Melbourne Business School launches new MBA (Professional) degree
Jul, 2008
Melbourne Business School (MBS) has launched a revised part time MBA program offering an innovative course of study, enhanced flexibility and increased postgraduate access paths for local, regional, interstate and time-poor working professionals.
An academically rigorous, 16 subject degree, the MBA (Professional) was developed in response to market research and student feedback that highlighted an urgent need for more flexible study options for a new group of part time students.
"In our part time market the MBA is becoming more and more a career advancement tool," said Professor Richard Speed, Associate Dean for faculty resources.
"Students are less interested in changing industry, focusing instead on advancement of their current career path, and so require exposure to a more limited range of elective subjects to achieve their objectives. Our MBA (Professional) seeks to serve this more experienced and focused market," adds Prof. Speed.
Study aspirations for potential part time students are often constrained by modern working conditions. Employees are increasingly working longer hours, regularly required to be available outside traditional office hours and often travel frequently for work. There is a clear need for more flexible study options.
MBS believes that the key to flexibility is choice. Students who study the MBA (Professional) will be able to choose between two very different delivery modes - traditional weeknight study mode and a new, intensive weekend study mode .
Students who choose the weekend mode of delivery will study across a series of long weekends, beginning on Thursday night and concluding on Monday morning. In this mode students will study three long weekends per semester as an alternative to traditional weekday evenings.
Professor Jenny George, Associate Dean and director of the new program says that, "students will have the flexibility to choose the study mode that best suits their personal circumstances. In addition they will be able to swap between modes enabling study commitments to keep pace with work and family changes."
Students will also have the flexibility to accelerate completion of the MBA (Professional) degree. Students who choose to study exclusively in weekend block mode can complete the program in two years.
The structure of the weekend mode timetable ensures that students can study at MBS with minimal disruption to their day-to-day working lives. They will have access to face-to-face instruction and enjoy the benefits of studying with like-minded peers.
The weekend mode delivery of the MBA (Professional) program opens the gates to groups of students previously unable to access MBS postgraduate study. These groups include those living in regional areas, states adjoining Victoria and professionals who often travel for work.
"We recognise that for some, work and family commitments can constitute a powerful barrier to traditional part time study access. The intensive weekend mode of delivery has been developed with these students in mind, so that they have maximum choice during this significant investment in themselves and their future careers," adds Prof. George.
The first MBA (Professional) intake will be in January 2009. Enrolments close on November 30th, 2008.
Click here for detailed program information.
For media enquiries or to arrange an interview with Prof. Jenny George, please contact:
Jenny McHendrie
Tel: +61 3 9349 8393
Email: j.mchendrie@mbs.edu
