Shu Wen Lee

How did you hear about Leeds University Business School and why did you choose to study here?
I started my research online by searching for social enterprise. My education consultant suggested that I expand my search to include entrepreneurship and related Masters programmes. Finally I found the MSc Enterprise course at Leeds University Business School, which includes the module Enterprise and Society. 

Tell us about your course – why did you choose it? 
I’m interested in social enterprises and when researching entrepreneurship-related courses, I found the University of Leeds to be one of the top universities within this field of study. I visited 4 universities in the UK before deciding where to study and The MSc Enterprise at Leeds really impressed me because I was given an opportunity to meet the professor, attend a class on Enterprise and Society, and learn more about the design of the course.  Leeds was the only university that provided me with the chance to join a class and talk to the lecturers. The key to making my decision to study the MSc Enterprise at Leeds was the course content, which balances both theory and practice. 

What are the best things about your studies here?
There are many great things about studying here.  My course is not like a traditional business course, the MSc Enterprise has more practical and inspiring activities. The lectures and seminars are arranged in a way that ensures students have many opportunities to liaise with entrepreneurs through on-course activities, and we have even visited local companies on an Enterprise tour from Leeds to York.

As my personal interest is in social enterprise, the course not only focuses on profitable enterprises but also social enterprises. I really enjoyed the Enterprise and Society module which helped me to further my understanding of social enterprises, CSR and charities. Besides regular classes, the Business School and SPARK provide additional lectures, events and support, which I’ve found to be really helpful in developing my abilities and knowledge. 

The Global Perspectives on Enterprise module was particularly useful as we were given the chance to work on a project with a guest mentor for a week. I learned a lot from this kind of training and it was just like working for a real company. Our mentor helped us to find the solution step-by-step but didn’t give us answers directly. 

What are your career aspirations? 
I would like to start a social enterprise related to agriculture, food safety, education or trading. Studying the MSc Enterprise will help me to learn how to use my academic background in sociology and previous work experience to form a new venture.

Second, I would like to write a project and spend 1 year visiting charities and social enterprises related to what I would like to run by traveling, internships and volunteering. After 2 years away from Taiwan, I will then return to form my business step by step. I think it will take 3 years before my new venture is sustainable and I can then move on to the next stage. 

My professor has told me that I could write my business plan for my dissertation, which would be very helpful for organising my future plans. 

If you are not from the UK, how was the transition to a foreign country?  
I joined the pre-sessional language course. It was really helpful as a warm up period that helped prepare me for living and studying in a new environment. 

What has been your experience of the facilities, the staff, your peers, the city of Leeds and the Yorkshire region? 
As my course only has 26 students, I’ve found that a small class is like a small family. We have more opportunities to work together, the quality of teaching is better and we feel familiar with our lecturers. I also like the libraries a lot! There are so many resources available, whether you are looking online or in the libraries. The Business School also provides additional lectures and workshops to help students improve their study skills.

Leeds is not a super big city but convenient enough for life, shopping etc. The city market is very attractive. The cost of living is cheaper in comparison with other places in the UK. Yorkshire is a very beautiful place with a colourful landscape, continuous small hills and sheep that live in the countryside. As a person who likes traveling, I have visited some of the small towns and places in Yorkshire and have enjoyed it a lot.

Are there any experiences outside of your studies that you particularly enjoy? 
I visited some of the social enterprises, charities and fair trade towns through traveling, volunteering and being a customer. The UK is one of the most mature countries leading in social enterprise, so I plan to travel more during my year here. It’s been really good studying in the UK, I’ve had the chance to learn the latest business knowledge concerning enterprise and entrepreneurship and have particularly enjoyed having opportunities to work with them through projects and observe how they operate. 

Would you recommend the Business School to others who are considering studying here? 
Yes, Leeds University Business School is one of the best in the UK.