MBA Programs that promote agility and career sustainability

22 Aug 2018

With the meteoric rise of new technology and the resultant shift in the global economic center of gravity from the Western world to Asia, you may be wondering why MBA programs remain in such high demand among the international student network.

To answer this question, Forbes decided to weigh the pros and cons of pursuing an advanced business degree alongside the 21^st-century technological shift.

In their pursuit for answers, they discovered findings from this year’s annual survey by the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC) which said, “57 percent of prospective MBA students had the desire to acquire new skills and knowledge about business and 49 percent of their 1,377 respondents believed an MBA would grant exclusive access to job prospects, including the opportunity to transition into a new career.”

Another interesting factor that rose from the Forbes investigation is the researcher’s personal findings.

As he explains, “Too often, the stereotypical view of an MBA is a person who is interested in getting wealthy quick at the expense of others.

Source: UC Business School

“That is the opposite of what I have experienced in meeting and interviewing thousands of MBA applicants and students over the past three decades. They are among the most eclectic, thoughtful and informed young people on the planet.”

Therefore, as an MBA attracts learners interested in making a real-world difference, they must also learn how to master the art of agility in a highly disruptive era.

Agility in the business world refers to an organisation’s ability to rapidly respond to changes in their internal or external environment without losing momentum. As the global business sector is always changing and market trends are constantly altering, agility is a skill worth acquiring from the MBA experience.

By always being prepared for the next big thing, your career is more likely to be sustainable and you’ll impress employers with your adaptable nature.

Not only do modern MBA programs focus on producing agile managers, they’re also beginning to intertwine the theme of ambiguity into their academic frameworks.

Source: SN School of Business

As the Entrepreneur outlines, “The rise of artificial intelligence means that humans will be focusing a lot less on ‘administering’ things and more on coming up with ‘big picture’ strategies and ideas.”

To successfully prepare future generations for these changes, there may be a reinvention of the MBA from a Master’s of Business Administration to a ‘Master’s in Business Ambiguity’.

If the idea ever goes ahead, the Entrepreneur suggests that “the MBA — mastery of quantitative decision-making — will become largely redundant in favor of subjects that today are mere electives” and that “business schools can emphasize the new domains of adaptive mastery and practice.”

So, if you’re searching for an MBA program to invest in, make sure to check out their track record of graduate employment success and if they promote modules that appreciate the art of agility.

Here are 4 top business schools that provide career sustainability through prime MBA programs…

CURTIN BUSINESS SCHOOL, PERTH – AUSTRALIA

Based in one of the healthiest cities in the world that hosts an impeccable work-life balance and a high amount of sunshine hours, Curtin Business School has a strong track record of producing agile graduates that are driven to succeed and determined to create real-world solutions.

Source: Curtin Business School

As an integral part of one of the QS 2019 Top Global Universities, CBS has established itself as a go-to business school for international and domestic learners- especially as the campus location allows for close engagement with the business sector.

With Association for Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation and its prime MBA program which is one of only seven in Australia to receive EPAS accreditation from the European Foundation for Management Development, the quality of your CBS MBA will be recognised and valued wherever you choose to live and work.

The MBA selection at this influential international business school includes the Curtin Graduate School of Business (CGSB) MBA where you may add a specialised major of Oil and Gas or Leadership and the MBA (Global) degree which helps you to launch your global business career.

Both MBAs consist of international study tours, business internships and flexible delivery modes (online learning or five-day block structure).

CBS also has a range of incredible industry partnerships with companies such as Bankwest, through the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre and The Communications Council. Plus, their Industry Advisory Panel is full of business experts such as the Facebook Director of Manufacturing Operations, Dr Paul Herz.

With so many opportunities to connect with the industry and to gain international exposure, you’ll certainly create a sustainable career path at CBS.

QUT BUSINESS SCHOOL, BRISBANE- AUSTRALIA

Internationally-known as a leader in its field, the Graduate School of Business at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) specialises in multidisciplinary education programs that are designed to transform leadership and instil decision-making skills.

Source: QUT Business School

Ranked as the ‘Best MBA in Australia’ by The BOSS Financial Review (2017), QUT’s Executive MBA is designed to enrich leadership and explore diverse decision-making strategies.

While working hard on this MBA course, there are plenty of exciting opportunities to reward yourself with. For instance, you could go on an international study tour to China and learn how to meet the demands of a rapidly globalising society. Or, work with one of the university’s leadership coaches and outline clear goals for your career path and personal life.

Alternatively, there’s the MBA (Executive) or EMBA route to take. Offered in both Brisbane and Canberra, the EMBA allows learners to take multi-disciplinary view of business challenges and includes core course components such as strategic management, communicating to influence, systems thinking for managers, problem framing for creative action and more.

Just like the original MBA format, this course also permits applicants to take a two-week international study tour and a practical integrated workplace project. Therefore, you’ll be getting the best of all business worlds!

UC BUSINESS, CANTERBURY- NEW ZEALAND

Acting as an integral part to the University of Canterbury (NZ), the UC Business School (Te Kura Umanga) is a valuable asset for both students, professors and its alumni.

UC Business School

Instead of keeping a niche business network, the school reaches out to corporate, public and non-profit sectors. Therefore, students benefit from a balanced educational network that involves an array of expert opinions and the chance to undertake internships and projects in partner organisations.

Primarily, their MBA course sits at the top of UC postgraduate’s most-wanted list as it’s viewed as a key professional milestone for many learners who want to transform into distinguished business leaders. After graduating from this UC MBA, a lot of students go on to work in internationally competitive organisations.

Despite being a popular option, the list of MBA degrees doesn’t end there. In addition, there’s also the Master of Business Information Systems (MBIS) and the Master of Business Management (MBM) to look forward to.

Or, if you’re searching for something a little different, the UC Business School also supplies other postgraduate alternatives such as the Master of Financial Management (MFM), the Master of Professional Accounting (MPA) and the Postgraduate Diploma in Business (PGDipBus).

SEOUL NATIONAL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, SEOUL – SOUTH KOREA

As Choelsoon Park, the Dean of the Graduate School of Business at Seoul National University states, “The typical role of a university is to recruit and train students so that they may advance in society. The most valuable assets of a university are not only current students, but also alumni. We thus expand our role to support our alumni as well as our students.”

Source: SN School of Business

By appreciating the value of alumni within a business school, Seoul National once achieved 5^th place status for having a high number of CEOs (in the world’s 500 leading companies) acting as core SN alumni members.

With regards to their MBA selection, there are three prominent postgrad pathways to opt for. The first is their Executive MBA scheme where currently-employed business professionals may develop into more knowledgeable and competent executives.

The second is the Global MBA, course which aims to train future executives with globalised management skills and leadership and introduces pressing topics such as international business and financial management.

For the third and final choice, students may prefer to join the SNU MBA Program. Packed full of insightful modules and a practical curriculum, the aim of this scheme is to help learners strike a balance between the global standard and the current management status of Korean corporations today- a very informative course!

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International