Starting an MBA Top-Up Online programme can be a transformative journey — especially for professionals balancing work at sea, family, and personal ambitions.
In September 2024, five professionals from the maritime world took a bold step into uncharted waters when they enrolled in the University of Gloucestershire’s MBA (Top-Up) programme, designed entirely for distance learners.
Tengku Mahadzir, a veteran Chief Engineer, aspired to sharpen his leadership skills beyond the technical side of ships.
Nur Akmar, a dedicated OVID Inspector, sought to deepen her expertise in safety and governance within a rapidly evolving industry.
Captain Davendran, a skilled DP Master, joined to broaden his managerial perspective.
Nazrin, a young and ambitious Second Engineer, pursued the programme to accelerate his career growth.
Rustam Singh, an experienced DP Chief Officer, saw the MBA as a bridge to senior management and strategic leadership.
Although they never set foot in the same classroom, the digital era enabled a powerful connection among them. Each worked independently on demanding tasks — research proposals, dissertations, and reflective papers requiring focus and discipline. Yet the journey never felt solitary. Through Zoom check-ins, informal discussions, and an ever-active WhatsApp group, they became one another’s support system. What began as polite exchanges soon blossomed into genuine friendship, proving that even in distance learning, solidarity can thrive.
Their MBA Top-Up Online experience unfolded in parallel with the VUCA world they studied: volatile schedules disrupted by life at sea, uncertain internet connectivity during offshore inspections, the complex challenge of balancing family, career, and study, and the ambiguity of learning without a traditional classroom. Yet they discovered resilience in one another’s encouragement. Titles, ranks, and years of experience mattered little compared to their shared determination to complete the journey.
On 9 July 2025, the University of Gloucestershire officially awarded them the MBA they had worked so hard to achieve. Logging in from different parts of the world, they celebrated as if side by side — smiles captured in screenshots, applause echoing through speakers, and heartfelt promises to one day meet in person.
For them, the MBA Top-Up Online programme was more than a qualification; it was proof that distance does not diminish friendship, and that digital learning can forge bonds as authentic as those formed face-to-face. They had sailed through the MBA not only as individuals striving for excellence, but also as lifelong friends — ready to navigate the future together.
The story of five maritime professionals shows how the MBA Top-Up Online programme from the University of Gloucestershire enables distance learners to grow together through friendship, leadership, and resilience. Even across oceans, they proved that collaboration and success can thrive through digital learning.
Learn more about our internationally recognised programmes at
HT Global Masterclass.
