Dr Paul Wabike

Dr Paul Wabike, lecturer at Fontys University of Applied Sciences, has applied the skills he acquired on the MSc Strategic Management course to make education more accessible in his role as the Chairman of the Kasulu Foundation, a non-profit organisation in Tanzania.

Encouragement at University

When Paul reflects on his experience at the University of Derby, he thinks about the expertise of his lecturers, who imparted valuable knowledge and shared their workplace experiences. These insights have had a direct impact on Paul’s career.

“Thinking about my time at the University brings to mind the lecturers – and what superhumans they are! The care and respect I received, along with immersive learning, have had a decisive effect on who I am today.”

Paul was also pleased to have the opportunity to work on projects aligned to his interests and wrote his thesis on cultural tourism in Tanzania. He is proud of this accomplishment as it made a positive difference to his birthplace.

“I had always wanted to do something for my country of birth, so I presented the idea of writing a thesis on cultural tourism in Tanzania. I was enthusiastically encouraged and supervised, and I felt I was seriously contributing to tourism, and thus business, in Tanzania.”

Paul believes that the support from staff and lecturers at the University of Derby is one of the reasons why students should feel reassured that they are in the right place to develop and achieve their ambitions.

The power of education

After studying Strategic Management, Paul continued his academic journey to complete his doctorate. He is now a Lecturer in Strategic Management, Research Methodology and Social Enterprise in the Netherlands.

Paul is also the Chairman of the Kasulu Foundation, where he works to increase access to education for children and adults from disadvantaged backgrounds in Tanzania. He believes that his most significant success is the continuation and development of the foundation since he founded it in 2004. He sees the knowledge gained through the Strategic Management course, including financial stewardship, as being invaluable to his career and the success of the foundation.

Paul advises students to pursue a career path that is purposeful and aligns with their values and passions, commenting -

“Make your education meaningful. I believe that if you aspire to have a good career, you should feel happy and satisfied. The reward and satisfaction I feel from running the Kasulu Foundation makes me feel more fulfilled than completing my doctorate.”

Paul plans to continue in his academic role, creating meaningful projects and providing inspiration in the learning environment ensuring education is a tool for human development and improvement. And of course he will continue leading the Kasulu Foundation to ensure it delivers further impact in the future.