faculty focus
The
importance of an
MBA
the value of an MBA is increasing in an ever-changing world.
“ There is no doubt the MBA degree has value today, perhaps more so than ever,” said Dr Jane Craig, the MBA program leader at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Craig said an MBA degree is more important now because we live in an environment of increasing change, challenges and opportunities.
“ Strategic and critical thinking skills, the ability to analyse, reflect and make considered and informed decisions are keys to success in the business world and the development of and exercise of these skills is a crucial part of an MBA program,” she said.
USC’ s MBA, for example, gives opportunities to participate in an international study tour and to study global management practice and businesses, including those within the region.
Under the program, athlete-turnedbusinesswoman Vivienne Golding was given a chance to go on a 10-day study tour to Germany. She visited factories, the European Central Bank and a business school.
“ We work with a lot of different firms, such as Virgin Blue, ANZ Bank, Mission Australia, KPMG, Mirvac Hotels and Resorts and Sundale, so I was pleased my MBA allowed me to think outside the square about the people and culture of companies,” Golding said.
“ The USC program was challenging and required a certain level of discipline to achieve while working and maintaining family life, but I would do it again tomorrow.
“ I believe self-empowerment and education are keys to success,” said Golding.“ I’ d been self-employed since 1995 so when the opportunity to study my MBA came along, I jumped at the chance to expand my knowledge and skill base.
“ USC has brought to the fore how businesses have to compete on a global scale,” she said.
In 2000, the USC’ s MBA program had its first graduates. In 2009, the university commenced its executive MBA program, with the first graduates in 2011.
Asked how different an MBA at USC could be from that of other institutions, Craig said the smaller class sizes and easy access to teaching staff were factors.
She said the university receives positive feedback from graduates in terms of the platform that USC’ s MBA program provides for their ongoing career and business success.
“ Most of our domestic MBA students are studying part-time while still working and it is quite common for our MBA students to receive a promotion with their current employer during or immediately following their MBA studies.
“ Our students value the smaller class sizes and easy access to their teaching staff, which provides an environment that fosters positive results,” she said.
Students could study online or on campus and switch between the two if they had to travel for work, for example, Craig said.
USC MBA graduate, scientist Ben Starr, said USC’ s executive MBA fees were“ competitive compared with others and offered the same or better quality of lecturers”.
Starr has referred others, such as his employee Kyle Robson, to the university’ s program. He identified Robson, who recently enrolled, as a key candidate for an executive role in their expanding group of companies.
“ I saw real value in Kyle’ s attendance in the program to establish a requisite base knowledge for this position,” he said.
Craig said they also had good reports from their full-time international students, who commended their employability after graduation.
MBA at USC According to the USC’ s website, the four-course graduate certificate in business administration may be taken to complete the graduate diploma.
An eight-course graduate diploma builds on the graduate certificate and may be taken to complete the masters.
MBA courses include decision-making, economics, marketing, management, law, ethics and informatics.
The suite culminates in the 12-course MBA, which is now globally considered the standard for graduate business qualifications. n
www. campusreview. com. au March 2013 | 27