What Dorothy says about the Master's in Service Management, Supply Chain Management

Dorothy from Kenya

What is the best thing about your programme?

“There are two things that I love about the programme – the introduction and the resources available for students’ support.

I particularly like how the programme was introduced. We got a clear outline on when, how and why the field came into existence. This enables us to build on the current framework and also to see what the future for the field could potentially look like. This really helps us put everything into perspective during their studies. It also gives us a clear view on different potential career paths.

When it comes to resources and support, everyone is ready to help. We have received a lot of support and guidance from second-year students, teaching staff, the academic support team and also from our fellow classmates.”

Why did you choose the specialisation Supply Chain?

“This is my first formal academic programme in supply chain. Back home, I worked in supply chain. Having worked across its different sub-functions, i.e. planning, logistics and customer service, I felt a need to broaden my knowledge and perspective and thereby enhance my decision-making skills. In my opinion, there is a limit to how far on-the-job training can get you when it comes to building your knowledge base. I think having a broader perspective will be very important in my future career and I believe this Master’s programme will equip me with the critical skills and knowledge needed for career development and progression.”

What do you think of the teaching style within the programme?

“I like three things about the style of teaching here at Lund University. Firstly, there is a focus on the students’ learning and all required support is available. As opposed to focusing on exams’ pass rate, which in most cases may lead to little or no knowledge gain, everything is geared towards helping the students learn effectively. Students gain transferable knowledge and skills.

Secondly, there is a balance between group work and individual studies, giving us the opportunity to study and understand the literature from different perspectives.

Thirdly, the structure of the courses suits me. There is a new course every month and an exam at the end of the course, as opposed to what was common back home. There we often had several courses during the semester and exams at the end of the semester. I think that having exams every month increases the effectiveness and benefits time management skills and personal discipline.”

What do you plan to do after your studies?

“I am still in the decision-making process. I am looking into three potential options: taking on a second Master’s degree in Sweden, proceeding to PhD or returning to the regular job market.” 

What do you do in your spare time?

“For now, I am still working on settling in at school, so I study most of the time. However, I normally love dancing and am currently looking for a place to do salsa, kizomba and bachata. I also love road trips, specifically train trips. I am therefore planning to take random train trips to a new place perhaps once every month. I love adventures and outdoor activities and I hope to do more exploring when my time permits it.” 

What is it like to live in Sweden and what have you learnt from it so far?

“I actually love it here. I was very nervous and anxious coming here as it was the first time I travelled outside Africa, but it has been a great experience. They have a very efficient transportation system here and most of the processes are very lean but efficient. What I have learnt is that there is so much that African countries can offer to their citizens if the leaders would be more inspired to serve the community and the people.”

Do you have any advice for students considering to study at Lund University or Campus Helsingborg?

“Conduct proper and proactive research. Gather enough details before making your decisions. Use the different tools available. Make sure you understand why you want to study, what you want to study, and why you are interested in a specific programme. Answering all these questions will psychologically prepare you for what to expect and your actual experience, should you come to Lund University and/or Helsingborg. Lund University is a great university that offers a very supportive and enriching environment as well as a lot of resources that help students thrive. However, if you are not well prepared or focused, you might not gain as much from the experience.”