With a mission to inform, empower, celebrate and advocate for British Columbia's current and aspiring business leaders, BCBusiness go behind the headlines and bring readers face to face with the key issues and people driving business in B.C.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/740454
M B A / 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 well represented in leadership roles in Vancouver's innovation-based firms—a trend we definitely see growing in the future." Vancouver Island University's Master of Business Administration program also offers students the opportunity to learn in a dynamic global setting with students from all over the world. "Our small class size enables students and faculty unique opportunities to learn, while the diversity of our students and faculty provide a pertinent global perspective for today's business world," says Davit Iremadze, director of Graduate Business Studies in the Faculty of Management at Vancouver Island University ( VIU). VIU's MBA is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). It has partnered with the University of Hertfordshire in the UK to award MBA students a dual degree option where they would also earn their University of Hertfordshire Master of Science in International Management (MSc.IM). The core program is the same whether a student is doing a single ( MBA- only program) or a dual degree program. However, students completing the dual degree option must do the Applied Business Project. The MBA program is offered in an intensive 14- to 16-month full-time format, which includes 12 core courses, one elective course, two specialization courses or an applied business project and a four- month internship. Students without an undergraduate degree in business will need to complete an additional two to three- month Foundation program before the start of the MBA program. "This program is designed to give students the opportunity to combine new knowledge and practical experience through the integration of theory, research and practice that can be applied at regional, national and international levels," says Iremadze. Business case analysis is an important part of VIU MBA curriculum. Throughout their studies, students are constantly applying their learning to real-life decision- making situations relevant to the local, regional and international companies. The Sardul S. Gill Graduate School at University of Victoria's Peter B. Gustavson School of Business offers a Weekend MBA designed with British Columbians in mind. "It is meant for smart, motivated professionals who balance work and family and have great demands on their time," says Dr. David Dunne, director of MBA Programs. "The small cohort and flexible, applied nature of the program empowers working professionals to adjust and adapt busy schedules while maximizing learning— they can study business on campus one weekend every month , work virtually in between weekends and apply their learning directly to work throughout the program. The University of Victoria Weekend MBA is the relevant MBA for forward thinkers because it provides leading-edge knowledge, an emphasis on sustainability and responsible leadership, a collaborative community and an intimate and applied learning environment in a face-to-face format that still fits with your life." With a maximum of 25 candidates accepted each year into the Weekend MBA program, the faculty get to know their students personally to help them excel and explore the exciting world of business management, Dr. Dunne adds. Every term in the Weekend MBA program includes an applied project that is team-based and grounded in real-world problem solving. MBA candidates work with a client organization on a current business problem or issue where they research and analyze the client's business issue, then provide analysis and recommendations in a formal presentation and written report. Clients may be sourced locally, nationally or internationally depending on the project team, scope and requirements. In the second year of the program, students participate in a one-week International Applied Project that takes place overseas. Students work with a client company and the business issue they tackle for them has an international focus. Students apply their cumulative business knowledge and develop their global mindset and international business skillset. Project locations are generally driven by the client organization's needs. "As a North American gateway, B.C. is well positioned for international trade, investment and knowledge mobilization with sought-after expertise," Dr. Dunne says. "With a diverse talent pool and a vibrant centre for government and business, Victoria is a natural place to build leadership capacity. The Weekend MBA prepares our leaders to think differently, act responsibly and have a global mindset which aligns with organizational needs— large and small—in B.C." The UVIC Weekend MBA kicks off with a three-day Essentials of Business Leadership (EBL) experience in September that leads into intensive on-campus weekend classes that continue once per month for 24 months, supported by online learning and teamwork between weekends. Weekend MBA candidates also commit to a one- week international trip and a final five-day capstone experience to complete the program. The MBA program at UBC Sauder's Robert H. Lee Graduate School offers a personalized experi- ence for its students