Anna Chatzikou

What made you decide to study business management at Teesside?

I was always passionate about higher education, however given the economic situation back in my country meant that I had to look for different ways to pursue my dreams, so I decided to come to Britain and study business management.

My education advisor in Greece recommended Teesside University as one of the best universities to study business management. It was a particularly interesting course with a high employability rate.

What is the best thing about your course?

I enjoyed the knowledge, skills and experience I gained, but also the friends I made. A very important factor was working on multiple live projects, which built and expanded my support network. I gained real life experience that I use in my current job.

What have been your favourite modules?

Organisational Theory, and Research and Practice modules provided an overview of the history of this development and how this has influenced organisational research methods, and the impact on business management practices. I also really enjoyed Strategic Management and Responsible Leadership, where I worked autonomously on a live project set by Middlesbrough Borough Council, I had real life experience on dealing with complex socio-economic issues.

What do you think about the campus and the services offered?

Since I arrived in Teesside, I fell in love with the campus. It has a very friendly ambience. All the services are excellent, such as Careers, Students’ Union and the Library - these key services helped me reach the point where I am now. The Library is an amazing place to study individually and in a group, and the Students’ Union and Careers have helped me develop personally and professionally with the right advice and their endless opportunities for career development.

What has your social life been like?

The low cost of living was one of the key motivators for me to come to Teesside. Teesside combines two very important things for a student - low cost of living and a great social life. There’s a great variety of restaurants and clubs, and you can experience a rich social life with a tight budget.

Did you do any volunteering?

I carried out some volunteering with Enactus Teesside, it was an amazing way of contributing to the local community, but also on a national and international level to make a positive impact on people’s lives. I was the president of Enactus and co-ordinated and organised meetings, oversaw projects and supported members on a personal and professional level. I was also fortunate to win the Volun-tees University Volunteer award at the 2018 Volun-cheers Awards. Working with Enactus is like working for a business that creates both social and economic value to society.
Volunteering was an amazing way to meet people from different backgrounds and make friends from around the world. I gained skills in project management, problem solving, innovation and conflict management. And more importantly, it educated me about the most pressing issues our community and nation is facing and gave the opportunity to help solve these problems by developing simple but innovative ideas.

What are your future plans?

I work as an Activities Intern for the Students’ Union, and I’m responsible for the general administration of the Welcome Desk and also support the financial controls for all the University’s clubs and societies. I can’t wait to put the skills I developed through volunteering into practice, helping more societies, and expanding my experiences.

Would you recommend Teesside?

Definitely. My experience at Teesside University has been amazing and I had a great time while I was studying, volunteering and working part-time. The people I met, the friends I made and the opportunities are endless. I will always be grateful to Teesside University for helping me achieve my personal and professional goals.