Today, MBA students require essential core business knowledge and understanding. With the increase in competition in the corporate world, it is important to lay a strong emphasis on developing the applied management skills vital for effective leadership. Moreover, the MBA degree should reflect the evolving nature of business and the global challenges faced by industry leaders. The skills and competences of MBA graduates enable them to add value and make a difference to any organization that they join. The other added advantage of the MBA is that it provides a solid knowledge base and an international experience that enables graduates to aim for more senior management positions in any sector.
University of the West of Scotland is a large, modern, multi-campus university with origins dating back to 1897. It has four campuses across the west and southwest of Scotland, and one campus in central London. The MBA provided by the University is internationally respected and recognized. UWS is a Scottish university with a reputation for focused research, excellent teaching, and exemplary student experience. UWS is also recognized for its widening access initiatives and student support. The MBA is developed and structured around the School of Business and Creative Industries’ key research areas, industry links, and consultancy.
Virtual Learning Environment
The UWS MBA is a world-leader in its pedagogical approach in vicarious learning where students identify contemporary business practices and relate these back to theories and concepts. UWS offers an MBA in four specialist areas: finance, leadership, enterprise and risk management. These offerings allow students to focus on a particular pathway or “cherry-pick” module electives that play to their strengths or career aspirations.
The MBA is offered in three modes: part-time, full-time and distance learning. All students are engaged and taught on the bespoke virtual learning environment—the MBA Online World (MBAOW) so that UWS students can be online in the same forums sharing their life and work experiences, ideas and challenging their understanding of the module materials. The different modes of delivery provide students with the flexibility to alter their study in line with their personal lives and work commitments.
Developing Skills to Become Successful Managers
The UWS MBA is taught in the UK and all over the world through its online delivery. It has several international partners and is delivered in Malaysia, Singapore, Seychelles, India, and France. The MBA program is supported by UWS’s virtual learning environment—the MBA Online World, which provides access to MBA core text and allows students to study online with their peers. Key to this is peer-to-peer learning, the sharing of professional and business experience, and reasoning and reflection. This provides an integrated approach to understanding the role of business functions and the challenges faced by the discontinuous business landscape. The use of practical examples and case studies enables UWS MBA graduates to develop the skills and competencies needed to be successful managers.
An Active Researcher
Dr. Tom Keegan is a Senior Lecturer at UWS who originally worked in the Food Industry as production manager. As a mature student, he studied and graduated with an MBA in 1992 which led to a change in career. He entered education as a Lecturer in Management with an interest in Operations Management, Strategic Management, and Business Ethics. Working in the Business School he helped in set up TNE partnerships and collaborations in France, Malaysia, and Russia. He also delivered business consultancy to several Scottish and international organizations.
Tom graduated from the Open University with MEd and EdD. As a Senior Lecturer, he developed and validated the UWS MBA, as well as being the project lead and editor on the development of the MBAOW. Since 2005, he has been involved with the MBA as a tutor and as a program leader from 2012. He is also active in research and doctoral supervision. Since 1993, he has been a member of the EIS-ULA, involved in supporting colleagues; drafting and consulting on policy; supporting several organizational changes, including the merger that created UWS; and the recent opening and move to the new Lanarkshire campus.
Effectively Responding to Unpredictable Challenges
The UWS MBA recognizes prior credit and has a large number of individuals who join as MBA Top-Up students. UWS’s MBA program has no exams and all students are assessed through individual and group coursework. The MBA team is clear that it wishes to develop graduates with the competencies needed for today’s organizational challenges. In its view, UWS MBA graduates should be “can do and not can remember”. UWS’s Strategic Business Project module gives students the flexibility to do a traditional dissertation, in-company research, or a business plan. Graduating from the MBA, students will be able to effectively respond to unpredictable challenges in globally competitive business environments.
Possessing Additional Skills
To stand out in a highly competitive environment, students need more than just basic educational skills – many organisations are looking for candidates who have different interpersonal and social skills, such as management and creativity. These not only help them during their MBA at UWS but also throughout their career. UWS looks for students who possess the maturity, motivation, enthusiasm and determination to succeed beyond the MBA programme.
Traditionally, a lot of emphasis was given on classroom learning. With time, the focus has drifted towards practical knowledge and outside of the classroom learning. Students are actively encouraged to participate in research projects and identify opportunities beyond the programme to further their learning. UWS motivates its students to interact with their tutors and offers an approachable and supportive learning environment, where students can meet and work with tutors.
Meeting the Requirement Along With CSR
Understanding current and future market requirements, UWS is considering new MBA courses, such as Public Sector Management and Operations Management. The UWS MBA program modules also embed Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) themes throughout them, enabling students to consider and reflect on CSR in their studies. The UWS strategy, corporate vision and principles imply CSR which is constantly communicated to the students.
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