Meet the Programme Directors

• Banking and Finance MSc

  Dr Jimmy Chen

  My name is Jimmy Chen and I am the Programme Director for the MSc Banking and Finance and the MSc Finance and Management.

  In 2006, I came to St Andrews as a student on the MSc Finance and Management programme and I have now been with the School of Management, as first a student and then a staff member, for 15 years. My personal student experience here has allowed me to better understand the needs and priorities of our students, and this in turn has helped me, in my role as Programme Director of Banking and Finance, to continuously strengthen our teaching provision for PGT finance students over the years. For me, this provides the best testimony to the School of Management and all that it stands for, as a small school with a strong sense of community and collegiality.

  The teaching on the MSc Banking and Finance programme is very practically oriented with strong emphasis on developing quantitative skills and their applications in financial analysis and empirical research.

  This programme specifically caters to students who have a background in finance by advancing their skills and developing knowledge needed for specialist roles in banking and the wider financial services sector. The option modules allow students to customise their studies and specialise in their intended areas in order to tailor their studies to meet their future needs. Both finance programmes at the School are accredited by the Chartered Banker Institute, ensuring our students the opportunity to tap into this professional network of bankers in the UK and abroad.

  As a student on this finance programme you will be supported throughout the academic year by me, your module coordinators, the Director of Postgraduate Programmes and the PGT team.

  I believe studying on this programme in the lovely town of St Andrews will offer you a memorable experience that you will cherish for the rest of your life, and at the same time boost your confidence and employability in the challenging post-pandemic world.

  You can contact me at xc38@st-andrews.ac.uk, should you have any questions about studying on the MSc Banking and Finance programme.

• Finance and Management MSc

  Dr Linh Hoai Nguyen

  My name is Linh Hoai Nguyen and I am the Programme Director for the MSc Finance and Management and the MSc Banking and Finance.

  In June 2014, I was appointed as a staff member and since then, I have been teaching on the MSc Finance and Management, where I have a strong focus on student engagement. My interaction with students over the years helps me better understand their needs and priorities, and this in turn enables me, in my current role as the Programme Director to continuously strengthen teaching provision for our students.

  Having worked previously in industry, I understand the importance of practical teaching and learning for employability. The teaching on the MSc Finance and Management programme is very practically-orientated with an emphasis on developing quantitative skills and their applications in financial analysis and management.

  This programme has been designed for students with some background in finance and strong quantitative abilities to develop an integrated and critical awareness of the financial context of corporations and financial institutions. It will equip you to take an effective finance role within these organisations. The programme is accredited by the Chartered Banker Institute, ensuring students the opportunity to tap into this professional network of bankers in the UK and abroad.

  As a student on this finance programme you will be supported throughout the academic year by me, your module coordinators, the Director of Postgraduate Programmes and the professional service team.

  I believe studying on this programme in the lovely town of St Andrews will offer you a memorable experience that you will cherish for the rest of your life, and at the same time boost your confidence and employability in the challenging post-pandemic world.

  You can contact me at lhn2@st-andrews.ac.uk, should you have any questions about studying on the MSc Finance and Management programme.

• International Business MLitt

  Dr Mahmoud Khalik

  My name is Mahmoud Khalik and I am the Programme Director for the MLitt International Business (IB). I joined the University of St Andrews in 2014, and I have extensive experience teaching international business and strategy. My main teaching and research interests centre around firm internationalisation and poverty alleviation in emerging markets.

  The IB programme is designed to help you gain a high standard of critical thinking and analytical skills to enable you to build a successful career in a range of organisations at a global level. As someone who has worked in sales, advertising, consultancy and higher education, I connect theory and practice in my teaching and leadership on this programme, and I will help to ensure that you obtain a solid theoretical basis as well as practical insights into the complex and fast-moving world of international business.

  On this programme, you will work on real-life case studies, and be encouraged to attend events such as the MX programme, which consists of talks by St Andrews alumni and top managers from international organisations. As part of these popular events you will have the opportunity to ask questions, as well as to network and establish contacts with practitioners and alumni. Managers – some of whom are former students – working in a wide array of businesses and consultancy firms also take a central role in the IB Masterclass module, and here you gain invaluable insights into the workings of international organisations.

  To prepare you for your future career and provide you with the team-working skills that international employers value so highly, interactive groupwork sessions are a key aspect of the learning approach. The international nature of this programme means that you will work with students from many countries and obtain insights into the cultural nuances shaping business in different national contexts. These relational connections and networks you will build with classmates will equip and prepare you for the exciting professional world of international business.

  The Programme Director role allows me to build a community of students, and to organise formal and informal activities that promote team-working and collaboration. Students are also encouraged to provide feedback and are stimulated to engage in constructive reflection and debate. You will be guided and supported by me, your module coordinators, the Director of Postgraduate Programmes and our outstanding PGT team all the way through your programme.

  If you have any particular questions about studying the MLitt International Business, you can contact me at mafak@st-andrews.ac.uk.

• Management MLitt

  Professor Lorna Stevenson

  My name is Lorna Stevenson and I am the Programme Director for the MLitt in Management.

  I joined this University in 2012, having previously qualified as a Chartered Accountant, before becoming an academic in 1993. My business and academic experiences have allowed me to better understand the needs and priorities of our students and potential employers. These in turn have shaped the programme you will study in this small Business School which has a strong sense of community and collegiality.

  The teaching on the MLitt Management programme combines theory and practice to provide students with an integrated and critically aware understanding of management in a range of forms.

  This programme specifically caters to students who have backgrounds beyond the study of management. You will study a range of subjects to enable you to understand the concepts and techniques that inform contemporary management practice in the private, public and voluntary sectors. Core modules include strategic management, marketing, accounting and finance, and managing human resources.  The option modules, and final dissertation, allow students to customise their studies and explore different aspects of management. The MLitt Management programme is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), the UK's professional body for managers, with a developing international profile.

  As a student on this programme you will be supported throughout the academic year by me, your module coordinators, the Director of Postgraduate Programmes and the PGT team. You will also learn from your peers and classmates. The School is one of the original signatories of the UN Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) and it holds the Athena Swan Bronze Award, which means that we are very serious about equality, diversity, inclusion and sustainability. We work hard to make our students feel valued and safe.

  Our previous programme graduates will confirm that studying on this programme in the lovely town of St Andrews will offer you a memorable experience that you will cherish for the rest of your life, and at the same time boost your confidence and employability in the challenging post-pandemic world.

  You can contact me at  las27@st-andrews.ac.uk, should you have any questions about studying on the MLitt Management programme.

• Marketing MLitt

  Dr Min Li

  My name is Min Li and I am the Programme Director for the MLitt Marketing. I joined the University of St Andrews in 2018 as a Lecturer in Marketing. My research primarily focuses on international marketing strategy and firm performance and has been published in the International Business Review and presented at many international conferences. I am also interested in digital marketing and green marketing. I am a member of the Academy of Marketing Association and the European International Business Academy.

  The MLitt Marketing at the School of Management focuses on marketing practice and the complex challenges facing organisations today. You will be encouraged to use critical skills to come up with creative solutions to these challenges. The programme is imbued with the School's ethos of 'responsible enterprise' and all of our modules follow the 'better marketing for a better world' precept because we believe that marketing can be a force for good not only in the hands of business, but in all spheres of society. Modules are designed with the idea that a good theory is the best prescription for action, blending theoretical frameworks with practical applications and case studies. Consolidating your knowledge of the key principles of marketing as a discipline will help you successfully navigate the choppy waters and unpredictable future we face in today's world and give you the best chance of success as you take on a new career.

  During your studies, you can expect to meet and learn alongside ambitious and passionate peers from around the world, united by their quest for knowledge in the unique atmosphere of historic St Andrews. You will explore intellectual challenges with your lecturers and with practitioners who are frequent guests in modules. The programme includes a dedicated Masterclasses module, featuring guest speakers from organisations who will share the latest developments in their fields and engage in lively Q&A sessions with you and your classmates.

  While on your educational journey, you will be supported by the dedicated PGT team, the Director of Postgraduate Programmes, your module coordinators and myself as Marketing Programme Director. The School is one of the original signatories of the UN Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) and it holds the Athena Swan Bronze Award, which means that we are very serious about equality, diversity, inclusion and sustainability. Our goal is to make our students feel valued and safe.

  For any questions regarding the Marketing MLitt programme, you can contact me at ml266@st-andrews.ac.uk.