Roehampton MBA student Samet Kolcu has helped bring together representatives from 18 UK universities at a reception held at the Turkish Embassy in London.

Samet, who is Vice President of the Turkish Student Union in the UK (TUSU), was part of the team organising the association’s opening reception for the 2026–27 academic year. The event was organised through the collective efforts of the wider TUSU team and welcomed guests from universities, businesses and diplomatic organisations to discuss how they could better support Turkish students studying in the UK. 

As part of his role, Samet helped coordinate the event, worked with representatives from different organisations and delivered a presentation outlining TUSU’s plans for the year ahead. 

His presentation covered several priorities for the organisation, including mentoring, career development, student wellbeing and opportunities for students to build professional connections. 

The reception also gave Samet and his colleagues the chance to speak with business representatives about how they could work together. Discussions included potential career events, guest speaker sessions and opportunities to connect students and graduates with employers. 

Bringing his MBA studies into his work 

Alongside his role at TUSU, Samet is studying for an MBA at Roehampton, building on his previous experience working in sales and business development in Türkiye. 

He says his studies have already proved useful in his work with the organisation, particularly when it comes to planning, leadership and building relationships with external partners. 

For example, Samet drew on strategic planning approaches covered during his MBA when developing TUSU’s vision for the academic year. He has also applied what he has learnt about marketing and stakeholder engagement when working to expand the organisation’s network. 

Samet is also putting his MBA studies into practice through the programme’s Startup Module, where he is developing his own business idea. 

His project explores the use of AI-powered digital twins to help people make better shared decisions. The concept involves personalised AI assistants that understand individual preferences and work together to support decision-making. 

Through the project, Samet has been able to apply his learning to entrepreneurship and innovation, exploring how an idea could be developed into a practical business concept. He has also highlighted the guidance and support of Professor Bari, who has encouraged students to think entrepreneurially and turn their ideas into potential business opportunities. 

Reflecting on his experience, Samet said: 

“For me, one of the most valuable aspects of studying at Roehampton has been the opportunity to turn academic knowledge into practical leadership experience.” 

“The MBA has given me greater confidence to develop strategic initiatives, build professional relationships, and translate ideas into meaningful projects.” 

Samet is now looking to build on the conversations started at the reception, with TUSU exploring further opportunities to connect Turkish students with businesses, universities and professional organisations across the UK. 

Find out more about studying an MBA at the University of Roehampton.