Now in her dream job working in communications for the University of Edinburgh’s Futures Institute’s Centre for Technomoral Futures, Jordan Watson hails Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ’s MSc International Marketing course for giving her that all important edge.
After building her knowledge of applied philosophy, Jordan was keen to work on her communication skills to help with employability. She applied to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ’s International Marketing degree for its uniquely person-centred approach and its emphasis on practical applications.
Find out how Jordan’s time at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ helped her land the job which she describes as the ‘perfect fit,’ in her Student Story.
Why did you choose to study at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ?
I wanted to expand my skillset to open the door to new opportunities for work. My previous studies had given me a really strong theoretical background in applied philosophical ethics, but I wanted to be able to find work where I could combine that knowledge with my passion for communications and community-building.
I had previously obtained a BA (Hons) in Philosophy and Gender Studies from Queen’s University in Canada, and an MA in Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Melbourne, which gave me a really strong theoretical and academic background. I chose Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ for my second postgraduate degree, which was MSc International Marketing, to build upon my existing knowledge and enable me to apply my knowledge in new settings.
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ specifically appealed to me due to its person-centred approach and its emphasis on practical applications of knowledge and employability. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ was also one of the more affordable options for a postgraduate course as an international student.
What interested you about MSc International Marketing?
After completing my undergraduate degree, I was working in fundraising for a while which is where I realised that I really enjoyed community building, and had strong communications skills. I wanted more career growth opportunities, so I figured that studying marketing could help me upskill and therefore develop my career. I was deciding between a few different Scottish universities, and the course at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ said it took a social justice focus, which was of interest to me given my passion for ethics. I also liked that instead of a dissertation, you could do a business consultancy in practice project. I really wanted to have real, practical experience, rather than solely theoretical knowledge—and this was a significant deciding factor in choosing the MSC International Marketing course.
What attracted you to study in Edinburgh?
During my undergraduate degree, I had the opportunity to study abroad for one year, and I chose to do this at the University of Edinburgh. I then returned to Edinburgh for a working holiday as well, so I was familiar with the city already. I love the architecture, proximity to the highlands for hiking, the friendly people, small town feel, and all of the beaches for cold water swimming! Plus, you can’t beat having a castle on an extinct volcano in the middle of the city!
What did you most enjoy about your course?
"I really enjoyed the small cohort size, as that allowed plenty of access to lecturers and collaboration with other students – our Programme Leader was fantastic. The opportunities provided outside of the course itself were really great too – for example I got to run focus groups for the Student Experience Committee to work towards improving the PG student experience. Joining the Swim Society was also definitely a highlight – I built so many lasting friendships and having set days every week where I exercised and chatted with friends was so helpful, especially during stressful study weeks! "
What have you been doing since graduating and how did you end up in your current role?
Since graduating, I have started working at the University of Edinburgh’s Futures Institute’s Centre for Technomoral Futures (CTMF) as the Admin and Communications Officer. At the CTMF, our mission is to unite technical and moral knowledge in new models of research, education, design and engagement that directly serve the goals of sustainable, just and ethical innovation. My role integrates the knowledge I gained from my BA (Philosophy and Gender Studies) as well as my MA (Professional and Applied Ethics), with the practical knowledge and experience gained in my MSc (International Marketing). My background is in philosophical ethics and marketing, and now I’m working doing the digital marketing, communications, and events for a research centre focused on reuniting technical and moral knowledge—I couldn’t dream of a more perfect fit!
During the interview process, I had to give a presentation on how I would approach building a new digital communications strategy in my first six months in the role. I was able to adapt my work from my Business Consultancy in Practice project at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ (where I provided a new digital communications strategy to a rural Scottish council) for my presentation, and that gave me the edge over the other candidates. My MSc built upon my existing knowledge, while providing me practical tools to apply my knowledge to practice.
Currently, a lot of the work we do at the CTMF is surrounding the ethics of AI and other data-driven technologies – areas that were new to me when I started in my role, but that are important and have really come to the fore, especially in the past couple years. It’s exciting to be able to contribute in my own way — helping to communicate critical research on such important and timely topics, using my knowledge and experience to help bridge the gap between academic research and the general public. In my role, the primary ways I do this are directly though our digital communications as well as through the running of public events such as lectures and panel events.
So much of what I learned at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ is relevant to my current role. The knowledge I gained at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ informs how I approach my communications planning – from assessing the previous communications plan, to stakeholder mapping, and creating Gantt charts for project management. I am also able to apply what I learned at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ with my events planning, because although that was not part of the course, project management was an underlying theme throughout the MSc, and the different systems we used during the degree helped me to break down larger projects into smaller steps to ensure nothing is missed and I can run successful events.
What’s your ‘top tip’ for making the most out of being a student?
Join societies and put yourself forward for opportunities when they come up! Being engaged, not only with the course material, but with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ community, made a huge difference to my student experience. The academic team and support staff are all really keen to help and provide opportunities where possible, so it’s really important to show that you’re putting in the work, as the team will take notice and meet you with the same amount of enthusiasm that you’re putting in.
What has been the most valuable lesson that you learned at university?
The importance of building a community, being proactive in going after what you want, and asking for help when you need it. Most of the people I encountered at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ were lovely and happy to help, so if you put in the work to connect with others, people will be keen to do the same for you.
Find out more about the MSc International Marketing and our other postgraduate business degrees.
