The rise of the global MBA

Partner Content

26 Aug 2020

As the world becomes more connected and disrupted by technology, an aspiring CEO or entrepreneur needs more than a traditional MBA. Enter the Global MBA, an advanced degree that brings together a diverse cohort of students and a curriculum focused on various regions across the world.

It’s the qualification to catch the eye of recruiters in a world of increasing international interdependence. Whether it’s a large financial institution in Singapore or a start-up in London, all business today transcends borders and are in keen demand for talent who can navigate this contemporary landscape.

Here are three top business schools offering this increasingly popular degree:

Imperial College Business School

Imperial College Business School is part of the 1% of business schools worldwide to have been accredited by the three largest and most influential accreditation associations: AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS.

Source: Imperial College Business School

This elite business school offers a Global Online MBA to provide the skills, experiences, and knowledge to help students understand the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly borderless business environment. It is ranked first in the UK and second in the world in the QS Online MBA rankings 2020.

Matthew Phillips, who graduated this year, said, “I wanted to study at a top-tier school that had global exposure and diversity, as well as being competitive. Looking at my cohort, there are 35 different countries represented, from different backgrounds, ranging from oil to finance and government service. There’s such a great diversity within the class.”

The programme is built by in-house educational technology designers and taught by the same lecturers as Imperial’s on-campus MBAs. This ensures students get the same educational experience as if they were on their London campus. All MBA teaching is hosted on The Hub, a virtual learning platform designed by the School’s award-winning EdTech Lab.

Staying connected while studying online is key, and Imperial College Business School ensures this with their multi-device learning platform that is available across every time zone with bitesize learning, programme materials and weekly live sessions.

Students have access to a dedicated Careers team that works with them to build a practical and personal career development plan with international appeal.

The curriculum includes IB Glocal Electives which lets students travel abroad and analyse global problems with a local perspective. During the optional Global Experience Week, students will travel to another country for an intensive week-long trip to explore a new culture and business in an international context.

Find out more about the programme by chatting with a student ambassador here, or discover your suitability to the Global Online MBA by booking a one-to-one Profile Review with the Recruitment team.

Warwick Business School

In the Financial Times’ Online MBA Ranking 2020, Warwick Business School’s Distance Learning MBA is ranked first in the world. It is an immersive experience where you can engage in real time, test your knowledge, watch archived sessions, access teaching materials, link up with other students in global syndicate groups and speak directly to your lecturers and programme team.

Source: Warwick Business School

This is made possible by an online domain (my.wbs) that has been constructed by their in-house development team, employing the most up-to-date digital developments to guarantee a fully captivating MBA experience. Student Kate Kravchenko said, “We have a great platform dedicated to teamwork, we are organised in groups according to time zones so we can work effectively together and synchronise our schedules. We have a special area where we can have video conferences, type and send documents and share work for a particular assignment, it is really great.”

Additionally, with a diverse cohort at this triple-accredited school, it is a programme that will award you the skills you need to work anywhere in the world. During the two Warwick Weeks, you have the option to study up to two of your selective modules face-to-face and choose either to do so in the UK, or in cities such as Prague, Singapore and Dubai.

The school routinely invite guest speakers to provide industry insights. Former guest speakers include Co-Head of Strategy practice and Partner at Bain & Co, Chris Zook; Vice-president of Aston Martin, Michael Kerr; CEO of Barclays Ireland, Kevin Wall; Managing Director of CITI, Zoe Wimborne and Deputy Strategic Partnership Officer at NASA, Steven Gonzalez.

Manchester Alliance Business School

This international MBA can be studied from anywhere in the world, including while you work full-time which means you are able to apply the skills and knowledge you acquire immediately to solve your current business challenges.

Source: Shutterstock

The accelerated 18-month version is ideal for candidates with over eight years of senior management or entrepreneurial experience. Highly flexible and portable, the programme will use blended learning, combining remote study with 30 days of face-to-face teaching spread across six workshop residentials. This allows students to fit the MBA around their personal and professional commitments.

There are two practical business projects. Each module includes a workshop residential in Manchester or at one of the business school’s global centres: Dubai, Hong Kong, Manchester, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore. There are also MBA electives in additional locations, currently Tokyo.

Students can select from tis wide range of electives to suit their personal goals and interest, including an option to travel overseas. Accommodation in two location where the business school has a global centre will be paid for by the university.

Like all other programmes at the university, students will be taught using the “Manchester Method”. This refers to a teaching approach focusing on group work, practice-based learning and reflection. Lecturers do not just impart theory but show students how to get the results they need using: Practical workshop residentials, real-world case studies, business simulation project, live business project and business networking opportunities.

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