Student Profile

Master of International Business, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 2010
Master of Business Administration, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 2010

Currently: Consultant - Performance Improvement, Advisory, Ernst and Young

Whoever employed George Jose was always going to get a package deal. Not only did he present with two Masters degrees, George had made a conscious decision to get involved in as many aspects of university life as possible when he came to Deakin. And he says it all paid off because each experience enhanced the other. 'All the skills add up,' he says. 'When I went to my interviews with Ernst and Young, they wanted more than the academic side so they looked at everything. I got the job because of the way I engaged myself at university.'

George joined the Deakin Business Society and became the 2009 president. As a result, he was nominated for a position on the Deakin Council. He was also president of the Deakin Toastmasters Club, a member of the Course Review Panel for the MBA (Master of Business Administration), and a mentor to other students. 'It is all very beneficial because I learned a lot by being part of a great team,' he says. 'You are helping but having fun at the same time.'

Previously, after completing an engineering degree in India, then working as a project manager in the Middle East, George had decided he needed some formal qualifications to back up his practical skills. He focused on an MBA specialising in project management but researched his options thoroughly before choosing Deakin. 'I was quite fascinated by Australia as the land of opportunity, and I looked at university ratings,' he says. I thought Deakin was one of the most progressive and its MBA has been around for about 20 years. It was definitely the place to be.' University staff also came under George's microscope. 'I looked at staff profiles and noted how many had a PhD and what research papers they had presented so I knew what to expect,' he says. Once his courses were underway, he was not disappointed. 'I was pleased with the whole relaxed feel,' he says. 'They were very nice and encouraging and there was plenty of two-way communication between lecturers and students.'

Deciding a Master of International Business would complement his MBA perfectly, George studied the two Masters courses concurrently during 2008-9. A business practicum at Ernst and Young proved both a course highlight and a catalyst to his current position. 'It was wonderful to get that industry based experience,' he says. 'I had experience in India and the Middle East but not a lot locally. 'It was quite engaging and everyone assisted me with my project and made me feel part of the company.'

Beginning his MBA just as the Global Financial Crisis hit increased his learning opportunities, George says, and he was pleased to find the course content so up-to-date and relevant. 'It put everything in context. We could see that everything has a global effect and all the assignments and discussions were based on today's events,' he says. 'All the news and current events were infused into what we learned.'

George says the two Deakin Masters have allowed him to 'reposition himself' in the job market. 'They have given me more leverage and more options. I can apply the MBA across different dimensions and the international business aspect helps even further.' He advises other international students to take up study but to also follow his lead by getting involved in university life. 'It's about networking and developing yourself both professionally and personally.'