MBA Updates – New B-School Offerings Arrive as Some Programs are Put on Hiatus
Business schools are regularly updating their program options. You might not even realize it, but MBA programs are being added, removed, and modified to make way for the new and to get rid of the old.
Moving forward, we at MetroMBA will help you keep track of the latest MBA changes around the world. We’ll update this document continually as we learn the latest news and share it with you.
So, keep checking back to see what’s going on in the business school world.
St. Paul Opus College of Business Suspends Full-Time MBA
The University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business in Minnesota is the latest in an ever-growing line of U.S. business schools transitioning away from full-time MBA offerings.
According to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, “only 28 students are currently enrolled the program, which was designed to hold roughly 200, according to university officials. Less than 20 staffers out of the Opus College’s 70 employees will be impacted by the move. School officials said digital capabilities and demographic shifts are the reasons behind the decision.”
With over 1,000 current graduate students enrolled in Opus College, the priority is shifting towards three things, according to Associate Dean Michael Garrison: “specialized programs, accelerated programs, and flexibility.”
Along with the announcement of the end of its full-time MBA, the school is also discontinuing its Masters of Science in Accountancy program. However, analytics courses will continue to be a part of the school’s business offerings.
Johns Hopkins Refines MBA Program
According to a recent profile in the Wall Street Journal, the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School will be revamping its full-time MBA program, starting fall of 2020. Students in the program will begin healthcare-intensive coursework immediately, utilizing the university’s renown healthcare education system to their advantage. Previously, full-time MBA students at Johns Hopkins had optional courses that could be centered around healthcare, available during the second year of the curriculum.
“The new curriculum will include a consulting project where students partner with a company, such as a hospital chain or pharmaceutical maker, to analyze data that can help solve a problem for them. The program also will require students to take a course on artificial intelligence, and M.B.A. candidates will need to learn statistical programs in bootcamp-type courses when they first arrive on campus,” WSJ journalist Patrick Thomas writes.
For more on the upcoming changes, read here.
Purdue Krannert Announces New Online MBA
In January 2020, the Purdue University Krannert School of Management in West Lafayette, Indiana will introduce an all-new two-year Online MBA program.
According to Inside Indiana Business, “Classes will run in seven-week segments and the program will enroll students based on rolling admissions, so students can join periodically during the school year.”
The Purdue University Krannert School of Management.
In a release from Krannert, Dean David Hummels says:
“We believe the Purdue Online MBA is a perfect fit with the strengths of Purdue University. The program has a focus on technology and innovation that will be ideal for students with a STEM background or any student seeking career-changing opportunities with high-tech companies.”
More details on the program are expected to be released in the near future.
Boston University to Introduce Online MBA in 2020
In partnership with edX, an online education platform, the Questrom School of Business at Boston University will formally introduce its own Online MBA program in fall 2020. It will be the first official Online MBA offered by edX, which is currently offering 10 specialized master’s programs.
Applications will officially open on August 16, 2019, with annual tuition currently set at $24,000. The price difference is stark in contrast with the school’s full-time MBA, currently set at $55,480 per year.
“We’ve recognized the transformative potential of edX for some time,” says President Robert A. Brown. “With the online MBA, we’re seizing the initiative to offer a major degree for which we believe there is global demand. Higher education must evolve in a fast-changing world. We aim to lead in this evolution.”
Learn more about the new BU Online MBA here.
Gies Removes Full and Part-Time MBA Programs on Campus
The University of Illinois Gies College of Business recently announced that its full and part-time MBA programs will no longer be taught on campus. The top-50 ranked MBA program, according to U.S. News & World Report, is one of the largest (and most lauded) programs to shut down in recent years, with reported efforts to increase funding for its popular iMBA online program.
The popularity of the Gies’ online MBA—the iMBA—has allowed the University of Illinois business school to discontinue its full and part-time MBA on-campus options.
Just three years after the iMBA program was introduced, enrollment ballooned from 114 to 1,955 students, making the transition all the more financially feasible for the university. Students currently enrolled in the full and part-time MBA programs will be able to finish their degree on campus, but the school will be discontinuing after the graduation of the current class.
Michigan Ross Introduces New Online MBA
At the end of 2018, The University of Michigan Ross School of Business introduced a new Online MBA program, offering maximum flexibility with the same curriculum offered to full-time MBA students. The program includes live class sessions (live online events for case discussions, group work, and presentations), self-guided study (short, instructional videos identifying and explaining key concepts), and leadership development training available on the Ross campus (three on-campus residencies).
This new format requires students to complete 57 credit hours:
- 27 credits of core work
- 18 credits of electives
- Nine credits consisting of three in-person residencies
- Three credits for an action-based learning project (MAP)
The curriculum is self-paced but designed to be completed in three years.
To learn more about this new program offering, head to the Michigan Ross Online MBA site here. Also, check out our recent ‘5 Questions‘ installment with Ross’ Associate Admissions Director of Part-Time MBA Programs, Anne Schoen.
Henley Business School Cancels Full-Time MBA
For the 2019-20 academic year, the Henley Business School canceled its full-time MBA program, diverting applications to other masters degree programs. The Henley website described the move as a “pause,” but it’s the first time a big UK business school has stopped taking applications for its flagship business school program.
The Henley Business School recently announced its full-time MBA will be on hiatus.
The move isn’t that much of a surprise. Last year, Henley only brought in 26 MBA students down from 40 students the previous year. In contrast, demand for Henley’s part-time executive MBA courses rose 37 percent this academic year with about 700 students enrolled.
For more insight into Henley’s decision head on over to the Financial Times article.
SDA Bocconi and Toronto Rotman Launch new Global Executive MBA
Italy’s SDA Bocconi partnered with the Toronto Rotman School of Management at the end of last year to launch a new Global Executive MBA program. This dual-degree EMBA program is 18 months in length with modules delivered across seven cities around the world. Students will attend courses in:
- Milan
- Toronto
- Mumbai
- San Francisco
- Copenhagen
- Shanghai
- Sao Paolo
Graduates will receive both an MBA from the Rotman School of Management and a Global Executive MBA from SDA Bocconi.
The curriculum, which includes 24 courses plus electives, takes 18 months to complete, 75 learning days, and 63 out-of-office days. Classes begin October 4, 2019, in Toronto. To learn more about the new GEMBA head on over to the website here.
Mexico’s EGADE Business School Launches Online MBA
In the fall of 2019, Mexico’s EGADE Business School—in partnership with 2U—will launch its new Online MBA program. Classes will be taught in English live every week through an online platform. Then, students will have the option to attend in-person immersion experiences at EGADE locations throughout the Americas. This is 2U’s first full-degree program in Latin America.
Mexico’s EGADE Business School recently joined the growing array of business schools offering an Online MBA option.
To learn more about the new Online MBA program, you can read the press release here.
Louisiana State University Announces One-Year MBA Program
Early in 2019, Louisiana State University’s Ourso College of Business announces the launch of its new One-Year MBA program. The program is aimed at undergraduate business students who want to continue their education after graduation. While no work experience is required to apply, the school states a preference for two years of experience and an essential understanding of business concepts.
The One-Year MBA program will begin in June 2019 with a pre-MBA session to set the foundation. After that, students complete 36 credit hours in a cohort-based setting to graduate. Each semester has two, eight-week modules and up to three courses at a time.
To learn more about this degree that can be completed in as little as 11 months, head over to the program page here.
University of Iowa Tippie College of Business Ends Full-Time MBA Program
The incoming class of 2019 will be the last full-time MBA cohort for the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business. The decision to end the full-time MBA was made to allow the school to focus on its Professional MBA, Executive MBA, and portfolio of specialized master’s programs. The closing is thanks to shifts in demand with 91 percent of all MBA enrollment going to the Professional and Executive MBA programs.
“Adapting to the market is key for growth in any organization, and we’re seeing clear shifts in what students and businesses need,” said Sarah Gardial, dean of the Tippie College of Business. “Both are expressing preferences for non-career-disrupting options for the MBA, while others are increasingly drawn to the focused education provided by master’s programs in specific subjects.”
Along with the closing of the full-time MBA, Tippie announced a new master’s program in finance. To learn more about these changes, read the press release here
Finding Your Dream MBA Career at Barclays
For over 300 years, Barclays has been one of the leading international banks for both consumer corporate investments. MBA candidates are drawn to Barclays not only for its stature in the global finance industry but also for the vast array of professional opportunities it offers. Within business banking, corporate banking, customer banking solutions, marketing, investment banking, and technology career paths, Barclays’ training, mentorship, networking, and travel opportunities are often unparalleled in the financial industry.
Barclays’ MBA Recruitment Program
At Barclays, one major key to continued growth and success consists of building strong interdisciplinary business networks. As part of Barclays’ ongoing development opportunities, the company maintains a robust campus recruiting system. Barclays makes a point to develop relationships with their future prospects as early as possible in their educational and professional careers.
For students pursuing an MBA, Barclays offers the MBA Ambition Diversity Program, a summer internship program dedicated to talented and motivated MBA candidates. Within the MBA Ambition Diversity Program, Barclays initially gives a candidate a “condensed version of our on-campus recruiting process during the summer before you start your MBA, culminating in interviews at our New York office.” Successful candidates will then be offered an internship position the following summer after the first year of business school is completed. Once a candidate has been accepted, Barclays offers a fellowship program that “provides $45,000 toward first-year tuition and academic expenses.”
Barclays prides itself in seeking out women, men, and non-binary individuals of all backgrounds to cultivate a diverse environment for employees to learn from one another. The idea is that this multifaceted workspace will help employees expand their cultural perspective as they embark on a career in global finance.
As of October 2017, Barclays has begun to offer free accommodation for graduates taking job interviews in London, Birmingham, and Manchester. This is for all graduates—not only Barclays applicants.
The Barclays Career
In 2016, Barclays’ head of banking associate recruitment, Kristi Robson, explained in an interview that MBAs are commonly hired into their banking division where Barclays has its largest intake. Banking interns and employees generally move into a product or coverage role within Equity Capital Markets or Technology, Media & Telecommunication, for example. Robson explains, “We do hire a small number of MBAs into our research business but this is dependent on business need.”
According to the 2017 WSO Investment Banking Industry Report, first-year analysts earn between $70,000 and $150,000 USD based on experience and by year three average between $120,000 and $350,000. “At the analyst level, it is not uncommon to work between 80 to 120-hour weeks at some firms. Most analysts start in the summer and receive their first investment banking analyst bonus around June or July, approximately one year after the analyst starts working. Analysts also often receive a signing bonus from $5,000 to $20,000, as well as a moving bonus if they are transferring laterally to a different bank.” For these reasons and more, Barclays strives to provide their candidates with every opportunity to grow professionally.
Education Opportunities
The following London MBA programs are reputable feeders for roles at Barclays. They are all remarkable schools for distinct reasons but each provides a formidable mix of business education and valuable alumni networks:
- Ashridge Executive Education
- Cass Business School – City University London
- Cranfield School of Management
- Henley Business School – University of Reading
- Imperial College Business School – Imperial College London
- Judge Business School – University of Cambridge
- London Business School
- Saïd Business School – University of Oxford
If you’re driven and wish to work for a large organization that still believes in “small-business”-style relationships and offers unique opportunities to develop business skill-sets and global perspectives, then Barclays could be the perfect fit.
Henley Business School To Begin New Huawei Certification Program
The Henley Business School at the University of Reading in London has announced a new program in partnership with TECH Education Group, an education provider in the technology field. The new Information Communications Technology (ICT) Master’s and Huawei Certification program helps solidify the school’s tech-centric offerings.
This addition makes Henley the school the first in Europe to offer “expert-level Huawei certification,” according to a press release. Starting in September 2018, students in the MSc Information Management and MSc Business Technology Consulting courses will begin taking new modules to work toward the Huawei certification, which will take one year. The new curriculum will include modules that will allow students to graduate with certifications as a Huawei Certified Network Associate (HCNA), Network Professional (HCNP), and Internet Expert (HCIE).
“In this digital age in which topics such as big data, data security, and digital innovation are highly relevant, there is an increasing need for talent with a firm understanding of both business and technology in developing innovative and creative solutions,” Professor Keiichi Nakata said in the release. “This new partnership with TECH Education Group is ideally timed to enhance our existing collaboration with Huawei to supply industry-ready talent for businesses around the world, as well as providing a boost to professionals as they enter the job market.”
This certification is highly recognized in the industry. More than 140 countries have acknowledged the certification. It’s sure to stay up to date as the ICT sector evolves and merges closely with other similar sectors like computing and mobile broadband, according to its website.
Interested students can begin applying for the program later this year until August 2018.
“This partnership marks a continuation of our efforts in educating and nurturing experts who are equipped with the knowledge to deal with the complexities of an increasingly digital and data-orientated business world,” TECH Education Group CEO Kangping Lin said in the release. “We need reliable and talented professionals to help move society forward towards a better-connected world and students completing this pathway will finish their study ready to excel in their field.”
Last July, Huawei became the world’s second largest smartphone manufacturing company, surpassing Apple. The Chinese telecommunications giant currently owns more than 10 percent of the global smartphone market, thanks in part to a deeply diverse manufacturing catalog, according to Counterpoint Research data.
Your Guide To London’s Executive MBA Programs
Even after many years on-the-job learning, many business professionals may choose to pursue a formal advanced business education. With the chance to earn an Executive MBA, experienced professionals can pursue a degree more tailored to their particular experience level and career goals. EMBA graduates may find other benefits as well, including a 11.6 percent salary increase after graduation. Other tangible benefits can be seen in the form of career growth and increased leadership opportunities, development of a global business mindset and the establishment of a strong peer network.
Henley Marketing Lecturer Talks Blue Monday
Did you feel particularly depressed this past Monday, January 16th? According to Dr. Cliff Arnall, a former psychology academic, it was supposed to be the gloomiest day of the year: Blue Monday.
The idea of Blue Monday is considered pseudoscience since the formula uses such arbitrary factors as weather conditions, debt level, time since Christmas, failing New Year’s resolutions and low motivation levels to make its date prediction. Still, many people believe in it since it was first published in 2005, but Dr. Rodrigo Perez-Vega, a Lecturer in Marketing at the University of Reading’s Henley Business School, wonders if it’s nothing more than a marketing gimmick. Continue reading…
Henley EMBA Ranks Top 50 in the World
For the second year in a row, the Financial Times ranked Henley Business School at the University of Reading as one of the top 50 EMBA programs in the world. The school ascended two places since last year’s ranking and was positioned as one of the top 10 programs in the UK and among the top 20 in Europe. Continue reading…
