By Shiv Dhawan, B.SC in Management, University of Manchester & M.Sc. in Management Information Systems and Digital Innovations, London School of Economics
Why I chose the UK
When I was in school, I used to visit the UK basically every summer for 2-3 months since a lot of my family was based there. The early exposure to the country, combined with my experiences made UK a special place for me. My sisters, who studied in UK universities, used to describe the quality and calibre of the institutions. All things considered, it was probably natural selection, when I decided I wanted to go to a university in the UK after finishing school in Delhi.
I was a very active child when I was in school. I enjoyed all kinds of sports and had great passion for football. Adding the fact that I came from a family of entrepreneurs, it was seemed logical for me to start a business venture which had something to do with sports. This is what inspired me to pursue my B.SC in Management from the University of Manchester and then an M.Sc. in Management Information Systems and Digital Innovations from the London School of Economics(LSE).
Why higher education in the UK stands out
What stands out about higher studies in the UK is that the approach to education is very balanced in terms of delivery of practical and theorical knowledge. Projects are designed for hands on experience so we can apply what we learn. The faculty encourages students to think and dig deep into the subject to find problems that need a resolution. Universities in the UK give students a unique perspective and a very global outlook with a classroom full of students from diverse ethnicities and ideologies. Also, they focus on innovation at every step of the way and featurea well-designed course curriculum, that delivers high quality learning to all students.
It is also important to note that as an Indian student in the UK, the university is just one part of the experience. Learning about their culture and living in a developed country, makes you think of things you can adapt and use in your own country and surrounding. It is amazing to see how serious universities in the UK are about co-curricular activities.
How my education equipped me for work
My education in the UK had a lasting impact on me. As a student, I was asked to think focus on finding the right problem to solve. This was extremely helpful for me as it allowed me to visualise my path forward as an entrepreneur. The learnings from my undergraduate degree led me towards my business idea and also equipped me with the skills to take my plans forward. During my postgrad in information systems, I learned how to analyse data and derive business intelligence that, a skill that came handy when I started with my business venture. My degrees from the UK gave me a way to think mechanically – making it the biggest weapon in my arsenal.
Impact
While at University, I watched a lot of football, travelled a lot, observed different football frameworks in different countries like Italy, Germany, France, Spain and how were these compared to the UK. That is when I decided to go back to India and do something to nurture talent right from the grassroot level in the country, across all kinds of sports. Then, while at LSE, I was introduced to the team that would form India On Track, a holistic sports management organisation.
As our first victory, we brought European football club, Arsenal’s training academy to India which helped us in gaining a little bit of recognition in the sports industry in India. From there on, we were able to rope in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the domestic football club Pune FC. We then started consultancy services that enabled us to pull in Manchester City and other clubs from England, France, Italy and Spain including La Liga, the top professional football division of the Spanish football league. Our foothold within the European and American sports industries helped open the Global Institute of Sports Business (GISB) in Mumbai.
All this time, we have been talent hunting and have taught for free at state schools in Maharashtra, Pune and Delhi. Now, starting to do the same in North-East India.
Final Word
My learnings and experiences in the UK have helped me score all my goals in life and change the game back home.
Corporate Comm India (CCI Newswire)
