MBAs evolve to stay relevant in changing world
The surge in MBA studies means business schools must strive to finds new ways to offer courses that are fresh, exciting and relevant to the real world.
General demand for an MBA may remain as strong as ever, but business schools offering the qualification in Hong Kong still find themselves in a state of intense competition.
To start with, they have the task of attracting a diverse class of high-level candidates for each successive intake. But, in parallel, they must also ensure that their programme’s core courses and choice of electives continue to evolve, fully reflecting the latest trends, thinking and technologies driving the 21st-century world of business.
With the pace of change ever accelerating, the process is constant. But within the context of a comprehensive grounding in key disciplines such as finance, accounting, strategy and organisational structure, it also gives schools the chance to emphasise particular themes and highlight their individual strengths.
“Our courses are always evolving as that’s the way to stay market-relevant,” says Sachin Tipnis, executive director for MBA programmes at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) Business School. “For every cohort, we refresh the programme, incorporating new elements and changes in order to equip students for real-world challenges.”
Sachin Tipnis
Importantly, though, those changes aren’t only centred on what’s happening in the classroom, during seminars, or in group projects.
For instance, HKU recently restructured its career services with a view to enhancing the overall efficiency, reach and focus. As a result, part-time MBA students can now attend career progression workshops, which can be invaluable for anyone looking to engineer faster promotion or transition into a different sector.