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Profiles of successful Honours candidates employed in academia

Tom Cole, Cultural Management

Tom Cole 2007 Currently enrolled in a PhD
2006 Bachelor of Management (Honours)
2005 Bachelor of Management (Recreation and Planning)

 

What was my experience with the Honours program?

My experience of the Honours program was very positive. I enjoyed the various aspects of the Honours program such as the course work and the research thesis.

I had decided in the final year of my undergraduate degree I wanted to continue to study and enter the Honours program. My undergraduate lecturers and the information sessions about Honours strengthened my resolve to complete an Honours degree. Further, I had the intention to study a PhD, and the Honours program became and felt it would enhance my skills and knowledge in order to enter a PhD program.

I believe an Honours program distinguishes good performing students to employers, as it offers additional skills and knowledge in the areas of research, problem solving, and personal management, not necessarily gained from the undergraduate programs.

The core components of the Honours program allowed me to explore diverse areas of research I would not have otherwise explored. Finally, the thesis was an accumulation of research in a topic area I chose, and the core components of the Honours program was used to facilitate writing the thesis.
The Honours year was a challenging year resulting in a Chancellors Letter of Commendation and a University of South Australia Medal for my achievements.

How has Honours helped my career?

MThe Honours program has allowed me to pursue my interest in further study with a PhD which will lead me into a career either in academia, government or private consultancy. A successful Honours program allowed me the opportunity to gain a scholarship to study a PhD. It has also helped my future study as I have acquired the necessary basic skills and knowledge for my PhD which I hope will develop even further in the years to come.

Where am I now?

After receiving an Australian Postgraduate Award with the University of Adelaide I am currently undertaking my PhD in the Adelaide Graduate School of Business.

Currently, my supervisors and I are developing my PhD research topic in the area of cultural management. The research area is not an extension of my Honours thesis, and I will be diversifying my research skills using different methodologies to what I have in the past.

 

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