THERE is a Chinese proverb that goes, “A gem is not polished without rubbing, nor a man perfected without trials”. There have been trials aplenty over the past eight months and with the date of the first exam looming, the challenge is to distil the masses of information we have received into coherent responses that will somehow attract sufficient marks from the examiners to allow us to move into Stage 2 of the programme.

I have had a fantastic distraction, however, in the form of the international study visit, which this year meant eight days in Beijing.

If ever there was a time to visit the Chinese capital it is now. The place is abuzz with preparations for the forthcoming Olympics and one of the highlights of this trip was standing in the awesome Olympic stadium watching the medal ceremony for the Beijing Marathon.

But the real purpose of the trip was to visit some of the businesses that have sprung up in recent years and to examine the macro factors that are making them successful. Several visits were also arranged to ensure that we got an all-round appreciation of Chinese culture – we visited the Chinese Opera as well as attending a number of traditional Chinese banquets, all of which contributed to a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

This is my last article in the series and it seemed appropriate that I tried to round up the whole experience of the MBA course into a few concluding sentences, but I find it impossible.

To take this course is to be challenged on every level and at every turn. Last year the Economist Intelligence Unit rated the Henley MBA full-time sister course No 1 in the world for personal development and educational experience. No wonder. Prominent at every stage of the course is the personal development module encouraging you constantly to reflect on what really matters in your life; the aim being to ensure that you make the right choices at the right time.

I certainly feel that I made the right choice this time last year when I noticed the article in this newspaper advertising the Henley Scholarship and decided that I would apply. Little did I realise as I walked through the gates to attend the assessment centre, the lessons I would learn, the friends I would make and the effort and emotion that would go into getting to where I am now.

Should anyone ask me whether they should apply I would say undoubtedly yes . . . provided that they are prepared to give 100 per cent commitment, put their life effectively on hold for two years and to have assignments and examinations never far from the forefront of their mind.

My final words have to be ones of thanks to my long-suffering family, my wife Julie and daughters Laura and Katie, who are having to put up with an absent husband and father, if not always in person then most often in mind.

Goodbye and get applying.