Ismail Maalim

The study program started on the 10th of September 2021.The classes were majorly online except for some units where class attendance was physical. The University KENET Web Conference, developed by the university for online classes and the university student E-learning portal, was handy in accessing thousands of reading materials and academic papers. The online access of E-learning materials has tremendously increased access to valuable and extensive learning materials compared to physical attendance. I learned a lot at my own pace and speed, without the pressures of competing with other students.

The pandemic has made it hard to have a face-to-face engagement with the tutors of some course units. The university had an undeveloped online portal with very few study materials. The pandemic was the season of transformation and a wakeup call for the university to embrace and quickly develop the platform, providing easy access to thousands of study materials. The virtual learning has enabled me to have a greater access to more learning materials. Access to the internet has enhanced greatly a quicker access to huge amount of information and learning materials.

During the first semester of my first-year studies, the following unit courses were undertaken.

Course Title Course Code:

• Quantitative Methods MBA 804
• Business Research Methods MBA 805
• Financial Accounting MBA 801
• Marketing Management MBA 802
• Theory and Practice of Management MBA 800
• Human Resource Management MBA 803

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Ismail Maalim in front of the Lamu Museum

During my first semester studies, assignments were given by the tutors for the 6 units. The assessment tests were in terms of continuous assessment tests, oral presentations, and term papers. The term paper assignment was given by the marketing management tutor on the research topic of the effect of Covid-19 pandemic on the financial performance of universities in Kenya. I made a personal presentation on the topic of modern methods of performance appraisal for the Human Resource Management Unit.

I made a presentation for the members of our class group on the topic of marketing strategies for SACCOS in Kenya for the Marketing Management Unit. Assignments and assessment tests were given for the other units. I made a presentation on the research methods unit on the current trends and issues such as ethical considerations, data privacy, and research integrity.

An online test was done for the unit theory and practice of management a term paper for Quantitative. The online test was fairer and more efficient as you could do the exams from a more comfortable position and experience reduced levels of exam anxiety, as there was no peer pressure. And Analysis Unit was expected to be completed on the Second Semester. There was an average of 3 hours of online classes weekly from mid-September to the beginning of December 2021, for each unit. A total of 40 hours classes were covered for each unit, totaling 240 hours. Physical class engagement was done for the Financial Accounting unit for some topics. The final semester exams which were done in person commenced on the 6th of December and ended on the 10th of December 2021.

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The library - a place to learn and study

The exams were done for 5 units out of the 6 units. The Quantitative unit exam was not done because the tutor was unwell for some periods, and the exam was postponed to the second semester, which commenced on January 10, 2022. The results for the assignments and exams are not yet out but are expected in due course. The main exams were done for 3 hours per unit paper. The Second Semester commenced on the 10th of January 2022.The course units to be undertaken this semester are:

Course Title Course Code:

• Financial Management MBA 811
• Information Management MBA 812
• Managerial Economics MBA 813
• Strategic Management MBA 814
• Global Strategic Management MBA 865
• Research Proposal Seminar MBA 816

Since the start of the second semester, classes were online, but there were planned physical classes for some units like Financial Management and Managerial Economics. Other tutors had to confirm the dates for their physical classes. Group discussion questions were given by the Financial Management tutor for submission towards the end of the semester.

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Celebrating graduation in style

The Global Strategic Management tutor, who is also my academic advisor, gave each student individual continuous assessment test questions, group assignments, and a term paper that should be submitted before the end of the semester. A research topic was submitted to the Research Proposal Seminar tutor on the 4th of February 2022 for scrutiny and approval. I submitted the research topic “Influence of Organizational Culture on Strategic Change Management: A Case Study of Kenya Pipeline Company Limited” I made an initial impromptu visit and two subsequent planned visits to the company for the purposes of establishing rapport and connections and to gain an overall insight into the kind of organizational culture that has been embraced there.

A research topic for the final year study was submitted to the strategic research proposal tutor on the research topic “Effect of Dynamic Capabilities on Transformational Leadership and Organizational Performance”.

The Second year of the final year studies commenced on 15th June 2022. The classes were a hybrid mix of online and physical classes. The challenge with the hybrid model was the lack of physical engagement between the students and the tutors, as it eliminated physical interactions and discussions. This also reduced the socialization aspect and physical aspects of sporting activities. The availability of physical engagements between the students gave room for one-on-one discussions without physical barriers, that improved the social aspects of students’ lives. Continuous assessment tests were administered for different units. Term papers, group discussions and group assignments were provided.

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Ismail Maalim's hard-earned certificate

The units undertaken for the second year of the first semester are:

• Global Strategic Management
• Strategic Change Management
• Business Strategic Behavior
• Strategic Management Seminar.

The project title for the program was “The Moderating Effect of Leadership Styles and Financial Resources on the Performance of the Northeastern Country Governments in Kenya”. My motivation towards the choice of the topic was based on the poor state of the social, economic, and political conditions of the Northeastern County Governments of Kenya. The three counties are the least developed counties in Kenya. From the studies 68% of the cause of the poor state of livelihoods are related to the poor leadership styles of the top county management. As an aspiring potential leader, I am looking forward to the present and future endeavors with a strong quest to elevate and reform the poor state of affairs of the community and county state that I come from.

The defenses of my project began with the proposal defenses at both the departmental and school levels of the university. The field research started from the months of August to October 2023. I defended the final thesis on the 15th of November 2023.

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Enjoying soccer – balancing academics and extracurriculars

The graduation date was set for 21st December 2023. The MBA certificate was scheduled to be issued 20th February 2024 with the official transcripts. The study program has improved my efficiency at the workplace. I worked remotely for an organization outside of the study times, which helped me build more on my skill gaps through practical applications of the theoretical knowledge thereby I developed a more effective and efficient approach towards work. Interpersonal skilled learned as a result of engagements with fellow students helped me apply the same with a positive engagement with fellow workmates with a strong interpersonal relationship with a view to improving the working relationships among workmates.

The class engagement with the tutors and students has enabled me to learn more and increase my interpersonal relationships with colleagues at the workplace. The increased use of information technology has enabled me to learn more efficient ways of accessing online resources and overcome personal challenges. My academic advisor and supervisors were accommodative as they gave me psychosocial support to help me overcome personal challenges.

I look forward to putting into practice the skills, knowledge and know-how to enhance performance at the workplace and provide practical solutions to existing problems faced by the community area I come from. I would love to work in scientific setup environment, applying the scientific method to management. Moreover, I am deeply passionate about enhancing my career and pursue a PHD program given an opportunity anytime.

During my spare times, I was engaged with fellow students in doing physical sporting activities like playing soccer. Moreover, some of my spare times was used to have open discussions with the special need group students that had disabilities on matters relating to disability rights and how to openly engage with the university on finding solutions to problems facing the particular students.

The DAAD-Stiftung Scholarship helped me focus on the study program and provided a space to work outside of study times, such as evenings, for an organization that practically improved my skills and knowledge gap. As a DAAD-Stiftung Scholarship holder, the organization I worked for offered a more flexible work setup, allowing me to purposefully study and learn with practical working with the organization during the evenings. Lastly, I would like to thank the DAAD-Stiftung for their unwavering support throughout the Master Program. I appreciate and love to give back, helping other inspiring leaders achieve their dreams. I look forward with a PHD Scholarship from DAAD-Stiftung.