Global Graduates is our award-winning programme for University of Manchester students, giving them the opportunity to spend a fully-funded week in June meeting with alumni from a range of business and industry sectors in one of seven cities across the globe. Unaisah Muhammad, an undergraduate in Biomedical Sciences with Entrepreneurship, shared her experience travelling to Dubai through the Global Graduates programme last year.
Unaisah’s participation in the Global Graduates programme took her to Dubai, where she embarked on a week-long trip with five fellow students. This experience enabled her to network with over 14 alumni working in various industries such as consulting, healthcare, and banking. The diversity of experiences and backgrounds provided her with invaluable insights into different career opportunities.
Meeting these alumni wasn’t just about career insights but also about forming lasting connections. “During the week, we engaged in meaningful conversations with them, went to their offices, and had various coffee and lunch meetings. It was inspirational and a good learning opportunity for us,” Unaisah explained. Appreciating the exposure to various industries, she added, “We explored different career opportunities within Dubai, seeing that there’s something for everybody.”
One of the highlights of Unaisah’s trip was the opportunity to establish significant connections with professionals in Dubai.
“The most valuable part is building those connections with the alumni there. Having that connection and speaking to them about their life and career journeys was really beneficial,” she emphasised. The advice from alumni was particularly insightful: “They advised us to gain experience within the UK first as the job market in Dubai is quite competitive.” The alumni Unaisah met had very valuable advice for Unaisah, and with their diverse experiences, all the insights she gained opened new perspectives for her.
Adapting to Dubai’s cultural nuances was another enriching aspect of her trip. Unaisah, who identifies as Muslim, felt a personal connection to the city, which made her transition smoother. “Meeting so many professionals with diverse backgrounds was eye-opening,” she recalls.
The cultural experience was a bonus: “Being in a Muslim-majority country, it did align personally with my life because I am a Muslim, so it was quite easy for me to transition into that. But I was also conscious of being respectful about their culture and being open-minded.”
Global Graduates is fast-paced, with lots to get into during the programme. Although it was challenging at times, Unaisah used the busy schedule as a learning opportunity. “We had to manage our time efficiently between meetings and exploring the city, but it taught me valuable planning skills,” she shared. This experience helped her skilfully juggle multiple commitments; a skill crucial for her future career.
In terms of her future career plans, Unaisah is still exploring her options. “I am not 100% decided yet,” she admitted. “I am hoping to secure and pursue a graduate scheme in a corporate environment that has a global presence once I have finished final year, to develop my skills and gain experience whilst increasing my commercial awareness and building my network.”
She also expressed interest in possibly completing an MBA in the future, as many alumni she met had done. “I’m just taking each day as it comes to be honest, but I have high ambitions to be as successful as I can, hopefully pursuing a career in Dubai in a few years’ time,” she said. Unaisah is particularly interested in technology and generative AI, hoping to work in an industry at the forefront of these technologies.
Unaisah expressed deep gratitude to the donors who made her trip possible. “Thank you so much. It was such a great opportunity, all funded. It helped me so much in terms of my career aspirations and building connections within Dubai,”
For students considering the Global Graduates programme, Unaisah’s advice is clear: “200% do it, no doubt! It’s such a good experience. Even if you don’t have a career in mind, you’ll find something valuable in the programme.”
It is a fantastic programme! I was lucky enough to take part in 2013 (I think the first or second year of the programme) and went to Dubai. I remember also meeting many MBA alumni at the business school. I don’t think I even knew what an MBA was before that trip, but 10 years later I graduated with one!