Executive part-time MBA

Introduction The Executive part-time MBA attracts candidates from organisations across the East of England. We also have students commuting from jobs in the USA to take part in classes at Chelmsford and Cambridge. The part-time students are typically aged 30 upwards and often have considerable management experience.

70% of our MBA students are sponsored by their employers. This fits in with the mission of our Dean, Professor Martin Reynolds:- "a strong focus upon collaboration and partnership working with business, public service organisations and other educational institutions - regionally, nationally and internationally". Our Vice Chancellor, Professor Mike Thorne, supports greater emphasis on partnership with business organisations

Our Executive part-time MBA is also run in partnership with the Berlin School of Economics / Fachhochschule für Wirtschaft in Berlin Duration of the Course The Executive part-time MBA is taught over two academic years, with completion within three years. Benefits to the participant The course structure enables our MBA students to benefit from post-experience management development in the following ways:-

• Developing confidence to deal with issues across the range of management disciplines;
• Identifying and evaluating external influences and relating them to necessary changes in your organisation;
• Taking a balanced view of business issues in order to formulate and implement realistic strategies;
• Enhancing strategic management skills and capabilities;
• Enabling students to challenge conventional ideas and explore innovations in business and management processes;
• Developing transferable skills necessary for successful management development.

Course structure The programme includes contemporary topics with cutting-edge content reflecting the key issues in the turbulent business environment of the 21st century and the latest developments in management research.

Management in an international context is an important focus, strengthened by involvement with international partner institutions. The part-time MBA has a growing reputation and is delivered jointly with other institutes in Berlin, Mannaheim and Budapest.

Students can normally expect to complete the MBA within two years. The programme consists of 180 credits in three stages as shown in the table below. Stage 1 Postgraduate Certificate 60 credits This stage focuses on individual personal development in the context of the organisation and the wider external environment. The four modules in the first stage Postgraduate Certificate establish a platform of individual skills and competences. The building blocks of business are covered:- the organisation, the people, finance and the market.

The UK-based residential weekend pulls these strands together over two days of intensive team-based tasks and challenges.

• Financial Statement Analysis 15 credits
• Human Resource Management 15 credits
• Marketing Management 15 credits
• Elective module 1 15 credits

Elective 1 e.g.: Organisational Behaviour or Decision Making
UK-based 2 day residential in Cambridge

• MBA master classes
• Visiting professors
• Guest speakers
• Team tasks
• Team presentations

Stage 2 Postgraduate Diploma 60 credits This stage focuses on transfer of strategic knowledge into the organisation
The four modules in the second stage Postgraduate Diploma build on the first stage by providing a strategic perspective for the organisation. The scope is now wider, with the emphasis on strategic issues.

• Research Methods for Managers 15 credits
• Strategic Management 15 credits
• Business Analysis Project BAP 15 credits
• Elective module 2 15 credits

Elective 2 e.g.: International Business Management Overseas 5 / 4 night day residential The Overseas residential (in Berlin, Lyon, Groningen or another major European city) offers a varied and challenging international perspective to support your studies. You will receive presentations from our colleagues in these centres and make cross-cultural comparisons. We make company visits to enterprises in the region and take part in cultural activities.

• MBA master classes
• Guest speakers
• Team tasks
• Team presentations
• Company visits
• Cultural visits

Masters 60 credits This stage focuses on moving the organisation forward. The student will be enabled to play a key part in the strategic change process in the organisation. New ways of looking at the business of the organisation are offered.

The Postgraduate Major Project (Dissertation) is student-managed but is facilitated and supervised by individual academic members of staff. Regular research round-table meetings are offered, at which you can discuss and develop your ideas and understanding.

• Elective module 3 15 credits
• Elective module 4 15 credits
• Postgraduate Major Project 30 credits

Teaching and learning Teaching includes lectures, case studies, syndicate work, role playing, business games and group presentations. Participants benefit from the varied backgrounds and experience of other cohort members. Guest speakers and alumni are invited in order to enrich the content and to reinforce practice-based curriculum. Assessment includes:- work based assignments, oral presentations, group work and research projects. There are no exams. Assessment Each credit-rated module is assessed by an assignment, usually work-based. There are no formal examinations. This ensures that learning is context-specific and transfers learning to the participant's organisation