Dr Lorraine McKechnie
I have spent many years in universities in UK and Europe, teaching Masters level degree programmes, including MBA and MSc Finance, Business and Management.
With specialist knowledge in strategy development and execution, corporate culture, leadership and change, I have led multinational academic Business Research Teams and been active internationally in leading, managing and consulting on corporate expansion and diversification.
I am presently focussing on Accountancy Education and Management and continue to write, edit and review articles and to examine with both academic and professional accounting bodies in addition to mentoring.
Why I now offer mentoring
I was a Marker and Moderator of Oxford Brookes University BSc Applied Accounting RAPs for fourteen years and over this period read my way through many thousands of Research Reports and Skills and Learning Statements. It was evident each academic session that many students with great potential were failing due to not having grasped the essential nature of this project and the requirements and criteria that they had to meet to pass.
I commenced mentoring in Period 38 and have been delighted to find that my Mentees have not only been successful but have enjoyed the experience of producing their RAP. Since starting to offer mentoring the majority of first-time submissions have gained either A or B grades.
I have taken on a small number of resubmitting students who subsequently passed their Resubmissions. Under the rules of the BSc Applied Accounting programme all resubmitted Research Reports are capped at C grade
I offer mentoring in the following Topics: 4, 5 & 8 as well as some of the newer topics
Gillian Moorse
About me as a mentor
…. and what makes me an Expert Professional Mentor for the Oxford Brookes BSc Applied Accounting
I joined the Oxford Brookes BSc Applied Accounting team as a marker in 2004 and for the last 5 years or so was a senior marker (moderator). During this time I have therefore read and assessed literally thousands and thousands of Research & Analysis Reports and produced in depth feedback to students on their work, so I really know the Research & Analysis Project requirements and the Assessment Criteria inside out.
During my career I worked in accounting roles in some prestigious companies including what is now Virgin Media and InBev so understand the realities of good communication and reporting, and interpreting financial data as well as compliance regulations.
In addition to practical experience in business I have also worked in education where I gained a reputation for helping students achieve pass rates that statistically were far higher than the average pass rates and subsequently was on the Association of Accounting Technicians marking team for a number of years. I have had recent experience of teaching Corporate Governance on Masters courses at Oxford Brookes University as well as continuing to mentor and supervise students’ dissertations on accounting topics on the Oxford Brookes global MBA programme.
Most of my own studying was done through distance learning and therefore I really understand from first-hand experience the sorts of problems that many students face trying to balance work, social life and family commitments. I too was raising a family while doing exams and recognise the tremendous pressure this can put on everyone. From this I realise that planning is the key to success not just for exams, the RAP and career but also to get the best out of life and making the best use of that scarce commodity – time.
Having been there myself I can help you focus on what is important, sparing you wasted effort and frustration and saving you valuable time so that you address what is vital to be successful with your RAP. My aim is to bring out the best in every student helping them achieve and perform to their full potential
“never stop believing”
I will be specialising in the new topics 3, 13 -15 but will consider other topics. Additionally my last Topic 6 student has just been awarded the prize for the best RAP submitted overall in Period 43 by Oxford Brookes University – making this the second time since September 2020 that one of my mentees has received this accolade!
However if you want to Topics 4, 5 or 8 please read on as my very able colleague, Lorraine, can mentor you for these… Unlike some mentors we like to offer you as much choice as possible when it comes to selecting a topic as we believe at absolute mentoring that you should choose a topic that interests you and not be forced into a topic merely because it makes life easier for the mentor!