Robert Wallace
Being a mature-age student and not having a university degree Robert Wallace wondered how he would cope not only returning to study but studying online. From day one Robert found that the support and encouragement from the university staff and student peers was excellent.
Robert is the director of a Private Company - Quality Consultants Pty Ltd. - Consulting to agribusiness in the wool, textile and food industries, including: Producers, Corporations, Processors’, Retailers, and Governments – and he heard about the Master of Agribusiness online course from a student who was already undertaking it.
“I had been looking to do an MBA for many years, this course seemed to fit in with my industry knowledge and interests – and it did,” says Robert. Robert was able to commence with a Graduate Certificate in Agribusiness and then progress onto a Master of Agribusiness using his extensive professional management experience and TAFE qualifications to gain entry.
Robert says that some of the most challenging aspects of the course were the time allocation necessary to commit to the course when working full time in a pressure position; and in Robert’s case, the self-funding to pay for the course.
Some of the most rewarding outcomes from doing the course are the mental stimulation from both the lecturers and peers and an opening of the mind to new thoughts and approaches.
“On a personal level I have a clearer and broader perspective on most issues and I have made new contacts and a new qualification that have converted into new business,” says Robert.
“The two residential subjects helped cement the relationships with the other students and studying online suited me very well as without this option I would not have started or completed the course. The flexibility of what time I studied and when, was a real plus and studying online was a positive issue as it allowed me to manage and control my own study time. In addition to this, it allowed me to allocate quality time to my family.”
Robert has taken a keen interest in furthering his education and he is considering undertaking an entrepreneurship or corporate directorship in a year or two.
If you would like to find out more about the Master of Agribusiness or Graduate Certificate online courses please contact Diane Cardinal on (03) 8344 6883 or email d.cardinal@unimelb.edu.au for an information package.
Principal, Quality Consultants Pty Ltd (Tasmania)
"Running my own business and finishing formal education 30 years before was a good reason not to start a Master of Agribusiness.
The outcomes have been tremendous:
- Mental stimulation and learning through in-depth discussions with top lecturers and industry leaders
- Peer group learning - gaining from each others’ strengths and being able to apply it to daily situations.
- Developing networks by studying and mixing with leaders from other agribusiness sectors."