As a triple accredited business school Strathclyde offers a highly regarded MBA.
An MBA remains the go-to qualification for those who wish to upgrade their career, change sector or perhaps start a new business. It’s such a broad- based qualification – covering finance, HRM, economics, marketing and strategy to name a few – that it can help with all of these aims.
As a triple accredited business school – one of only 89 in the world (2018) – to be accredited by AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS, the three international accrediting bodies, Strathclyde offers a highly regarded MBA, one which it has been honing since it first introduced the part time MBA format to the UK in 1976, the flexible learning model in 1983, and the full time MBA before that in 1966.
For those who have the financial wherewithal and the desire to take a year away from the workplace, a full-time option would suit them perfectly, but for some people taking a year out of work to complete the MBA might seem a risk in what may be a competitive job market. For them, being able to study whilst staying in their job is the ideal solution.
Strathclyde Business School offers an MBA which can be studied via part time or flexible options, as well as full-time, allowing students to gain a valuable degree as well as continuing in their current career. What’s more, studying the MBA part time or flexibly allows participants to implement their learning straight away, providing benefits to employers and employees alike.
The full-time programme is studied over 12 months in Glasgow amongst a group of international peers and involves nine months of participation in classes, group work and personal development processes and three months for the MBA project.
Strathclyde’s part time programme is ideal for anyone who wants to fit the MBA programme around their career and is offered mainly through evening class once weekly with two compulsory weekend schools, and six intensive weekend seminars typically spread over three years.
One of the key strengths of a Strathclyde MBA is the research base, both in terms of intensity and diversity, that is drawn upon to inform our teaching.
Dr Matthew Revie
The university also offers a flexible learning option which allows individuals to direct the pace of their own studies while providing the level of support that an internationally recognised school can offer. The Flexible Learning MBA offers a balance between self-study and group interaction, while stimulating peer interaction and group learning through workshops and seminars which gives those on the programme the opportunity to meet with their peers.
“One of the key strengths of a Strathclyde MBA is the research base, both in terms of intensity and diversity, that is drawn upon to inform our teaching,” said Dr Matthew Revie, Head of the Centre for Corporate Connections (CCC). “While many MBAs focus heavily on finance, our MBA also includes cutting edge teaching and delivery on core business skills such as analytics, operations management, managing people and entrepreneurship.
“Another key strength is the MBA’s strategy element. For a large number of the people who choose Strathclyde, strategy is the ‘why’. A key part of our MBA is the Strategic Management for Sustainable Success modules which benefit from Strathclyde’s reputation and excellence of research in the area of strategy and strategic management. Across these modules, students explore complexity and uncertainty in international business environments, develop their ability to monitor and evaluate strategies, and learn how to develop effective strategies.”
Strathclyde University Business School in The Times Scotland
Dr Revie added: “In terms of the part-time and flexible MBAs, it’s often thought that they are attractive because people don’t have to take an extended period away from their work. But actually, what you find, for most people the reason is they are not necessarily considering a career change – which can be the case with those doing an MBA full-time – instead they want to get promoted within their own organisation.
“People want to upskill themselves and apply their learning almost in real time – a part-time or flexible MBA means that people can continually develop without pausing their own career progression or missing out on opportunities within their own organisation.
“Students doing MBAs are acutely aware of things in their day-to-day job that can be improved if they are given the appropriate skills and techniques to do so. A lot of people are passionate about the businesses and organisations they work for and in between modules, they use the tools they have been given during their MBA studies to improve their companies.
“As they learn new techniques, they start to apply them within their organisation; that instantaneous benefit to the organisation is another reason why people are very attracted to the part-time or flexible learning model.
“The part-time and flexible learning models provide people with the choice to develop their own career at their own pace – the diversity of people wanting to do an MBA means that one model does not fit all. If you are local-based and your job does not involve a lot of travel, then the part-time model offers an opportunity to develop a strong network with similar students and to work at a constant pace throughout semesters.
“If your work involves a lot of travel or you are not based close by but are still attracted by what the Strathclyde MBA has to offer, then the flexible learning model – online material complemented by intensive weekend seminars – gives people a choice. We understand that circumstances change, and we allow people to move between the two models of delivery where appropriate.”
About the Strathclyde MBA
The Strathclyde MBA takes experienced executives from a variety of backgrounds, and equips them with the know-how, skills, and strategic orientation to sustain and scale business in today’s global businesses. It is not just a business programme; it’s a stimulating, challenging, life-changing experience which makes students re-think and re- evaluate how they do business.
It is highly experiential and based on collaborative learning. Students share their varied work experiences, knowledge, understanding, and skills. The Strathclyde MBA shapes and guides students as reflective, open-thinking, and adaptive learners. This is facilitated through enhanced understanding of the interplay of theory and practice in management.
In particular it provides the skills required for progression to higher level policy-forming positions, allows for successful career transitions, facilitates the move from technical specialism to general management, and polishes the skills and enhances the abilities of people working for themselves or about to set up in business.