BCBusiness

E X E C U T I V E E D U C A T I O N S p e c i a l F e a t u r e volunteer commitments, so we allow them to choose a course load each semester that's manageable for them." The program replicates the group work that is common to most MBA programs, by encouraging interaction between the students in the courses and the instruc- tor. "Students will work in virtual teams with their colleagues from all across the country," Martin explains. "This is actually a bene•cial skill for them because the real- ity in today's working world is that you're going to be working with colleagues all around the world, so mastering those skills of virtual teamwork is very valuable." Unique Partnerships Vancouver Island University (VIU) has partnered with the University of Hertford- shire (UH), located near London, England, to o†er a dual degree program for students looking for more than just the regular MBA. "The University of Hertfordshire is known as a 'business facing' university with real strength in applied business programs. It is also a leader in the •eld of international education, therefore it was a good match for our university," says Brock Dykeman, VIU's MBA program director. This dual Canadian/British program, an intensive 14-to 16-month full-time com- mitment, integrates theory, research and practice. Upon completion, graduates not only receive a Master of Business Adminis- tration from VIU and a Master of Science in International Management (MScIM) from UH, but also experience and knowledge that can be applied anywhere in the world. "Our program has an international man- agement focus, so this is threaded through- out the curriculum," explains Dykeman. "We have small class sizes (maximum of 34 students), therefore you will have close contact with the professors. We also have marketing and •nance specializations avail- able," he adds. And for those who don't have a business degree but are interested in the program, VIU assists these students with the transition through its MBA Founda- tion Program, which brings them up to speed in business fundamentals. VIU realizes that the majority of stu- dents enrolled in its MBA and dual degree programs are just starting to establish their careers or are looking to move up the cor- porate ladder, which is why the four-month practicum built into the program is such an integral and valuable component. "Most of our MBA students are at a relatively early stage in their careers or are switching career areas. The internship helps them to make that transition," he says. "Most of our international students plan to stay and work in Canada and the internship and the preparation support prepare them well for careers in Canada." And true to VIU's international focus, students aren't limited to practicum opportunities just at home. "Most are done in Canada but we have had some done in Germany and in other international loca- tions," Dykeman states. A new MBA program o†ered by the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business (GSB) at the University of Victoria has recently attracted attention because of its unique nature. The Gustavson School is partner- ing with TELUS to o†er an MBA program customized speci•cally to employees of the telecommunications company. The •rst cohort of 20 students started this fall. " TELUS is looking at this program as a vehicle to develop their next generation of leaders, and part of the value for the organization is that this is a way to retain their best talent," says Saul Klein, dean of the Gustavson School. TELUS executives worked with profes- sors and administrators at the Gustavson School to design the program structure and the course content, which focuses on issues relevant to the telecommunications industry. The company provides support- ing technoložy for the blended face-to- face and online learning delivery model, and pays the tuition costs. Managers at TELUS were recruited for the program by company executives, and had to meet the university's admission requirements. The program is the GSB's •rst custom- ized MBA, and Klein says that it builds on other executive education programs that the school has jointly designed and devel- oped with other organizations. "Over the years we've seen a move from a lot of open enrollment to more customized in-com- pany work, and the next step is to think about how that work gets credentialed, and how it builds up into degree programs." He describes the school as a "focused niche player," with a cross-disciplinary approach to three main content areas: services management, entrepreneurship and international business. Rather than delving deeply into functional areas such as marketing or •nance, the philosophy is to break down the silos within an organiza- tion and work across boundaries. "We've taken a di†erent approach to management education which ¢ows through from our degree programs to our non-degree pro- grams," he says. "It's seeing how we can add value to organizations. We design a program that ties all the pieces together." Another example is a program designed with the Whistler Chamber of Commerce that o†ers services quality training at multiple levels for anyone who Many schools are partnering with companies to deliver industry-specific education

• Cover