Data and System Associate Review

Item: Data and System Associate at Manchester Metropolitan University
Rating: 5
Author: Anonymous

at Manchester Metropolitan University

Internship (1 Month+)

Data Analysis

Manchester

Review Submitted: November 2026

Overall Rating

5 /5

The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!

5/5 - Overview of Role

5/5 - Skills Development

5/5 - Support and Guidance

5/5 - Company Culture

5/5 - Overall Experience

5/5 - Future Career Prospects

Overview of Role

Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis.

In my current role as a Data and Systems Associate at Manchester Metropolitan University, my day-to-day responsibilities mainly involve working with student data, maintaining data accuracy and supporting different operational processes across the university. A large part of my role involves managing complex Excel spreadsheets, checking and validating data, identifying inconsistencies and making sure information is accurate and up to date. I also work closely with different teams, including Student Records, Awards and Assessments, to support processes such as enrolment, assessments and curriculum management. Another part of my role involves handling system support tickets, investigating issues and liaising with the relevant teams to get them resolved. I'm also involved in supporting a university-wide systems transformation project, which includes data validation, process mapping and helping with changes to existing processes. Alongside that, I help coordinate workloads and support staff during busy periods, particularly around enrolment. So overall, it's quite a varied role, but the main focus is ensuring data is accurate, processes run smoothly and different teams have the information and support they need.

Were you given much responsibility during your placement / internship?

Quite a lot considering I was also supervising students and manging students personal information for student records and anything else the business needed

Please rate how meaningful the work you were doing was

5/5

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills, or developed your existing skills?

Since starting my role as a Data and Systems Associate at Manchester Metropolitan University, I have developed both my technical and professional skills. I have strengthened my Excel and data management skills through working with complex datasets, carrying out data validation and identifying inconsistencies to ensure information is accurate and reliable. I have also developed my problem-solving, communication and organisational skills through managing system support tickets, collaborating with different departments and balancing multiple tasks and deadlines. This has helped me become more confident in working independently, taking responsibility for my work and adapting to changing priorities. I have also taken the initiative to develop my skills through professional qualifications. I successfully completed my Project Management Institute (PMI) Project Management Ready certification, which helped me build my understanding of project planning, organisation and managing projects effectively. I also completed my Microsoft Office Specialist Excel Associate exam, strengthening my knowledge of Excel and improving my confidence in using spreadsheets and working with data. Both qualifications have allowed me to build on the practical experience I am gaining in my role and apply what I have learnt to my everyday work.

How would you rate the training provided during your experience?

5/5

How would you rate your development of industry-specific skills during the experience?

5/5

How would you rate your development of personal / soft skills during the experience?

5/5

Please rate how these skills have helped you in your career development

5/5

Support and Guidance

How much support and guidance did you receive during your placement / internship?

I received a lot of guidance from my own team as well as other teams that I would also help. Overall everyone was really helpful and no question was a silly question. My line manager really helped develop my skills by also allowing me to have self study days.

How would you rate the support and guidance from your line manager?

5/5

How would you rate the support and guidance from the wider team?

5/5

Company Culture

What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?

The work culture was incredible, everyone was incredibly helpful and friendly. Every team I spoke to was welcoming and kind.

How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?

5/5

How would you rate the social opportunities?

5/5

How would you rate the diversity initiatives?

5/5

How would you rate the charity, sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives?

5/5

Overall Experience

To what extent did you enjoy your placement / internship?

8/10, I enjoyed it very much.

Please rate your level of enjoyment on your placement / internship

5/5

Please rate how your experience met your expectations

5/5

Recommendations & Advice

Would you recommend Manchester Metropolitan University to a friend?

Yes

What advice would you give to others applying to Manchester Metropolitan University

I'd say take the time to understand the role and how your experience fits, even if you don't meet every requirement. Be yourself during the interview and show that you're willing to learn and get involved.