Milestone for WIT’s MBA programme

The Sunday Business PostMarch 13, 2016 Focus On: Postgraduate & 4th Level Education 31

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INTRODUCING THREE NEW DOCTORAL

PROGRAMMES FOR 2016

by margaret o'brien

Recent research conducted by the Association of MBA’s (AMBA) reported that every

graduate of the Henley MBA programme, delivered by the Irish Management Institute (IMI), over the past three in-takes got a senior promotion on foot of their qualification and all bar one got a significant salary increase.

“The one exception is work-ing in the public sector and is subject to a pay freeze. How-ever, her career has developed and she has been promoted,” said Dr Mary Hogan, Henley MBA programme director with the IMI.

Hogan said: “They all agreed they would not have achieved their successes without the Henley MBA. They said it gave them confidence about the language of business, it con-tributed to clarity of thinking and they also said group par-ticipation on the programme and peer learning improved their ability to engage across the whole organisation.”

The research showed that while the qualification had a direct positive impact on graduates, it also greatly ben-efitted the employer organi-sation. The MBA is structured so that participants apply their learning to real work scenarios and, therefore, from the very first module until the very

last, organisations are bene-fiting from the Henley and IMI experience. Of those organi-sations who reported direct positive impact, they high-lighted organisational process improvements, the improved performance of teams and in-creasing subsidiary value to parent organisations.

“While this proves the value of a Henley MBA in the Irish workplace, it’s also important to note that, as a qualification, it knows no geographical boundaries. Wherever you go, the Henley MBA will be instantly recognised,” said Hogan. “It is a passport to career progression in any ju-risdiction. The fact that over 70,000 experienced managers working at an executive level are currently studying for a Henley MBA in 150 countries

underlines its quality and de-sirability.”

Launched in 1974, the Hen-ley MBA programme has been continually developed and improved upon over the years in response to the changing need of managers, to ensure that it retains its relevance and status.

Those who take an MBA set down a marker that they want to advance their career. “There are two types of can-didates: the first is someone with a specialist background say in science or engineer-ing, perhaps already with a PhD qualification. They will add an MBA to further their ambition to become a chief executive. Others come on the programme not only to advance their own career but also to benefit the organisation they currently work for. The programme assignments will ensure that they test their own organisation and therefore de-liver improvements.”

With class numbers of no more than 20, those taking the Henley MBA programme at the IMI will be part of a very solid cohort of support-ive people, where friendships, networking and peer learning is encouraged.

“They get a bigger class ex-perience at the starter work-shop staged in Henley, where

they meet participants from other countries. This larger group start and finish together and communicate throughout the programme via the Hen-ley website. This provides a platform for discussions and networking.

Hogan said that although class sizes are small, partici-pants are drawn from all over Ireland. “Our programme is designed to ensure that peo-ple have the opportunity to effectively build their studies into their hectic lifestyles. We deliver classes on a Saturday, with seven days of classes over a seven-month period. Classes are clearly scheduled in advance to ensure class time does not interfere with work hours.”

The Henley MBA is a post-experience qualifica-tion programme aimed at experienced and practising managers with a primary degree or equivalent and at least three years management experience. The IMI is current-ly accepting applications for the 2016 MBA programme that will be delivered on campus at its Sandyford headquar-ters, starting October 14, 2016. Closing date for applications is August 31, 2016.

For further information visit: www.imi.ie/henleymba

On course for promotion with Henley MBA programme

This year sees WIT Busi-ness School celebrate the 20th Anniversary

of its Executive MBA (EMBA) and the 10th Anniversary of its Masters in Business Studies programmes.

A Gala event recently held to celebrate the significant an-niversaries was attended by alumni of both programmes, faculty and invited guests. The keynote speaker was leading economic commentator, Pro-fessor David McWilliams.

Dr Tom Egan, programme director, WIT EMBA noted: “This event marks the 20th anniversary of the MBA pro-gramme at Waterford Insti-tute of Technology. Within our sector, the MBA Programme at WIT is one of the longest running programmes in the country and since its incep-

tion, over 200 students have graduated from the course.

“We consider our MBA programme to be the flagship executive masters course in

the south east helping exec-utives hone their leadership skills and expand their learn-ing horizons in a supportive and knowledge-led environ-ment.”

At the event past students were recognised for their achievements which includ-ed the presentation of a new Distinguished Alumni Award whose recipient was Dr Da-vid Dempsey, vice president at salesforce.com.

In his acceptance speech, he highlighted the value of his MBA learning, develop-ment and networks at WIT Business School and advised young graduates to leverage this knowledge to start new enterprises in the south east.

This is now a key feature of the Executive MBA at WIT, with the programme trans-formed to better respond to market realities. The course is now structured across four theme areas namely; lead-ership, market analysis, de-cision making and research capability.

Also introduced is a new or-ganisational change research project that is undertaken in participant organisations.

With many graduates from the programme occupying positions in companies in Ireland and overseas, there is also a strong international dimension to the learning and professional development for students on the programme.

Professor Denis Harrington, head of graduate business, said: “Students on our MBA programme have benefited from a dedicated international study programme. We have developed strong interna-tional strategic partnerships

with schools in the USA and in China.

“Our international manage-ment programme for the MBA is now facilitated as a week-long residential programme in Boston where our students take classes and visit/network with US businesses.

“We have partnered with Babson College and Suffolk University Business School in Boston to ensure that our students have opportunities to learn and develop in an international business and educational environment.”

WIT Executive MBA group won the All-Ireland Strategy Case Competition as part of the MBA Association of Ireland National Strategy Competition 2015. WIT Business School will host the competition for the first time on June 18, 2016. Organised by the MBA Asso-ciation of Ireland, the com-petition is open to all MBA programmes across Ireland, past winners having included UCD, NUIG and DCU.

For further information on the Executive MBA and DBA Pro-grammes at WIT Business School, see wit.ie

Milestone for WIT’s MBA programme

Dr Martha Fulver, FULD + Company and Prof. Liam Fahey, Babson College, Boston photographed with WIT Executive MBA Programme Director, Dr Tom Egan and Prof. Denis Harrington, head of graduate business, WIT, during the recent MBA student residential in Boston

Dr Mary Hogan, Henley MBA programme director with the IMI

The two-year part-time Executive MBA programme at NUI Galway is among the pioneers of this

career-focused qualification here in Ireland, and over the years has proven itself to be one of the most successful MBA programmes.

Its strong reputation is founded on the thorough-ness and practicality of the course content, as well as the proven career progression of its graduates.

Martin Hughes took over as director of the EMBA pro-gramme, at the JE Cairnes School of Business last year. He brings with him expertise in programme management, having previously run the BSc in Business Information Systems to full accreditation with EFMD, the Management Development Network.

“Participants on this pro-gramme must have a min-imum three years’ industry experience, but in practice that figure rises to an average of 14 years, with an average age profile of 36,” said Hughes.

Those statistics tell their own story. They attest to the quality of peer learning and informed discussion en-joyed among participants. As Hughes said: “They have a lot of experience and con-sequently a lot to teach each other.”

Hughes said the people who apply to the EMBA pro-gramme are looking to get into senior management and senior leadership roles and see the MBA as not just an outward reflection of their ambition but also as an essential step-ping-stone from a learning viewpoint.

“We get a good mix in terms of background. The largest co-hort is usually from multina-tional companies, but we also draw from smaller and medi-um sized indigenous compa-nies and start-up enterprises.

“The structure of our pro-gramme is set in stone, to

allow people to make plans around the dates. Classes take place Thursday to Saturday five times per semester.”

Asked what gives this EMBA its edge, Hughes said: “The key thing we concentrate on is how to compete globally from a peripheral region. We examine how to reach glob-al standards in order to face down global competition.

“An important part of this programme is the integration of academic and industry based learning that culmi-nates in a Capstone interdis-ciplinary consultancy project.

“This requires students to apply and integrate their knowledge, learning and ex-perience across all disciplines of business and management in a real business situation.”

While an MBA is a big achievement, getting one represents a big commit-ment with significant study time required. But the prize is high. “It’s all about acceler-ated career progression,” said Hughes.

“In research conducted among our last cohort, 60 per cent reported career pro-gression within one year of graduation.”

NUI Galway is currently promoting the next cycle of its two-year part-time MBA programme starting this September, through a series of information evenings to take place in Sligo on March 14, on campus at NUI Galway

on March 15 and in Shannon on April 4.

For further information see cairnes.nuigalway.ie/mba

NUI Galway leads the way

Martin Hughes, Executive MBA programme director

Postgraduate Business Programmes

n MB Accountingn MBS: Marketingn MBS: Economics & Financen MBS: Human Resource Managementn MBS: Managementn MBS: Internationalisationn MBS in Lean Practicen MSc in Business, Innovation, Technology &

Entrepreneurship n MSc in Global Financial Information Systemsn Executive Master of Business Administrationn Doctorate in Business Administrationn Research Master and PhD

Part-time and Full-options available on all programmes.

For further information on any of our suite of programmes, please email [email protected]

www.wit.ie/schools/ business/courses

www.wit.ie/ linkedingradbus

We have developed strong international strategic partnerships

Three graduates of the nUi galway emba, who graduated in 2014 went on to join the manage-ment team of atlantic aviation group in Shan-non.

First to make the tran-sition was Connor Flana-gan, who joined the com-pany as chief executive in July 2015.

His expertise was sought by new own-er Patrick Jordan, who bought the company in april 2015 with plans for significant development and growth. to support this growth, Connor called on former mba colleagues Shane o’neill who was appointed as chief operating officer, and edel Jordan, who joined the company as director of strategy & marketing.

originally founded in 1962, atlantic aviation group (aag) group

provides comprehensive maintenance, modifi-cation, technical, design and training services to international operators and leasing companies. employing 220 staff in Shannon, the company is already a central part of the of the well-estab-lished aviation industry in ireland.

“Changing career di-rection after 20 years in the engineering services industry would have been a daunting decision before i completed my mba at nUi galway,” said chief executive Conor Flanagan.

“The interactive and team-based approach to learning promotes an en-vironment for leadership skills to emerge. The mba gave me the confidence to take on this challenge and step into the com-plexity of the aviation industry.”

NUIG EMBA classmates team up to fly high

Shane O’Neill, chief operating officer, Patrick Jordan, owner, Edel Jordan, director of strategy & marketing and Connor Flanagan, chief executive, Atlantic Aviation Group