Raka Mukherjee reflects on fourteen months at Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) as part of the Manchester Graduate Talent Programme.

When I joined AMBS in June 2025, I expected to spend a year gaining practical experience within a university environment. Fourteen months later, I realised that it was more than that.

My role as a Graduate Administrative Intern allowed me to work across three research institutes with distinct but interconnected research agendas: the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (MIOIR), the Sustainable Consumption Institute (SCI) and the Work and Equalities Institute (WEI). Moving between these three institutes meant that no two weeks looked the same.

I was already familiar with one side of university life through my studies in English literature, gender studies and cultural research. What I had not fully appreciated, however, was how much universities rely on professional services staff to organise, support and enable research. What surprised me most wasn’t the variety of tasks but how many different people and teams contribute to making research happen.

Three institutes, three perspectives

At MIOIR, I became acquainted with the world of innovation studies and work exploring the relationships between science, technology, policy and society. Through newsletters, website management, social media communications and events, I gained a greater appreciation of the many ways in which research informs public debate and contributes to wider society.

My work with SCI introduced me to interdisciplinary research on sustainability, environmental change and consumption practices. Supporting projects and events in this area showed me the importance of collaboration across disciplines when addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Working with WEI also resonated with many of my own academic interests, particularly around labour, gender, inequalities and social justice. It reminded me that research has the power not only to analyse the world around us, but also to shape it.

Making research visible

A significant part of my role involved supporting communications activities across the three institutes. This included preparing newsletters, editing webpages, maintaining websites, writing research summaries, creating accessible content and assisting with social media communications. Among the highlights of this work was supporting the activities of the Eu-SPRI Forum.

This work gave me a unique insight into the workings of an international network of researchers in the field of science, technology and innovation studies. It also changed how I think about research communication. Before joining AMBS, I’d assumed communication happened once a project was finished. Instead, I saw that sharing research is part of the process itself. Helping researchers communicate their work to different audiences became one of my favourite parts of the role.

Conferences and organised chaos

During my internship, I had the opportunity to support both the Global Turbulence and the Pursuit of Sustainability conference organised by SCI and the R&D Management Conference 2026 organised by MIOIR. Supporting the R&D Management Conference became one of the highlights of my internship.

Over several months, I helped with communications, planning and the many practical tasks that happen long before delegates arrive. Seeing the conference finally come together gave me a real appreciation of how much work goes on behind the scenes to make an international event run smoothly. Like any large event, there were last-minute changes and unexpected problems to solve. Watching colleagues respond calmly and trying to do the same myself showed me that successful conferences depend just as much on teamwork as they do on careful planning.

Following the success of the conference, I was delighted to be offered a two-month extension to my internship.

Learning beyond the job description

Alongside my day-to-day responsibilities, within the Manchester Graduate Talent Programme I completed the Qualsafe Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work, a professional qualification that gave me the confidence and practical skills to respond calmly in an emergency. I also made the most of LinkedIn Learning. I explored topics ranging from project and time management to WordPress, HubSpot CRM, monday.com, SEO, content creation, email marketing and business communication. Attending the Professional Services Conference also helped me understand the breadth of professional services careers and the shared challenges faced by staff supporting teaching, research, communications, events and institutional operations. Together, these helped me become more confident in taking on unfamiliar tasks.

Community beyond the meeting room

The Summer Party, Away Days, the Professional Services Conference, the Staff Barbecue and other networking events brought together colleagues from across the research institutes. Informal conversations over lunch, coffee or at social events often offered insights that could not be gained through formal training. They made it easier to exchange ideas, ask for advice and understand the different roles people played across the Business School. Those conversations helped me get to know colleagues I’d probably never have met otherwise, and many of those professional relationships became lasting friendships.

Practical lessons in professional services

Before joining AMBS, I hadn’t fully appreciated how varied professional services work could be. No two days were quite the same, and not every situation came with an established answer. Sometimes plans changed at short notice, urgent requests appeared alongside existing deadlines or different stakeholders required different forms of support. These experiences taught me to assess situations carefully, communicate clearly and focus on finding workable solutions rather than becoming overwhelmed by uncertainty. Coming from an academic background, I had initially imagined my future primarily in terms of teaching and research. My time at AMBS broadened that perspective considerably and introduced me to another path through which I could contribute meaningfully to higher education.

An academic journey that continues

During my internship, I received an offer to undertake doctoral research within the Department of Sociology at the University of Manchester. Although I wasn’t able to secure funding, the application process helped me clarify my research interests and think more carefully about where I want my academic career to go. I’m especially grateful to Dr Helen Holmes and Dr Dan Welch for their guidance and encouragement throughout the process. Working across MIOIR, SCI and WEI also gave me the chance to meet academics from a wide range of disciplines. They helped me think more clearly about my academic goals, the type of research environment I value and the questions I hope to pursue in the future.

Looking back, I realise that the internship gave me much more than professional experience. It introduced me to new ways of working, new friendships and a much broader understanding of how universities function. Although I’ve now returned to India, the people I met and the experiences I gained at AMBS will continue to shape whatever comes next.

Gratitude for an Incredible Team

I remain immensely grateful to my line manager, Debbie Cox, for her constant support, guidance and encouragement throughout the internship. I would also like to thank Chloe Best, Kaley Black, Holly Crossley, Wendy Walker and Tina Anobile, all of whom helped make AMBS such a welcoming, supportive and inspiring place to work. I’m equally grateful to the academics, professional services colleagues and the wider institute communities who shared their expertise, answered my questions and offered opportunities for me to learn. The kindness, trust and generosity I encountered throughout my internship left a lasting impression on me.

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