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mba
We believe that we offer one of the best MBA learning experiences in the world. A bold statement, but one we believe we can qualify.
Contents
The University of Strathclyde Business School Standing out from the crowd What is the Strathclyde MBA? Programme overview Programme structure and content Our learning community Offshore study Strathclyde Business School around the world The admissions process Faculty and sponsors
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Founded in 1947, the University of Strathclyde Business School (SBS) has a reputation for being a pioneering, international academic organisation that shapes and develops the business minds of tomorrow. It offers the highest quality business education and management development from undergraduates and graduates right through to senior executives.
Since 1988, we have graduated thousands of course participants, with thousands more currently studying in their own country. We believe that this success is due to the flexible learning delivery structure developed with our local partner in each country, incorporating elements of part-time, full-time and open learning methods of study. The partners in each of our international
The programme format is especially designed for busy executives who need to combine career and family commitments with the demands of MBA studies. The flexibility of the part-time approach enables most participants to graduate within two years. However, study may be spread over a longer period if necessary, to a maximum of six years. While your studies can be wholly completed via your chosen offshore centre, many of our course members choose to attend our Elective Summer Schools in Glasgow. Not only does this help you to fast-track through your studies, but it is also a fantastic opportunity to meet other MBA colleagues from around the world. The MBA offshore corresponds closely to the UK programmes and is assessed on the same basis. The Strathclyde MBA is offered on a part-time basis through our international partnerships in: Bahrain Abu Dhabi and Dubai Oman Greece Switzerland Hong Kong Malaysia Singapore
SBS has had a long-standing commitment to delivering high quality education on an international basis. For over 20 years the Business School has been running offshore programmes in Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. It was one of the first business schools to undertake offshore activities of this nature, and in 1993 received the Queens Award for Exports in recognition of these activities.
centres are carefully chosen to act on our behalf. While we maintain control and manage the students recruited onto the programme, our partners provide us with full administrative support, well-equipped teaching facilities and are on hand to deal with your everyday needs as you progress through your studies. The academics who deliver the core elements of the MBA in our international centres also deliver the MBA in our Glasgow headquarters.
The foundation stone of our learning community are the people who join the course. In recruitment our guiding question is what does this person bring to our learning community?
Our departments
Accounting and Finance; Management; Economics; Management Science; Human Resource Management; Marketing; the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship
Before even completing the course in 2006 I was promoted to senior credit analyst on the basis of superior performance.
Vassilios Moutzouris Sector Manager, Emporiki Bank, Athens
Among thousands of MBA programmes around the world, what makes the Strathclyde MBA stand out from the crowd? Our credentials speak for themselves.
Pioneering
With over 40 years experience in developing the best MBA programme, SBS is a major innovator in the field of business and management. SBS was the first UK business school to offer:
Strathclyde is the only business school in Scotland, and one of only 48 in the world, to hold all 3 of the aforementioned hallmarks of excellence.
a full-time one-year MBA programme (1966) a part-time MBA programme (1976) a distance learning programme (1983) a DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) programme (1988) This pioneering spirit brought the Strathclyde MBA into many new countries via the establishment of international centres. These centres meant, for the first time, local managers could study for a UK MBA in their own country. This earned SBS the prestigious Queens Award for Export Achievement in 1993. We operate nine international Strathclyde MBA centres: Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Gulf (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain and Oman), Switzerland and Greece. As a result, there are approximately 2000 course members currently enrolled on the Strathclyde MBA around the world.
Research Excellence
In addition to our international accreditation, Strathclyde has a reputation for research excellence. Most recently, in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, Strathclyde Business School has been rated 1st in Scotland - by a long way - and rated 7th in the UK in the latest comprehensive rating of research. This news affirms SBS as a leader for world leading and internationally excellent research.
Corporate connections
As you might expect from the school that was the first to offer the MBA in Scotland, Strathclyde has a long track record of working with industry, both at home and overseas. The strength of our local connections is echoed in Strathclydes global connections. Our international operations mean that we have experience and knowledge of what is going on in some of the most exciting areas of the world. This is reinforced by the growing list of Universities with whom we have research and teaching relationships. Indeed many of our academics are engaged in research and consulting activities in international organisations. The list of companies found on page 25 demonstrates the breadth of relationships we continue to develop around the globe ranging from corporate recruiters, sponsors and current clients.
Career development
While career development or job search issues are not high on the agenda for parttime students, it is useful to know that you have access to the SBS Careers Portal through the intranet.
This site provides a number of resources to address all career-related needs. For example, the Workbook offers a stepped framework for thinking about your future, through to negotiating the final package. The Portal also contains links to industry intelligence, such as The Vault Online Library; MBA recruiting company information, for example, The Workmaze Guides; vacancies from a variety of sources including TopMBA; and links to global job sites. For further information, and a personal consultation if required, you can contact our MBA Careers Manager at careers@gsb.strath.ac.uk
programmes, SBS now has an outstanding international alumni network of over 8500 world-wide, many of whom have reached the highest positions in their fields.
Undertaking the Strathclyde MBA is not simply about gaining an internationally recognised qualification, it is about joining a community of experienced managers who share a desire to develop their practice on a continuing basis.
The course generally is broad and unbiased towards any particular module, which I think is the right approach, offering greater specialisation through the electives.
Thomas Hickey, Part time offshore MBA (Malaysia) 2007-08
Studying for the Strathclyde MBA offshore, involves a flexible style of delivery full-time, part-time and open learning elements in a 180 credit format, over 2 years.
Greater ability to attract and retain high Flexible approach to management education
Structured development of individual managers
While the Strathclyde MBA draws on a number of specialist areas, we do not aim to train specialists. Rather, our purpose is to develop you in diverse areas of management.
Project
2 Electives
20 credits (2x10)
Managing
Governance
Learning Manager
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The Strathclyde MBA is based on collaborative learning students share work experience, knowledge, understanding and skills.
Strategic Management for Sustainable Success: this module will develop your ability to work as a manager in a modern organisation by introducing you to a wide range of tools, techniques and theories relevant both to daily management and strategic change. Classes in this stage will help students deal with organisational ambiguity and uncertainty, planning for the future of the business, and strategy making through the following sections:
available via our offshore centres, many course members take advantage of the extensive range of electives offered as one-week units at SBS each year during May and June. Subject to availability, these summer schools in Glasgow facilitate a fast-track through the programme from a part-time study perspective. More importantly, attendance gives you an excellent opportunity to learn alongside a group of like-minded, international colleagues. To reflect the latest management thinking, the subjects are revised annually. For a full list of the electives on offer, either via your study centre, or during our summer schools in Glasgow, contact the centre administrator.
MBA Project This part of Personal Development gives you the opportunity to examine in depth a managerial, organisational or environmental issue of your choice over an extended period of time, allowing you to put into practice the knowledge and skills acquired during your studies. The project is an integral part of the MBA programme and must be completed satisfactorily before you are eligible to graduate. It provides an ideal opportunity to build on what you have already learned. The primary aim is to reinforce your learning in an area of your choice, and you will be encouraged to undertake projects within organisations. Whenever possible, we will assist you in identifying appropriate organisations or contacts. The final Project Report will be 13,000-16,000 words.
Finance and Financial Management Marketing Management Analytical Support for Decision Making Financial and Management Accounting Operations Management Managing People in Organisations
Summary
The overall process of the Strathclyde MBA is summarised as follows:
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Undertaking the Strathclyde MBA is not simply about gaining an internationally recognised qualification, it is about joining a community of experienced managers who share a desire to develop their practice on a continuing basis. We see our task as facilitating this development through and beyond the MBA. Our commitment to this approach is reflected not only in the course itself, but in the people we recruit, the approach to learning, the information resources and services available to you and the way we work with alumni.
Unlike many other business schools, we do not over-emphasise the historical case study approach. Wherever possible, we prefer to concentrate on current issues and scenarios which affect organisations.
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...flexibility allows busy executives to gain a first class international MBA in their own country, without interrupting their careers
In order to maintain high standards of consistency throughout the world, all admissions decisions are made by Strathclyde Business School. Our partners provides local administrative services as well as holding counselling sessions, seminars and examinations. SBS provides core teaching materials and sends Strathclyde University faculty members to our centres to run intensive seminars. Each centre also has a number of local management education specialists who provide ongoing counselling support. All assessment is the responsibility of Strathclyde and successful participants will be awarded a University of Strathclyde Master of Business Administration, the identical degree parchment that all students, including full-time students, receive.
work while taking the course over this two year period. This makes our programme a viable and valuable alternative for you and your company since it combines the benefits of learning with immediate practical application to your working environment.
* Delivery may vary slightly between centres - centre staff will be happy to provide information on any variation.
Assessment throughout the programme involves a combination of course work, workshops, examinations, group work and presentations. Examination diets take place in March and August of each year. While offered in partnership, the responsibility for academic quality control resides with Strathclyde, and is exactly the same as for the United Kingdom programmes. Successful MBA students will be awarded the same Strathclyde University MBA as all UK students and will be invited to attend the graduation ceremony held annually at Strathclyde University, Glasgow.
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Bahrain
RUW is a private, international university committed to providing the highest standards of education to all of its students. The Strathclyde MBA in Bahrain is delivered at the RUWs campus at Riffa. This new campus boasts state of the art teaching facilities, and provides a stimulating, yet comfortable learning environment. Being an IT professional for most of the last 20 years of my career, I wanted a shift in my profession. I wanted to stay in the same field but to move up the ladder and an MBA from a reputable university was something which suited the most. In 2007 I began my Strathclyde MBA at SBSs Bahrain centre. From the start, I thought SBS was tight on criteria, rules and regulations, but as I progressed, I realised it was important to be stringent in order to deliver quality education and to produce graduates who have gained knowledge through books and classroom attendance, but who can also deliver in the field right after graduation. Waqar Haider, graduate 2009 www.ruw.edu.bh Call centre manager, RMZ Commercial Company Ltd, Saudi Arabia. Overall, I have benefited a lot and already I have recommended the programme to my colleagues. After two years in the programme - the minimum time to complete the Strathclyde MBA - I feel it was time worth spending. The useful learning I experienced was delivered by professors with centuries of cumulative teaching experience. The triple accreditation the university holds for its MBA programme opened doors for me to international management professional bodies. For example, the Canadian Institute of Management has accepted my application to be their fellow member and a chartered manager based on my MBA from Strathclyde. Throughout the programme I had excellent support from Strathclyde in the UK as well as the local centre in Bahrain. I particularly enjoyed the part of the programme related to strategy and planning as this was an area which had always fascinated me.
Oman
The College of Banking and Financial Studies is the apex body for training and research in the banking and financial services sector in Oman. It was established in 1983 by a Royal Decree and works under the overall supervision of the countrys central bank. The College offers a variety of diploma and degree programmes, all internationally linked to prestigious institutions. www.cbfs.edu.om I have spent the past 25 years working for National Bank of Oman holding various managerial positions. I understood that continuing education is critical in order to be an effective decision maker and to reach higher levels in organizational hierarchy. I chose to pursue higher education with the University of Strathclyde through its affiliation with the College of Banking & Financial Studies because of its excellent reputation and well structured MBA for executives. The University of Strathclyde MBA had a positive impact on my life which gave me the opportunity to view and approach the field of management from different perspectives. The MBA enriched my career development and increased my awareness of changing dynamics in the business world as well as accomplishing self actualization.
During my time on the part time MBA programme, I found it to be an effective and efficient answer to my needs of optimizing and maximizing my learning given the busy work schedule of being Head of Operations in one of the leading banks in Oman. After successful completion of the MBA programme, I started applying all the unique skills, knowledge, abilities, and competencies that I gained from my Masters of Business Administration in the fields of Human Resources, Operations Management, Managing People in Organization, Leadership, and Strategy. Post MBA, I got promoted from Head of Operations Division to Assistant General Manager of Human Resource Division. I then sustained the outstanding performance and my achievements were recognized as I was again promoted to Deputy General Manager of Human Resources Division. In 2009, the Chief Executive Officer of the bank was focusing on restructuring the top high managerial positions in the bank and having a record of significant professional growth in the field of Operations Services, I was promoted to the General Manager and Chief Operating Officer, which is my current position. Khalfan Al Aufi, General Manager and COO, National Bank of Oman
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Greece
International Management Studies was set up in Greece by a team of British management education specialists to provide high quality management development programmes to experienced and talented professionals. IMS runs a wide range of business seminars for both companies and individuals and offers a number of British postgraduate management degrees, including the MSc in Finance with the University of Strathclyde. Located at 85 Dinokratous in Kolonaki, IMS houses seminar rooms, a computer network and a management education library. www.imstudies.gr It was a challenging time - a lot of studying, essay writing, and of course, exams. But above all, a lot of thinking; thinking as a manager, what I will be asked to face, how I should approach each case, what are the dynamics of the role. In fact, I believe that one of the best assets this course helped me acquire is a sound way of business thinking. After all, as managers we are not asked to know everything; but we need to know how to go about finding the solutions to the problems at hand. By all means, go ahead, enjoy this creative and challenging experience! Georgia Kalemidou, Manager, KPMG, Athens In particular, I felt that the subjects you study add value to your existing knowledge, as well as make you much more reflective, as a manager. People often ask me why I chose to study the Strathclyde MBA in Athens; I must admit that my search for an MBA course was thorough and long. In the end, however, my choice became clear, since, I believe that Strathclyde offers one of the best MBAs in UK and the rest of Europe.
Hong Kong
The University of Strathclyde Business School (SBS) has offered a part-time MBA in Hong Kong for over 20 years. Previously partnered with Hong Kong Baptist University, SBS is now working in partnership with MacGregor Education Services in Hong Kong. Established in 2004, MacGregor is run by a team of university professors and graduates, and is well connected with schools and colleges around the world, with special focus on Australia, New Zealand and the UK. www.macgregor.edu.hk I chose the Strathclyde MBA as it was a flexible programme with international accreditation. The programme was well structured and is highly ranked in the annual top 100 MBA lists. It was also good value for money, when benchmarked against other courses. The best word to describe my MBA experience was diverse by this I mean I was able to meet other people from other companies, countries and cultures, and share ideas. You soon realise that you learn from your peers as well as from the syllabus and the lecturers. Much of what you do learn is easily transferable to your everyday work. It is also transferable to another organisation so whether you are looking to enhance your current career or embark on a new one, its a great qualification to have. Overall, I found this to be a really excellent MBA programme and it will definitely change you for the better. James Henry Brazier, Hong Kong centre.
Switzerland
Swiss Management Forum (SMF) is a provider of management consultancy and training for the corporate sector in German speaking Europe. SMF has specialised in three main areas: international business development and cross-cultural management, sustainability management, and education programme management. Coming from the corporate sector, SMF is fully aware of the expectations and requirements of MBA participants both in terms of quality and delivery, and of the capabilities participants need to develop to be able to contribute more to their companies. www.strathclyde-mba.ch The Strathclyde MBA offered me useful know-now especially in the area of management and strategy. This sound foundation enabled me to apply a holistic view with regard to business development. Dr. Orsola Vettori, CEO Hospital Zollikerbe The Strathclyde Executive MBA was intense, compact, practical oriented and of high value for me when looking at strategic challenges from a global perspective. Urs Brtsch, Head of International Airport Activities, Flughafen Zrich AG
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Malaysia
Our partner in Malaysia is CDC Management Development (M) Sdn Bhd. Founded in June 1999 by a group of experienced management professionals, CDC Management Development owns and manages CDC Management Institute and is responsible for promoting the Strathclyde MBA in Malaysia and full-time postgraduate applications to Glasgow. Together with their sister company, CDC Consulting, they offer integrated services and solutions that address the Business, Management, Organisational and People issues of their clients, helping them to make the difference in achieving powerful and productive change. They are dedicated to creating and nurturing client capability so they can continually sustain their competitive advantage. www.cdc.edu.my During 2009, I was awarded The Outstanding Strathclyde Malaysia Award and this is proof of the success of Strathclyde in preparing good people who can contribute towards the good of mankind. I see myself as a good person but I am not perfect. Receiving this award is really a tribute not to me alone, but to the University and the whole Alumni. Sonny Tan Siew Hock, CEO, RG After completing my dissertation, I was fortunate enough to come across a company that needed someone to turnaround the business. During the interview, the Chairman asked me what I knew about medical insurance as medical insurance was one of the companys focuses. I told him I had just submitted my MBA dissertation entitled The Health Insurance Opportunity for Insurers in Malaysia in the New Millennium. He asked if he could borrow my dissertation. The very next day he offered me the job. My Strathclyde MBA studies formalised my work experience and provided me with structures and frameworks, which helped me better understand and apply my accumulated knowledge and skills.
Singapore
The University of Strathclyde is an established name in the Singapore MBA market and our alumni are present in all areas of Singapore life, from government and business to politics. Strathclyde has had a presence in Singapore for more than 20 years. YMCA Education Centre, Singapore, took over the university representation from the Times Management Institute in 2009 and now offers administrative support and facilities for teaching as carried out by local tutors and Strathclyde academics, and continues to work on further enhancing Strathclydes reputation in Singapore for quality education. www.ymca.edu.sg/ymca-tertiary/ For me doing the Strathclyde MBA was a great life experience offering new insights into the world of business, changing and enabling my mindset to look at issues from different and multiple angles. It was indeed a great opportunity and very enriching to work with fellow students from various backgrounds, ethnicity, age groups, nationalities and different business environments. This diversity I would say is one of the distinct advantages of the Strathclyde MBA programme.
As my fellow graduates would undoubtedly agree, the beginning was not easy. In fact many of us had not been in a classroom for many years. Examinations and assignments were but a faint memory and there were other significant adjustments; many of us are married and have children. It was a very difficult challenge to balance studies, family and work - more so for those who had to travel frequently on business. The support of our families and cooperation among fellow students was very crucial in fulfilling the very exacting requirements of this MBA programme. As the semesters went by, and as we worked in groups, the sense of purpose became stronger and strong bonds and friendships were formed. We were all enriched by the contributions, ideas, and the critique of our work from our fellow classmates. To this I would include the faculty and local counsellors for their inspiring guidance and dedication and to the programme managers and staff at YMCA for their support. Learning is a life long journey and for me this MBA has been a major milestone in this journey. The journey continues...
Mathivanan Krishnan, No matter where in the world you undertake our General Manager, MBA, Strathclyde academics will lead yourSingapore Pte Ltd ISK class Many of us, including myself, chose to do giving you the opportunity to discuss issues with one or more of the electives at 1 of the them and learn from their expertise. 8 international centres. This was a great opportunity to immerse in different cultural environments and interact with people of many nationalities. We appreciate this unique opportunity in the Strathclyde MBA programme.
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Our selection process is designed to identify talented professionals from a wide range of academic, business and cultural backgrounds who might gain from, and contribute to, our learning community.
As you might expect our selection process is designed to identify talented professionals from a wide range of academic, business and cultural backgrounds who might gain from, and contribute to, our learning community. As a result, while there are formal requirements for entry listed here, our concern is with the potential of individual candidates, their interpersonal and teamworking qualities and the range and nature of their managerial experience. In order to assess these skills we ask you to complete a number of essays outlining your experience and aspirations alongside of references supporting your work experience and academic record. We may ask you to undertake a formal interview to discuss your achievements and aspirations. In any case we would encourage you to visit the school or centre you are applying to and to ask as many questions as you need to clarify your decision.
Admissions Testing
Although GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) is not a standard requirement of our admissions process, strong verbal reasoning and numerical abilities are critical for the MBA and we may ask you to undertake such a test.
Competence in English
The MBA programme is highly interactive and therefore requires a high level of competence in English speaking, writing, reading and understanding. A minimum of 6.5 across the board in IELTS or 100 (IBT) in TOEFL is required for those applicants whose first language is not English. We will consider applicants who fall slightly below these standards if they are willing to undertake pre-sessional study.
be at least 24 years of age have a minimum of three years fulltime postgraduate experience where the management of people and resources has played a significant role. Entry at Diploma level may be offered to applicants who do not hold sufficient recognised degree level qualifications, but who do:
Computer competence
In order to undertake the Diploma/MBA you will need to be competent in word processing, the use of spreadsheets and in report writing.
The MBA is an important transition point in anyones career and we offer all members of our community expert advice on career development.
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Sponsoring companies
Some of the many corporate clients and companies who have sponsored Strathclyde MBA course members over the last 5 years: Airlines Emirates Airlines Etihad Airways Banks Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank BNP Paribas Dubai Islamic Bank HSBC National Bank of Abu Dhabi National Bank of Dubai Embassies British Embassy Italian Embassy British Council Miscellaneous International Caterpillar Honeywell Middle East Ernst & Young Nestle PriceWaterhouseCoopers Schlumberger Sulzer Pumps UNDP UBS ABB SwissRe Holcim IBM Pharmaceuticals AstaZeneca Bristol-Myers Squibb GSK Roche Johnson & Johnson Les Laboratoires Servier Merck & Co Novartis Pfizer Sanofi-Aventis Schering-plough UAE Companies ADIA
(Abu Dhabi Investment Authority)
ADCO
(Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations)
ADDC
(Abu Dhabi Distribution Company)
ADGAS
(Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company)
ADNATCO
(Abu Dhabi National Tanker Company)
ADNOC
(Abu Dhabi National Oil Company)
ADWEA
(Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority)
Al Qudra Holdings Environmental Agency-Abu Dhabi Etisalat Du Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies & Research Injazat Data Systems MASDAR Mubadala Thuraya Satellite Communication
For general information on the Strathclyde MBA programme or any of our other programmes please contact us at: Marketing and Student Recruitment University of Strathclyde Business School, 199 Cathedral Street, GLASGOW G4 0QU telephone: +44(0)141 553 6118/6119 fax: +44(0)141 553 6162 email: SBS.admissions@strath.ac.uk www.strath.ac.uk/business