Sponsored by Worcester Polytechnic Institute

In recent years, the technology and business landscapes have evolved to create groundbreaking developments, from start-ups in the life sciences and bioengineering, to robotics companies pioneering AI to organizations seeking renewable energy resources.

All of this change in the marketplace has created a need for professionals who have the technological skills and business expertise to lead. Hence, the rise of the STEM MBA: a hybrid degree which prepares leaders for the growing tech/business employment gap.

If you’re looking to go into a tech field such as data science, the Internet of Things (IoT), or even environmental engineering, you may want to consider studying an MBA specifically geared toward STEM professionals. (But, don’t get it confused with a STEM-designated graduate program. That is another option that offers extra time for international students to spend in the US after completing their degree. The aim for those programs is to strengthen the US STEM workforce.)

We spoke with those in the know at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts in the US to find out more about their newly revised MBA for STEM professionals and their STEM-designated graduate programs. They helped us understand what to expect from a traditionally tech university offering management programs. We also learned a bit about how modern students use “blended” learning—programs that combine both in-class and online learning—to earn a degree while balancing other commitments like work and family. 

What is a STEM MBA, and why should I consider one?

Sandy Wellinghoff is the Director of Blended Learning for the Foisie Business School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She also directs the school’s MBA program, so we asked her what the motivation was for re-designing the MBA program for STEM professionals.

She told us: “We decided to redesign our MBA more intentionally to build on WPI’s strengths and focus on bringing value to STEM professionals as their managerial responsibilities increase within their careers.

“The MBA market is crowded and highly competitive, especially in the north-east [of the US]. There are also plenty of life sciences, robotics, and tech companies thriving, so we wanted to both differentiate our program from the others and offer a specialized program with the WPI MBA.”

Although the STEM MBA is still a fairly new concept to the world of education, it’s getting a lot of attention from STEM professionals interested in levelling up their career and moving into management.

When asked exactly how the curriculum integrates STEM with business, Sandy said: “We focus more on case studies that incorporate STEM companies or are more technology focused, and we also have students work on projects that are tech focused and bring in guest speakers from STEM industries.”

She also added: “We’re able to better relate and speak to a STEM audience in order to bridge the technical and business skills of STEM professionals. Our students benefit from being in classes with like-minded individuals and are taught by faculty from a variety of STEM industries who best understand where our students are coming from and what they need to be successful leaders.”

Alumnus Allison DiPietro, who studied the STEM MBA in 2016, and current student Breanna Boyden also talked to us about their experience.

Can you tell us a bit about your experience of studying the MBA for STEM Professionals at Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Foisie Business School? 

Allison: Obviously one of the most important aspects of an MBA is the network you develop and being a woman in tech meant I didn't know a lot of people with backgrounds similar to mine. Our group of 20 or so students in the cohort were so diverse, but all STEM professionals are extremely driven.

Being surrounded by people that are just as passionate about something as you is really motivating, and that instant support network was a huge benefit. 

In terms of the classes, I really enjoyed that I was exposed to some things I would never seek to learn on my own. The curriculum is so well-rounded.

What have you enjoyed the most about studying the MBA for STEM Professionals?

Allison: I really enjoyed the capstone project. It was fun to focus on something so closely and see it become something you're really proud to talk about. The program's flexibility with electives was great, also, since it allowed me to tailor the program to my interests.

Breanna: I enjoy getting to learn about subjects that I never had in my chemical engineering undergraduate degree, such as marketing, finance and accounting. It’s been really great to focus more on the “soft skills” aspect of business.

What has been your favorite aspect of the MBA for STEM Professionals?

Allison: Having the cohort helped immensely. Balancing full-time work, school, and life is challenging, so knowing there are others doing the same thing was reassuring. Also, the professors were fantastic! They found ways of making every subject, every assignment relevant to "real world" work.

Breanna: I travel frequently for work, so my job made it nearly impossible for me to attend a fully in-class program. I love the facetime with my professors and classmates, which really drives home the online interaction and reinforced great connections.

What factors led you to decide to study the MBA for STEM Professionals at Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Foisie Business School?

Allison: I grew up knowing WPI was an amazing school with a great reputation. When they began putting more emphasis on the business school, I knew it was a perfect opportunity to pursue my MBA there.

My first on-site visit, prior to applying, was great. I met actual students, professors, and admins of the program who took the time to answer my questions in very thoughtful ways.

Breanna: The blended program is really unique, and I believe is the best of both worlds for MBA programs. I also like that WPI specifically recruited me as a STEM professional.

The STEM classification is still really broad, but it’s been nice to be able to talk about my work experience with classmates that are dealing with some of the same issues in a technical field, such as working with intellectual property, working through issues with manufacturing, and so on.

How has your STEM MBA benefited you?

Allison: For starters, I doubled my salary by the time I graduated! The network I made landed me an amazing job that put me on a path for faster success. I still use a lot of the skills I learned that I thought wouldn't transfer to the type of work I do.

As I've progressed in leadership responsibility, understanding things like market forces, advanced finance, and even "soft skill" management has become really important. My entire way of working has shifted – I see things from so many angles now, and it makes me a better employee and manager.

Breanna: Halfway through this degree, I was promoted to a management position at my job largely because I was pursuing my MBA. This degree has already positively impacted my career.

Lead image: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

If you’re currently studying for a degree in food science, you’re probably wondering what careers will be available when the thyme comes (pun intended).

While there are some jobs that are directly related to a food science degree, such as a food technologist or a nutritional therapist, there are also many roles that perhaps don’t directly relate to your degree, but use many of the skills you’ve picked up along the way.

Shannon, a recent graduate at Premier Foods told us what she likes about working in food; “I love working in the food industry because of the impact you can see your work has - people buying the products that you have helped contribute to get to the supermarket shelf! It is also great to work in such a rapidly-changing industry where trends can hugely change the range of products you have, and how quickly we have to act to adapt to these trends.”

With a degree as broad as food science, there are so many different options available, and it can easily feel quite daunting trying to figure out which job is right for you. In this article we will be revealing some popular careers for food science graduates, and hopefully we can make choosing a future career in food a piece of cake!

Food scientist/technologist

In this role you will work closely with the production team to research and develop innovative recipes using new and existing ingredients. These recipes may need to satisfy a specific condition, such as having a low fat or low sugar content, or be suitable for a specific purpose, such as lunchtime takeout foods or ready meals.

You will need to make sure that all food products are at an acceptable safety and quality, and that all legal requirements are fulfilled.

This role demands extremely high standards of cleanliness and safety, excellent problem-solving skills, and the ability to work well in a team, as well as being creative! Although this job demands a lot, it can be incredibly rewarding, especially when you see a product you have created out on the shop floor.

Nutritional therapist

If you’re good at understanding and interpreting potentially complicated facts and concepts and explaining them in a clear and informative way, then perhaps you should look at becoming a nutritional therapist.

As a nutritional therapist, you will typically work privately, helping individuals on a one-on-one basis by making personal dietary recommendations based on their personal circumstances. This could be to help healthy individuals prevent illness, or ill individuals to prevent symptoms worsening.

Quality assurance manager

Quality assurance managers are about as close as you can get to a police role in the food industry. Individuals working in quality assurance ensure that food products meet the correct standards set out in the regulations and comply to all internal and external requirements.

The role also requires you to collect and interpret data on current standards and procedures, reporting any findings to senior management with suggestions on how to improve them.

This career requires you to have a logical mindset, and be very organised and strategic, with excellent problem-solving abilities. As you get higher up in your career, leadership skills are essential, and you must be able to work well in a team in order to solve any multitude of problems that may arise!

Chef

Those who thrive in a fast-paced, busy environment may want to consider being a chef. Beware, the hours may be long and often unsociable, but for those who love to cook, this can be an incredibly rewarding career.

Although a food degree isn’t essential for this role, it can be incredibly useful to gain an understanding of the industry. Experience here is a necessity, and anything you can do to get your foot in the door will help.

Try to get as much experience as you can in the hospitality industry, be it in waiting, dishwashing etc. Being in the environment can teach you a lot about the industry and will look great on your CV!

You will most likely start off as a trainee chef/apprentice/commis when you start, where you will learn the tricks of the trade, such as how to correctly use knives and prepare food. You’ll also be expected to assist the chef de partie (section chef).

As you gain more experience you will move on to become a chef de partie yourself, then on to a sous chef (the second in command) and then finally (if you’re lucky) a head chef!

The good thing about this career is that there’s a clear progression path and most of the time and hard work really pays off.

Marketing manager

For those looking for a more creative role, a career in food marketing might just cut the mustard.

Whether you focus on packaging, social media, consumer research or advertising, marketing encompasses many different aspects of building and maintaining the company’s brand and image, as well as marketing new and existing products on a specific selling point.

Food marketing can be quite challenging, as you’re dealing with perishable products that are often reliant on supplier conditions and changing consumer trends. However, it really is a career you can shape to your creative interests and is an excellent way to use the knowledge you have gained from your degree in a slightly unconventional way.

Procurement/purchasing manager

Procurement is about obtaining and buying items at the best price possible. In a food business this may mean purchasing ingredients, materials for packaging, or operational (e.g. electricity, machinery) or corporate (e.g. insurance, phone contracts) requirements.

In this role you must have excellent interpersonal skills, as you will be liaising with suppliers constantly to ensure that goods and services are delivered on time and at the correct price.

You should also be good at negotiation, very organised and able to adapt well to changes, as these are all skills that are frequently used in the job.

Toxicologist

Toxicologists study toxic materials and how they affect humans, animals and the environment. They conduct studies on food, air, water and soil to determine how different chemicals and biological substances alter them and assess any risks or potential harmful effects.

To become a toxicologist, a strong science-based background is vital – there are a lot of hypotheses to test and lab reports to write! You also need to be a logical thinker with excellent written and oral communication skills, but with a background in food science, this won’t be a problem.

Other less conventional roles…

Having a graduate degree can open many doors for you beyond the obvious ones within the food industry, although many food companies such as Premier Foods, Tesco, Kraft and Nestle offer graduate schemes.

For the more business-minded among you, there will also be roles available in sales, HR, supply chain, legal and even finance!

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‘What Can You Do With a Food Science Degree?’ is part of our ‘What Can You Do With…’ series. We have also covered art, biology, business, chemistry, communications, computer science, economics, English, engineering, fashion, finance, history, geography, law, marketing, mathematics, management, philosophy, performing arts, politics, psychology, sociology, sports and physics.

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We’re pleased to announce that the winner of this year’s QS Undergraduate Scholarship is Lawrence Ogina. The scholarship, first awarded in 2017, awards up to US$10,000 to one student starting their first year of a bachelor’s degree at any QS-ranked university.

We caught up with Lawrence to find out more about his study plans and to learn his tips for a successful scholarship application.

What are you studying, and why did you choose the university you’ve applied to?

I am studying Civil and Environmental engineering at the University of South Carolina (U of SC). I chose U of SC because of their acclaimed engineering program and because they will allow me to study engineering while training in dance at the same time on the same campus.

What do you hope to gain from your degree? How will it affect your career plans?

I have always been intrigued by how physics and mathematics has been used by civil engineers to solve societal problems and I would love to gain this knowledge and use it to be a part of a team that creates solutions and everyday problems.

How did you find the scholarship application process? How many sources of financial aid did you approach?

The QS application process was much better than other scholarships. Some friends in the UK suggested it to me, as many of the scholarship opportunities I had found online were more geared for women.

I also applied for financial aid in the States and for scholarships at the university, but was told that because I had been accepted so late I would have to apply for help next year as a second year student. I’ve done a lot of crowdfunding to raise the difference.

What difference will this scholarship make to you? How would your plans have differed without this financial support?

The scholarship covers a third of my total tuition and without it I would not have been able to attend this year. I would have had to fundraise again to be able to pay the entire fees and try for next year instead.

What advice do you have for other prospective students who are applying for scholarships?

The first thing I would tell them is not to give up.  When I was told that I couldn’t get any help financial help from the university I was devastated, but then I found the QS Scholarship. Secondly, I would also really recommend they look to crowdfunding if all else fails.

Rebecca Martina Mueller is the lucky winner of the QS Connect Masters Scholarship in 2019.

The scholarship, worth US$2,000, is awarded every year exclusively to a student who has taken part in the Connect Masters scheme. Connect Masters is a free service which is part of the QS World Grad School Tour, and allows prospective postgraduates to meet face-to-face with university representatives from around the world in order to professionally discuss their next steps for their career and studies.

We caught up with Rebecca to find out more about her study plans and the difference this scholarship will make.

What are you planning to study, and why did you choose the university you’ve applied to?

I will study MSc Marketing with a focus on consumer marketing at Henley Business School, a department of the University of Reading in the UK.

I was looking at a lot of different universities and compared rankings as well as course content, entry requirements, accommodations, tuition fees and locations. But it was hard to make a decision, because there were so many universities to choose from.

Therefore, I decided to attend the QS World Grad School Tour in Frankfurt in November 2018. I believe that, although you can find a lot of information online, it is always better to directly talk to people and ask your questions. Attending the event really helped me narrow down my choice.

In the end, I decided to go with Henley Business School because it has a very interesting program, a good reputation and it offers guaranteed accommodation on campus. Talking to Chris Rice, Head of Recruitment Marketing from the University of Reading, answered a lot of my questions and helped me make my decision.

What do you hope to gain from your degree? How will it affect your career plans?

After I gained my bachelor’s degree from the University of Mannheim in Germany, I started working as a Marketing Assistant in February 2017. Even though I've gained a fair amount of practical experience in marketing by now, I felt as if something was missing. I believe I cannot realize my full potential without a well-rounded master’s degree that focuses on marketing and consumer behaviour.

My long-term goal is to work in a leadership position in a globally active marketing or market research company and I reckon studying MSc Marketing at Henley Business School will help me achieve this goal. I'm looking forward to learning more about how organizations can use psychology to understand consumer behaviour and gain insights into consumer behaviour from different perspectives.

Also, in studying this course, I hope to enhance my critical thinking capabilities and hone my intercultural competence. I think this master degree will help me on my career path as it is an additional career advancement opportunity.

How did you find the scholarship application process? How many sources of financial aid did you approach?

At first, I was a little overwhelmed with the sheer amount of scholarships available. It was hard to browse through all of them, which I had to do because I was not eligible for many of them. But then I learned about the different QS scholarships available to people who had attended a Connect Masters event.

The application process was really easy and I heard back very quickly. I applied to several QS scholarships and the scholarship program offered by my chosen university.

What was your experience of a QS event like? What were the highlights of your time there, and what would you recommend to future attendees?

The QS World Grad School Tour in Frankfurt was well organised and very informative. I really enjoyed talking to the representatives at their booth but my highlights were the one-on-one meetings that were scheduled beforehand. It was a great opportunity to have a few undisturbed minutes to ask questions without worrying whether the booth was too crowded or whether I was keeping others from asking their questions.

I would definitely recommend future attendees take part in these sessions and talk to universities that might not be on their radar. My advice is to stay open-minded and give all universities a chance. I am happy that I did!

What difference will this scholarship make to you? How would your plans have differed without this financial support?

The scholarship will enable me to breath a little easier. The tuition and accommodation fees in the UK are rather expensive, so every pound I can save is a real help!

My plan without this financial support would not have differed much because I would have started my studies with or without the scholarship, but I would have applied to more scholarships or would have looked for a part-time job. I saved some money for my studies, but it's not enough to cover everything, so I'm really grateful for this scholarship.

What advice do you have for other prospective students who are applying for scholarships?

Start your applications as early as possible and apply to as many scholarships as you can – and stay positive!

Many students miss the deadlines or seem to think they have no chance of getting a scholarship. It's easy to get discouraged after a few rejections, but there are so many different kinds of scholarships – so do your research!

The more applications you write, the better you get at them. And if you keep applying, chances are you will get one!

Included in the range of scholarships offered by QS is the Leadership Scholarship, which awards US$10,000 to a student demonstrating strong leadership skills. We’re pleased to announce that this year’s winner is Jayanti Bhatia. We caught up with Jayanti to learn more about her study plans and the difference this scholarship will make to her.

What are you planning to study, and why did you choose the university you’ve applied to?

I will be studying the Master of Education in International Education Policy (IEP) at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE).

The diverse cohort and ‘Askwith Forums’ at HGSE will enrich my learning, while the field experience program and real-world projects will allow for deeper reflection and application. The interdisciplinary curriculum will also offer the right mix of research, policy, and practice.

What do you hope to gain from your degree? How will it affect your career plans?

The realization that education is a powerful tool against universal issues has redefined my life goals and turned me from a business consultant by day to an educational enthusiast by night. The intellectual stimulation and passion for quality at ZS, a global consulting firm, propelled my desire to transform the system and enhance the quality of education worldwide. From being a volunteer to a program manager to an entrepreneur, I have donned several hats in the urban and semi-urban Indian education settings.

To spearhead these engagements on a larger scale and to weigh big decisions impacting children’s lives, I want to be in a space that enables more informed decision making. Having had the exposure of multifaceted, grassroots program design and implementation, HGSE would bridge the gap by helping me learn essential educational theories of lifelong learning, global citizenship, and intricacies of why only certain policies work. 

How did you find the scholarship application process? How many sources of financial aid did you approach?

By God’s grace, I was extremely lucky to have found the QS Scholarship, a few days before the deadline. The application process was fairly easy and I had to write a 500-word strong essay to make it to the first shortlist. One other qualifying criterion was to attend a QS World Grad School Tour.

In addition to the QS scholarship, I have received the university grant of 40 percent tuition. In total, I applied to several other external scholarships.

What was your experience of a QS event like? What were the highlights of your time there, and what would you recommend to future attendees?

The QS World Grad School Tour is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the different programs (bachelor's and master's) in the US or Europe. I recommend you go through the visiting university list, which is shared beforehand. This will help you plan your visit. After the presentation session and the group Q&A, you also get a chance to connect directly with the university representatives. This should not be missed!

The fair can also be a great networking event as hundreds of students participate.

What difference will this scholarship make to you? How would your plans have differed without this financial support?

The scholarship came as a huge relief to me and my family as it covered 50 percent of my funding gap. Had I not been lucky, I would have relied solely on my loan application which was becoming a bit of a challenge to get approved.

What advice do you have for other prospective students who are applying for scholarships?

The 500-word essays are challenging when one has so much to convey; more so because of the habit of writing longer ones for the university process. It really helps if you can follow the prompt and structure your thoughts well.

One tip is to not just mention what you have done but also showcase its impact. Lastly, be genuine, be you, and start well in time!

By Jenny Scott Russell – Local Leo

In 2015 I made the last-minute decision to study abroad on an Erasmus exchange in Salzburg, Austria. I applied late and did next to no research on what it was like to study there, instead adopting an ‘it’ll all be fine’ attitude.

Luckily for me, Austria turned out to be an amazing place to study. However, it never hurts to be prepared so if you’re considering studying in Salzburg, Vienna or one of the other top Austrian cities for students, here are my top 14 things to know before studying there.

Austria is a lot less populated than the UK

Austria has a population of 8.7 million people, roughly the same amount of people who live in London! As you can imagine, this meant my first impression when arriving in Salzburg was it seemed a little quiet.

However, I soon realized what an advantage that is. The cities are less polluted, costs are cheaper, and you can walk in a straight line down the pavement - no dodging prams or commuters! It’s amazing.

University feels relaxed

The Austrian university system is extremely relaxed. With free education and no limit to the length of your degree, students tend to take their time. I met people who had been in higher education for eight years and had only just started a master’s program.

Obviously, you still have to work while you’re there, but the pressure isn’t the same in comparison to the UK. It meant I could be more creative and experimental with my work and so I enjoyed studying in Austria much more.

It’s easy to make friends, especially if you’re on an Erasmus scheme

The Erasmus experience surpassed every expectation I had. Making friends is a breeze with Erasmus-organized events and Facebook pages providing other ways to meet people in addition to your university classes.

I made my greatest friends there after posting on a Salzburg Erasmus Facebook page, asking if anyone was going to Oktoberfest. I had just arrived in the city and university hadn’t started yet but a group of people going invited me along and the rest is history!

The social life in Austria is great. Binge drinking isn’t practised so the culture and atmosphere is very different to UK universities. Instead, people go out to socialize, prioritizing having a great time with friends. 

Supermarkets are completely different

Don’t expect to find supermarkets like Tesco and Sainsburys in Austria. Unlike in the UK, where supermarkets are your one-stop shop for everything from food to homeware, the supermarkets in Austria are very much food focused.

Hoffer (aka Aldi) and Lidl are exactly the same as at home, or you can find unusual international foods in specialist shops. It also stuck with me how much Austrians love good quality bread and that mayonnaise comes in a tube!

You will have to learn German

On most exchanges you will be expected to take a German class as part of your semester credits. That means you can’t avoid picking up a little bit of German and if you take the course seriously, you have a great opportunity to learn a new language.

However, Austria is not the same as Germany

An incredibly important thing to know before studying in Austria is that it’s not the same as Germany! Austrians have their own traditions and a clearly distinguishable culture, and it definitely annoys the locals if you group them in with Germany.

I found that generally Austrians were far more relaxed. Although they have a strong work ethic, they value time off with family and friends above all else. They also know how to party, with loads of public holidays and festivals held throughout the year.

Nothing opens on Sundays

Austria is predominately a Catholic country which means all shops close on Sundays. The only places open are petrol stations where you can get a few essentials. I wish I’d known this before going as I arrived in Salzburg on a Sunday which made getting bedding and food pretty difficult! 

It’s not that expensive

Surprisingly, Austria is very cheap to live in. In 2015, I paid 280 euros for my en-suite dorm room in Salzburg which included all bills.

Food and public transport were a little bit pricey but still cheaper than you’d expect if studying in the UK. With your student loan from home and the Erasmus grant, life is pretty easy going!

You’ll experience real winters and hot summers

Expect to see a lot of snow if you’re in Austria for the winter semester. Likewise, if you’re there for the summer semester, prepare for hot weather.

I loved living in a country with real seasons because it opened up opportunities to try so many new things. In winter you can ski, while in summer there’s a chance to escape to one of Austria’s many alpine lakes for some wild swimming.

Austrians love the great outdoors

I spent a lot of time hiking in the Austrian countryside, a popular activity for locals. Even though Austrians are some of the heaviest smokers and drinkers in Europe they all seemed extremely fit and healthy.

The most popular form of transport in Salzburg is cycling and almost everyone here can ski so you can expect to spend some of your time here embracing the great outdoors.

It’s reasonably conservative but very multicultural

Obviously, this is a sweeping statement and not everyone in Austria is conservative. However, there are times when you feel it more noticeably, in Upper Austria for example.

Vienna is very cosmopolitan, multicultural and liberal which I loved. Salzburg was also very multicultural and full of Erasmus students from all over the world. I made friends with many international students and actually found it harder to make friends with locals because I didn’t meet as many. However, the ones I did meet were all lovely!

Vegetarians and vegans can survive in Austria

Traditional Austrian cuisine is not the best for vegetarians and vegans, being very meaty and often including cream and cheese. However, the international food available is extensive and varied which makes eating out a breeze.

There are also plenty of vegan restaurants to choose from in Vienna and also smaller cities like Salzburg and Innsbruck. Cooking at home is easy too with supermarkets like Basic Bio selling all sorts of meat alternatives and organic produce.

The rest of Europe is on your doorstep

Prague, Budapest and Munich are all easily accessible by train, as are Italy, Switzerland and many other countries worth exploring. If you’re from the UK, it also means you won’t be that far from home so going home for Christmas or a weekend is an option.

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