MBA Islamic Finance

Over recent years Islamic Finance has risen in importance in not only Islamic countries, but also in Western economies. The recent financial crisis has also increased interest in alternative models of banking. The MBA Islamic Finance is designed for those who want the breadth of an MBA, covering all areas of management, whilst having additional knowledge and skills in Islamic Finance. There is an introduction to financial systems within the core MBA content, then, in the Summer school and project, you will focus on the background and operation of Islamic business and finance. The Islamic finance content will be delivered in association with the Al-Maktoum Institute in Dundee, an organisation with which Aberdeen University already has significant links. This MBA pathway is designed for those who wish to enhance their MBA with a focus on Islamic approaches to business and finance. This would be of particular relevance for those anticipating either employment in an Islamic country or working with the development of Islamic business principles in other economies.
Programmes Structure & Content
The MBA programmes are based on core and summer school modules, plus a critical studies paper.
First Semester
Accounting & Finance For Managers - Provides an understanding of accounting information and financial reporting and introduces key aspects of financial analysis and enable students to undertake: interpretation of accounts; ratio analysis and user-group specific tools, e.g. Z scores and credit ratings; accounting information and the stock market; forecasting and valuation.
Operations Management - Introducing the core concepts in the management of operations producing products and services. These include the management of capacity and inventory, production planning and control, project management and the management and improvement of quality.
Business Economics - This module will equip students with the basic knowledge of business economics and examine the ways in which economic theory may be applied to solve real business problems, focussing on aspects of economics vital to a student of business. This module aims for students to be comfortable with the tools of economic analysis as applied to the international, economic and business environments in which modern day businesses and policy makers have to operate.
Leadership & Decision Making - This course will allow students to investigate the underlying theories which underpin the popular views about Leadership. It will examine the trait and situational theories, among others, so that students begin to recognise the basic assumptions which are used by writers in professional journals and quality broad sheets alike. It will allow students to practice some of the skills required in effective leadership in both communication and team working and in its tutorial programme will introduce the elements of decision making and game theory.
Second Semester
Strategic Marketing - Marketing management and strategic planning. Marketing in a range of organisational settings, including consumer, industrial, service and voluntary sectors. Systems perspective on key marketing techniques. Relationship between marketing and other management functions in modern organisations.
Managing People At Work - Management of people as a key element for organisational success. People as the most complex of all organisational resources to manage. Theoretical and practical issues of people management in the contemporary competitive economic environment.
Research and Professional Conduct in Business - The students are given a background into the ethical dilemmas that can face business both in their research and professional conduct. This background is expanded by focussing on issues involving learning organisations, the knowledge society, knowledge management, managers as researchers, research design and methods.
Business Strategy & Organisation - Drawing mainly on microeconomics theories and applications in order to introduce students to theories, concepts and techniques of analysis that are close to many typical business situations.
Summer School
Students are required to undertake three elective modules specifically in the area of Finance, and go on to complete the Critical Studies Paper in an Islamic finance/business related area to. The Finance courses available at present are:
Principles of Islamic Banking & Finance
Islamic Banking Models
Business in the Islamic World
The Summer School is run over a three week period, undertaking one course per week.
Teaching & Assessment
The programme is delivered via mixture of lectures, seminars and small group tutorials. Most modules are assessed by examination and/or coursework.