MBA courses can vastly improve
the prospects and quality of your career, enabling
you to reach your ultimate professional potential.
The MBA is an international qualification that
is well-respected by employers around the world.
So,
you have taken the big decision; you want to
get an MBA. You probably have friends of work
colleagues who already have one or who are currently
studying. It seems increasingly normal for the
MBA to be part of a commitment to Lifelong Learning,
representing as it does the need to constantly
keep your knowledge, skills and competence up-to-date
and able to meet the increasingly high demands
of modern employers in terms of personal and
managerial development.
Without doubt, the
MBA is the most internationally recognised degree
in existence, and arguably with new delivery
methods and distance learning opportunities,
the world is now your oyster when considering
where and how to study.
The UK is top of many
people’s lists. Statistics reveal that
Business and Management Studies is the most
popular area of study by far of international
students and managers coming to the UK. For
many, the prospect of a 1 year full-time MBA
course (or more specialised Master’s Degree)
set in a modern, vibrant economy, and noted
as much for its friendly cosmopolitan welcome
as its rich traditions an heritage, is a most
appealing prospect.
Don’t be afraid
to ask for written testimonials from schools
on your shortlist of MBA courses, or from former
students from your country who have successfully
completed their MBA programme and gone on to
new and enhanced careers. The alumni network
will be an important facet of your eventual
selection.
If for whatever reason
you can’t or don’t wish to study in
the UK itself, then consider the possibility
of Distance Learning MBA courses. There are
several very well established UK Business Schools
who have proved that they can bring their MBA
programmes to students in many countries and
regions of the world. Such programmes are truly
‘glocal’ - a new word which means
global in scope yet locally delivered. Don’t
be afraid to ask about the nature of the learning
support that will be provided to you and also
the completion rate of the course. Distance
Learning can be a bit lonely and the local support
and interaction of the group network can make
all the difference to your eventual success
and satisfaction.
The fact that you
are reading this article probably means that
you have begun to consider the many options
available with MBA courses, but where else can
you find the best information to help you make
the final choice? Firstly, you can contact the
Association of Business Schools (ABS) in the
UK (contact details are at the end of the article).
ABS produces a comprehensive Directory of all
major MBA courses in the UK and includes details
about the programmes, including costs, entry
requirements and also independent quality ratings
of both teaching and research. The ABS Directory
should also be available at your local British
Council office. Just ask for the ABS Postgraduate
Directory 1997/8.
At ABS, we find that
when potential students have considered all
the factors involved in selecting MBA courses
and have produced a shortlist they still find
it difficult to make the final decision. After
all, an MBA is a major investment with or without
employer support. ABS receives a large number
of calls, faxes and emails seeking help to make
the final choice. Because ABS represents 100
business schools, we are not able to say that
school A is better than school B. However, we
can answer factual questions in an independent
way, and students regularly confirm that we
are helpful to them in making their own final
decision.
Don’t be afraid
to ask for written testimonies from schools
on your shortlist, or from former students from
your country who have successfully completed
their MBA programme and gone on to new and enhanced
careers.
Author:
Jonathan Slack, Chief Executive, Association
of Business Schools, London
Contact
Details: Association of Business Schools, 344/354
Gray’s Inn Road, London, WC1X 8BP U.K
Tel:
+44 (0)207 837 1899 - Fax: +44 (0)207 837 8189
Email:
abs@mailbox.ulcc.ac.uk
