Experience a real-world education at the QUT Graduate School of Business

The Graduate School of Business at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is a leader in its field, specialising in multidisciplinary education programs designed to transform leadership and instil decision-making skills.

The school stands as Australia’s first business-focused institution to earn all three symbols of excellence from the world’s leading accrediting bodies, holding the impressive triple crown award since 2005. Less than one percent of all business schools worldwide have achieved this feat.

Recently named the nation’s Top Executive MBA by The Australian Financial Review’s BOSS Magazine, QUT’s Executive MBA is designed to enrich leadership and explore diverse decision-making strategies. The program integrates fundamental units with more advanced elements that include organisational transformation, entrepreneurship, governance and corporate accountability.

Speaking about the course, Bob O’Connor, Executive Director of the QUT Graduate School of Business, said: “With 55 percent of the survey ranking based on graduate feedback, this is proof that we are delivering what the market wants. We attract executive-level participants from governments, private and not-for-profit sectors, and the survey feedback tells us, that this diverse group dynamic is a key strength of the program.”

Offered at both the Brisbane and Canberra campus, the program culminates in an international study tour, where students hone their abilities to meet the demands of a fast-evolving, globalised world. During the trip, participants learn the intricacies of negotiating and conducting business abroad, applying commercial expertise in a completely new culture and industry experience.

Individual leadership coaches will be assigned to each participant, who work together to focus efforts on achieving the students’ life and career goals. Participants have a choice of three distinct pathways: international leadership, complex program leadership and strategic procurement.

Additionally, the Executive Graduate Certificate (Leadership through Coaching and Mentoring) offering is a high-intensity program designed to enhance leadership and coaching capabilities. The course challenges participants to deeply engage with their peers, facilitators and coaches in high-level conversations around current and future organisational issues.

Through an in-depth and personalised learning experience, including one-on-one and group coaching, participants gain the necessary skills to excel individually and positively impact the workplace. A willingness to contribute to group discussions and an appreciation of the topic’s complexity is essential to success, with participants challenged professionally and personally to become the very best they can be.

The highly interactive program is delivered primarily online to suit even the busiest executive professional. The program represents one third of an MBA, covering leadership and organisational elements as well as coaching, while offering a gateway to the full MBA (credits can be earned through LCAM units).

As part of the program, participants develop and implement a high-impact workplace project, designed to make a difference by embedding a culture of coaching into their corporation. This project will be the focus of most assessment tasks, consistent with the university’s real-world learning approach.

The program is aimed at executives of international and national, corporate and government organisations; specifically those who wish to develop their leadership and coaching practice and become leaders in their field.

Complexity leadership and adult development theory is a key theme throughout the program, going beyond skills-based programs to address how individuals can thrive in organisational life. Participants are taught the skills needed to hold coaching conversations and embed a coaching culture within their field – which ultimately improves the corporate bottom line.

Special attention is given to coaching methodologies and mindsets throughout the course, since this approach is essential to progression in an ever-changing sector. Doing this provides a distinct advantage to the program, giving participants the edge when they transfer their skills to the world of work.

Rogers – a Canadian communications company that employs 25,000 people – has been actively-engaged in embedding a coaching culture in its organisation over the last four years. During that time, Rogers has received the International Coach Federation Prism Award, which honours organisations that have achieved the highest standard of excellence in their coaching programs. Their research found that shifts towards a coaching culture contributes to: a double-digit increase in call centre revenue year-on-year; 72 percent retention among call centre employees; seven percent increase in employee engagement; a double-digit increase in customer satisfaction; and a decrease in customer escalation of complaints.

Graduates of the programs available at QUT School of Business leave equipped with a competitive edge, largely due to the school’s dedication to real-world learning. Practical skills and work experience form the basis of study here, with dynamic, up-to-date courses giving students a range of expertise that are set to be transferred into the world of work. Internationally-recognised, award-winning teachers open to door to a variety of opportunities, including networking and specialist student support. The school also holds several ties with industry players, giving participants the chance to meet experts and forge important future connections.

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