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Old college with new ideas

The University of North Carolina (UNC) Charlotte will recruit Hong Kong students to its MBA programme for the second year. Here the university answers some frequently asked questions:

What is the history of the university and its national ranking? Founded in 1795, UNC is one of the oldest public universities in the United States and is among the top-five public universities in the nation. Composed of 16 public institutions, UNC has a student population of more than 180,000, and has produced more than 10 Nobel Prize winners over the years. Since its establishment in 1946, UNC Charlotte has been promoting international education through high-quality distance learning programmes and is among the best universities in the United States to offer quality tertiary education. UNC Charlotte is ranked one of the top-100 US colleges and universities with the strongest enterprising spirit, with its MBA programmes strongly recommended by Bank of America chief executive Ken Lewis. UNC is also ranked in the Princeton Review 2007 as one of the top business schools in the US, and No9 in the 2006 US News Top Public Universities, South. Its EMBA programme is also among the best, according to BusinessWeek.

Is this programme internationally accredited and renowned? How is it useful to its graduates? The MBA programme of UNC Charlotte is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, an association founded in 1916 with the responsibility to accredit business schools worldwide. The AACSB accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools, and only three universities in Hong Kong have attained such accreditation - Chinese University, University of Science and Technology and City University.

Where is the programme offered outside of the US? The UNC MBA programme has been successfully offered in Taiwan for four years while its first Hong Kong intake began in January last year. The university started to offer EMBA programmes in the mainland in the autumn semester of last year, in collaboration with the Development Research Centre of the State Council of China.

MBA or EMBA? What is its academic title? The MBA curriculum is designed in the same way as that for an EMBA programme with the emphasis on the application of economic strategies by senior business executives. Graduates will receive an MBA degree.

Who teaches the programme? When and where do classes meet? How many hours does each course require? All courses are taught by distinguished teaching staff of UNC. Classes will be conducted on Saturdays and Sundays at high-quality business conference centres in Central. Each module comprises 33 hours of course work, supplemented with online learning activities arranged by the university.

How many modules does the programme comprise? The programme comprises 11 modules and they must be completed within one year. The medium of instruction is English. No thesis is required for completion of the degree.

What are the advantages of the programme? The UNC EMBA programme is taught with modern teaching approaches, and is based on a flexible delivery model to cater for the needs of Asian students and ensure they can benefit most from practical learning experience. The programme mainly targets business executives. Interactive instruments and case studies will be used for teaching purposes. Interactive activities, student presentations and team projects will be arranged to strengthen student relationships with teachers, and help them build social networks.

How many students are admitted to the programme? Where do they come from? Only one intake will be held annually for the Hong Kong MBA programme with about 20 applicants admitted each time. Most will be elite entrepreneurs in Hong Kong and mainly come from finance, banking, sales and marketing and telecommunications.

What is the tuition fee? Total tuition fee for the 2008 programme is HK$173,000. Payment is made in four instalments. HSBC credit-card holders enjoy 12 months of interest-free instalments.

Where can I obtain the enrolment details? www.uncc.edu.hk

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