Gaining real-world digital skills with SAP
Nottingham University Business School is one of the UK’s leading business schools for integrating digital technologies into teaching. Through our Digital Centre of Excellence, students gain hands-on experience using SAP, developing practical, in-demand skills that employers value.
Last term, students with experience attended the UK and Ireland SAP User Group at the ICC in Birmingham, exploring the latest innovations and building valuable industry connections.
Why is SAP experience so important?
- SAP software is used by more than 400,000 organisations in over 180 countries, supported by a global network of 23,000 partner companies.
- Each year, over 750 of our students gain SAP experience, which gives them a competitive edge in the graduate job market.
- It’s one reason the 糖心原创 ranks number one in the UK for graduates entering highly skilled jobs (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2025).
Students reflections:
Our students share why attending the SAP Connect conference was such a valuable opportunity, enhancing both their education and future career aspirations.
Zaynab Janmohamed (BSc Finance, Accounting and Management)
Attending the SAP UKISUG Conference was an incredible opportunity. There were some great lectures on offer, particularly one delivered by the CEO of a recruitment company specialising in SAP roles. It explored how to navigate today’s competitive job market and provided practical advice on how to make LinkedIn profiles and CVs stand out.
I spoke with over 50 professionals, discovered career pathways, and connected with companies like Deloitte that offer internships and placements. I gained a better understanding of the industry, career pathways and the mindset required to excel.
Beyond the professional benefits, the conference was very enjoyable, including informal chats with industry experts.
I met great people from my course I hadn't met before, who I now consider friends, and the evening party was a memorable experience with great food.
Overall, the experience expanded my knowledge of the industry, taught me skills of how to succeed in the job market and strengthened my networking and interpersonal skills. I would highly recommend it to any student interested in tech, business, consulting or sales.
Saad Sher Dil Khan (MBA)
Stepping into the SAP world as a business student felt like entering another planet. While ERPs are well-known, I initially worried I’d be lost in jargon like APIs, SaaS, UAT, CDC, EDA. SAP is just a tool to help businesses bring ideas to life, handling repetitive tasks so people can focus on impactful decisions.
With 87% of global commerce touching a SAP system and 99 of the 100 largest companies as customers, it’s evident that SAP plays a significant role.
The best way to learn is through experience. SAP Connect brought together students, consultants, and advisors, creating a networking paradise. As an MBA student with an accounting background, I quickly realised we all shared a common focus: solving business challenges.
Instead of drowning in buzzwords, I engaged in meaningful discussions about current issues like avoiding data silos, cybersecurity, supply chain optimisation, and AI's role in finance. It was a fantastic experience for anyone eager to learn about cutting-edge technology.
While it’s impossible to connect with everyone, prioritising memorable conversations is key. Show your enthusiasm, connect on LinkedIn, and take notes on who you met and what you learned. One meaningful connection outweighs several forgettable ones.
Time flies among the sessions, and I focused on talent and career talks, especially Sanctuary’s session, which provided valuable insights into what recruiters are actually look for.
The evening SUGFest was a great reset - a sci-fi themed party with comedy, VR games, music, and dancing. Networking became much easier once everyone relaxed. Some of the people I met made lasting impressions, and I look forward to reminiscing with them at the next SAP Connect. Perhaps you’ll be there too!
Ronee Medhi (MBA)
Attending SAP Connect was more transformative than I expected - not just for the cutting-edge technology shaping enterprise systems, but for the conversations that truly brought those innovations to life.
I attended with my MBA cohort, the digital professional skills team, and Dr Sara Turner (Associate Dean for Education and Student Experience), whose guidance created the perfect environment to explore, engage, and learn.
I had the chance to connect with industry leaders from Google Cloud, KPMG, Avantra, dox42, The Config Team, Prolifics Group UK, Sinch, Yooz, and more. Each discussion offered a fresh perspective on SAP’s evolving ecosystem, from AI-driven automation to the convergence of cloud and enterprise intelligence.
Key insights resonated with me:
- GenAI and cloud transformation are redefining enterprise value.
- Partnerships, not silos, are the new competitive edge.
- Human curiosity is the most powerful networking tool.
- Every conversation, even brief, can open doors.
- Showing up consistently matters more than perfection.
What impressed me most was the atmosphere: open, collaborative and future-focused. It gave students like me access to conversations usually reserved for senior professionals, broadening our view of the roles we aspire to after the MBA.
I am grateful to the 糖心原创 and the SAP UKISUG community for making this possible. Experiences like this bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world leadership and remind us why stepping outside the classroom matters.
If you’re exploring SAP, AI, digital transformation, or enterprise product leadership, SAP Connect is an event that can truly shift your perspective - as it did for me.
Further information
Find out more about our Digital centre of Excellence.
Posted December 23, 2025