Eva Cumming, Business Management
Eva Cumming wanted to maximise her career opportunities by gaining a degree while continuing to work full-time in the whisky industry.
She is now celebrating double success as she gained her degree and has secured a job as an operations graduate with Scotch whisky brand Chivas Brothers.
The 23-year-old, from Dufftown, graduated with an honours degree in Business Management from RGU on Tuesday, July 9 at 2.30pm at a ceremony at His Majesty’s Theatre.
Eva, who studied through the distance-learning route, wanted to maximise her career opportunities and said she felt that studying a business management degree alongside working with her chosen industry would be the best way to do this.
Before attending RGU, Eva went to Moray College to study an HNC in Fitness, Health and Exercise with the goal of fulfilling a personal ambition to attend the British Racing School in Newmarket and then work in the horse racing industry for a year.
Along with her passion for horses, Eva continued to work full-time in the whisky industry while balancing her studies.
Eva said: “The opportunity to work and study at the same time is what attracted me to the course at RGU. I believe this has been crucial to my career progression and I feel that working while studying has not only improved my career opportunities but also given me an increased understanding of the subject I studied through witnessing it in action first-hand everyday within the working place.
“I discovered my love of whisky and knew I wanted to progress in the whisky industry after I began working in a bar called The Highlander. From there I moved to William Grant and Sons to work at the visitor centre of Glenfiddich Distillery while I was studying and I am delighted to be able to continue my career within the whisky industry having recently secured a job as an Operations Graduate with Chivas Brothers.”
Eva said the supportive course leaders was another highlight from her course.
“The supportive course leaders, in particular my thesis supervisor, made my final year so much more enjoyable through their constant support and guidance.
“The experience I have had at RGU has been hugely educational both in terms of academic education and also personal development,” she said.
“Choosing to work full-time while studying distance learning has taught me the importance of prioritisation and of careful time management, which are skills that will benefit me greatly as my career progresses.”
Eva is still very passionate about horses and horse racing and is currently re-training an ex-racehorse which she hopes to compete with in the future.