Silva graduated with an MBA in 2022. A trained researcher in health sciences, she works as an Account Lead at PharmaReview. Upon commencing her MBA in 2020, Jess also started her own Career Consultancy, Jessica Avlis, to empower people to find their dream jobs. Prior to this, Jess worked at Scientific Education Support (SES) as a Client Services Strategic Director. Jessica commented: “It isn’t always easy believing you have the skills to effect change, but the MBA empowered me with the technical knowledge, training and practical skills I needed. I started at SES as a Project Director and within a year I progressed to leading a team of eight people across the globe to deliver continuing professional development programmes in haematology and immunology. I directly credit the MBA programme for that progress: it definitely helped me gain confidence and to develop as a leader.”

Robert Armstrong is currently studying the online MSc Business and Organisational Psychology while working full-time as Co-founder and Managing Director of PAZTA and as a Freelance Business Designer. He previously graduated with an MBA and BA in Business and Finance from Heriot-Watt’s Edinburgh Business School. Originally from Glasgow, Robert is now based in Rome: “I’d been thinking a lot about how to re-structure my work for the coming years; I enjoy working remotely, I enjoy mentoring, I no longer enjoy travelling for work, so how could I best put all these together for the next stage in my career?” Robert comments. “I came to the conclusion that combining this MSc programme with my other qualifications and experience could make me a more well-rounded, competitive proposition as an online c-suite business coach.”

MBA graduate Allen Sanyu has served in many different roles from Logistics Manager to Lead Auditor. Now a CEO, her journey is a testament to resilience and inclusion. Allen commented on how the flexibility of Edinburgh Business School’s MBA programme helped her accelerate her career while also raising her four children, leading to her being headhunted for her current role as soon as she finished her studies: “The MBA has enriched my CV – the company I currently work for headhunted me and really wanted me to be part of their team as a CEO. When studying the MBA, it feels like someone is with you at the office, literally taking me through all aspects of the workplace. After the course, your level of knowledge and way of looking at things is totally different.”

Maximising possibilities

“Online study can open you up to possibilities you didn’t know existed,” comments Russell. “Maximising impactful learning and developing capabilities that are valued in the job market will significantly boost your career capital, and can support your ability to tackle the pressing problems in your sector and make a real impact in the world.”

Alongside their Master’s-level studies, students studying online with Heriot-Watt’s Edinburgh Business School get access to more than 500 courses, projects and Professional Certificates designed by some of the world’s leading employers, at no additional cost. The Professional Certificates, available to students through a partnership with Coursera’s Career Academy, cover high-growth career paths including cybersecurity, IT, project management, digital marketing, and data science.

“This partnership provides an incredible opportunity for online students and graduates to supplement their learning with the job-relevant skills that leading employers are looking for,” explains Russell. “The world of work is changing and this partnership with Coursera is just one of the ways we continue to innovate to ensure our programmes remain industry aligned and future fit.”

Developing capabilities that are valued in the job market will significantly boost your career capital.”

Russell Brooks

Building a global network

Students from nearly 160 countries study online, making it a truly global professional network. “One of the important aspects of our online community is its multi-cultural and global nature. We attract students from every corner of the world, which means there are opportunities to gain exposure to international practices and diverse perspectives – another valuable aspect of career capital that can help to put you ahead,” says Russell.

Graduates of our online programmes also become members of The Watt Club, the oldest alumni association in the UK, with over 166,000 members worldwide.

STUDENTS FROM NEARLY

COUNTRIES STUDY ONLINE

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WATT CLUB MEMBERS