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Ann Williams

The Graduate School of Business (GSB) at Hong Kong Polytechnic University was only established in 2003, but its roots go back further.

Its flagship Doctor of Business Administration programme was the first of its kind in Hong Kong - and that was almost 10 years ago.

'GSB is the first of its kind in Hong Kong. We aim to educate future business leaders and our major selling point is our core value - knowledge for the real world,' said Judy Tsoi, director of GSB, dean, faculty of business and chair professor of accounting.

'We aim to educate future business leaders by offering a range of taught postgraduate and research degree programmes. We also undertake cutting-edge interdisciplinary research in strategic areas that advance business knowledge.'

Areas of speciality are accounting, finance, logistics and maritime studies, management and marketing. Four Masters programmes are available: Master of Science, which covers accounting and finance, China business studies, logistics, and management and marketing; Master of Professional Accounting; Master of Corporate Finance; and Master of Corporate Governance.

The MBA is designed for executives and professionals who will take on broad responsibilities, while the highest academic qualification for senior executives is the DBA.

'We emphasise a multidisciplinary perspective. This is important because business problems are not compartmentalised. It requires a different mindset - and that is the most difficult to change,' Professor Tsoi said.

'Once students have understood that perception they will be more successful in their careers. For the DBA we are not training or educating them to become chief executives - the majority of them have already reached this stage, but they need more interdisciplinary theory to be able to solve more complex problems. Being a graduate school it is it easier for GSB to achieve this than other institutions.

'Our research is very applied and not just theoretical,' she said.

Professors have a great deal of professional experience in fields covered by GSB, including accountancy and logistics.

Professor Tsoi qualified as a chartered accountant from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.

'Our professors carry out consultancy work for industry and government organisations on a regular basis. In addition we invite alumni back to teach our programmes and share their knowledge with students.'

GSB recently entered into agreements with the world-renowned International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland and the Sauder School of Business at The University of British Columbia  (UBC) in Canada.

From the 2006-07 academic year, IMD - which ranks third in the world in executive education - will offer a credit-bearing elective on leadership for GSB's DBA programme. Academics from UBC will co-teach some DBA subjects.

'Our students will really benefit from this and our research will get a boost, too,' Professor Tsoi said.

All GSB's MBA programmes have been accredited by the British-based Association of MBAs - the first business school in Hong Kong and the mainland to be granted such status. 'This is an important milestone for us,' Professor Tsoi said.

The programmes are taught on a part-time basis, meaning that students need to be able to juggle the demands of work, study and family.

'Students are already high up on the corporate ladder, which means they have to be very dedicated to combine study with their work responsibilities. It is a very rigorous process. And, while it is very hard work, they always tell us afterwards that they are very happy that they did it,' Professor Tsoi said.

Hong Kong-based students include those from other countries who are working locally, which introduces a welcome international perspective to the programmes.



Knowledge for the real world