Strike right balance and return to study

Hand on mouse beside keyboard.
Griffith's Master of Marketing program balances face-to-face education with online learning.

For Sara James the decision to return to study was driven by a desire for professional development.

She viewed a Master of Marketing as an opportunity to keep up to speed with new trends, new technologies and new developments in the world of marketing she fell for when first at Griffith as an International Business student.

Now working with a busy Brisbane law firm, she has tailored her postgraduate studies to meet her workplace priorities and personal lifestyle.

Head and shoulders of Sara James.“I am studying one subject per semester over four years,” Sara (left) says. “It allows me to focus on a topic at a time and digest the course content in a way that I couldn’t if I was taking a number of subjects at a time.

“I have also been able to select subjects that link with my work at that time.”

Sara has now completed four of eight subjects, with lectures on Tuesday nights and each Wednesday her nominated study day.

She has taken full advantage of the online delivery of Master of Marketing lectures, combining it with important face-to-face exchanges with lecturers and fellow students.

“I enjoyed the learning discussions when I attended class once a week. I also think it is very important that lecturers are easily accessible when I am studying from home. If I hit a snag, it’s good to have phone numbers and emails for the lecturers and to know that they will respond within a short timeframe, as is the case at Griffith. I have also contacted lecturers to discuss work-related issues.”

Sara says that a discussion with Griffith lecturer Dr Owen Wright inspired her to take her marketing knowledge and qualification into a new work sphere. She is also complimentary of the approach taken to online delivery by Dr Deborah Griffin, program director of Griffith’s Master of Marketing.

“She pre-records her lecture in her office, running through the power point slides and she also records the lecture as delivered in the theatre including the group discussion.

“It’s great. You can pause, you can watch it again. You can even watch the lecture beforehand.”

Sara completed a Bachelor of International Business at Griffith about 10 years ago, and after some relevant, hands-on work experience in London, she returned to Brisbane where she worked in a variety of roles before taking up her current role with Herbert Geer Lawyers.

Her marketing skills are now being applied to areas like professional services, client management, business development, organising events and the design and publication of documents and newsletters.

Griffith University’s Master of Marketing will be showcased during Return to Study week at Griffith University (October 21-25). Dr Deborah Griffin will host an online information session on Wednesday evening (October 23, 6pm).

“I will outline how a Master of Marketing student gets the best of both worlds at Griffith in terms of the personal, university experience and how this can be combined with an online delivery that works for you and your personal life,” Dr Griffin said.

On the previous evening (Tuesday, Oct 22, 7pm), Dr Nick Barter will host an online information session on the Griffith MBA.

To find out more and to register, click here.