Five ways you can boost your career with an IIE post-grad qualification from Vega

People who have obtained degrees and firmly established themselves in the job market are sometimes apprehensive about studying further. But those who embrace the challenge soon appreciate that there is always more to think about.

Experience and maturity are no barrier to further progress. Having held the position of head of honours programmes at Vega – a brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE) – since 2016, I’ve seen the benefits for students who pursue postgraduate studies in the brand field.

Meeting the global requirements for business people who can think and solve problems creatively requires engagement with new ways of thinking, new business models, and building meaningful brands that add value to the economy and to people's lives.

1. Put yourself more in demand

A postgraduate qualification is instantly more relevant to employers seeking individuals with a deeper, more meaningful understanding of the business as a holistic entity, and it differentiates your personal brand in a competitive marketplace. While an undergraduate degree or diploma does encourage critical and analytical thinking, postgraduate studies develop a more specialised view of the relevant fields of study, which is invaluable to any employer.

2. Increase your earning potential

In addition to boosting your employability, a postgraduate qualification increases your earning potential, showing you can tackle skill-based tasks effectively (in terms of strategic direction) and efficiently to find cost-effective solutions.

For example, a candidate with an IIE bachelor of commerce honours in strategic brand management studied through Vega is not only equipped with a practical mix of business, financial and strategic skills but can also create a strategic campaign based on an in-depth understanding of local and global economic factors. These individuals are in high demand and are often in a strong position to negotiate favourable remuneration packages.

3. Work at the speed of culture

As the needs and desires of consumers change at a rapid pace, businesses play catch-up, which means they need more dynamic teams of people capable of using conceptual, strategic and practical skill-sets to solve modern-day challenges. Studying towards a postgraduate qualification gives you the tools to react to the latest local and global environmental trends, ensuring the brand and business remain relevant and top of mind among consumers.

4. Reignite your passion

Postgraduate studies accelerate the building of an exciting career path and provide rewarding personal experiences. Networking with like-minded colleagues affords many opportunities for collaboration and idea sharing while delving deeper into problems and opportunities.

This enables a more meaningful contribution to the commercial world and the greater society. At Vega, a passion for brand building can be applied to building products, companies, nations, concepts, political parties, celebrities, non-profit organisations and professionals, among others.

5. Find your purpose

The true reward of a postgraduate qualification is the ability to apply the skills learned for the betterment of many stakeholders. Employers, industries, communities and society at large all benefit from a positive attitude to upliftment and empowerment.

From an educator’s perspective, it’s vital to graduate students who can make a difference by becoming employees or entrepreneurs who add value and see problems as opportunities for innovation.

Whether it’s solving Cape Town’s water crisis through innovative design or fearlessly challenging the status quo in the world of business, postgraduate studies are not just a self-improvement exercise. Personal achievement translates to improved circumstances for many others.

Expand your mind, broaden your horizons and change the world through the pursuit of knowledge and higher education. Investigate the range of world-class IIE post-graduate qualifications available to study part-time and full-time at Vega, in fields ranging from interior design to strategic brand management.

For more information, visit www.vegaschool.com.

Michele Venter-Davies is national head of honours programmes at Vega.

This article was paid for by Vega.