Master of Business Administration programme postgraduate SME meeting on 19/05/2016

Arun Elias – Programme Director

Nicky McInnes – Senior Administrator

Paul, Jane and Nick

Actions for Nick

When making any changes to ‘straw man’ content based on their feedback, also:

• Make sure content is targeted at mature audience
• Fix “Get entry through” in At a glance (once we work out whether that refers to programmes as whole or just the Master’s)
• Mention detailed orientation programmes – reassure those worried about returning to study
• Increase prominence given to the importance of professional experience

Students

Tend to be more mature as they must have 5+ experience.

Common level of experience 15-20 years, often Managers

Average age 38

90% hear about MBA by word of mouth

40-50 students, only get 1 or 2 International students per year

90% study part-time in the evening

Entry

For MBA, entry is through 5 years professional experience (calendar is wrong) and an undergraduate degree (not or as I have written) or a dispensation from the Associate Dean. Using stepping stones you can get entry just with experience.

Is also an admission test, either the global GMAT (Graduate Management Aptitude Test) or a similar Victoria University test.

They are working on getting the 120 hours professional activities into the calendar

Staircasing: 3 years experience, no admission test, to keep progressing up staircase they need a B average.

Process is admission and then enrolment. Enrolments not open October

Business needs

Promote the Certificate - these number are down which they put down to the reduction in marketing activity. 

Stepping stones

40-50 Master's students / 45 Staircasing students, of these 5-10 eventually do the MBA

PG Dip HR (7) don’t tend to go on to do MBA [so sounds a bit standalone]

PG Dip Marketing (1) small numbers, maybe one this year.

PG Dip in Business Admin (35 students)

They help the viability of programme

[One option: package the Cert, PG Dip BA and MBA, and separate the other 2 dips (though note and link to them)]

Those who do Cert with Marketing in mind tend to end up doing the MBA

Staff

Steve Cummings, John Brocklesby (and others)

Good options for profiles

They have good reputations

Arun reckons MBA programme gets the best staff

Plus high profile Advisory board

Course work

There are interesting activities outside of the classroom - Dragons Den, Business Lab, Study Tour

MBA - 120 professional hours, 384 coursework hours - need 500 hours for accreditation.

Common student problems

Fees are high - $2,500 per course

Internationals – entry criteria, fees, admissions is via VI

Advice on likelihood of getting in

Info about stepping stones - information isn't clear enough, good to have visualisation/diagram

Marketing message

They do detailed orientation programmes to set expectations

Generalist programme

Don't promote exit qualifications for people who sign up to the MBA