Blending business and technology to make part-time MBAs accessible
Imperial College Business School’s part-time MBAs offer new formats to fit around busy professional lives
PART-TIME MBAs are becoming increasingly popular, fuelled by rapid technological advancement at leading business schools and students’ determination not to let go of an already successful career. The benefits of completing a part-time MBA are vast. You will achieve all the expected outcomes of an MBA, including advanced business knowledge, a network of successful peers and unrivalled career progression, while balancing this with your personal commitments and demanding career.
Business schools are acting upon the demand for flexible study options. Imperial College Business School has rethought its offering of part-time MBA programmes in response to changing demand for flexibility. The options for part-time learning now include a traditional Executive MBA, the Weekend MBA and the Global Online MBA. Phil Carter, head of recruitment marketing at the school, explains that “each student has varying levels of support from their employer and can commit to varying levels of time at our campus in London, so we work closely with them to advise which of our study modes is best suited to their lifestyle.”
HOW THE COURSES DIFFER
Imperial’s Executive MBA takes a traditional approach. Students must receive the buy-in of their employer as they are required to attend lectures in London for approximately two days a month. Many employers recognise the benefits for their business by actively encouraging or sponsoring participation. This programme, for senior professionals, helps students accelerate their career and develop their ability to lead innovation.
Imperial’s Weekend MBA is well suited to early career professionals who wish to gain an advanced insight into business to ensure rapid progression after graduation from the MBA. It enables students to take advantage of studying at Imperial in London without the need to relocate.
For ultimate flexibility, Imperial College Business School offers a Global Online MBA. Launched in 2015, the two year programme incorporates three weeks on campus with the rest of the teaching taking place online. This format has been extremely popular with students who are unable to regularly physically attend a top business school because they are still able to reap all of the benefits.
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The popularity of Imperial’s part-time programmes is made possible by technological advancements, and Imperial is leading the way in online learning technology. The business school’s programmes are delivered using the Hub, a bespoke online learning platform dedicated to delivering top quality digital content to enhance the learning experience. As well as hosting all lecture content, the Hub enables students to study and regularly interact with one another and their tutors from anywhere in the world.
Professor G “Anand” Anandalingam, dean of Imperial College Business School, says: “A part-time MBA from Imperial gives graduates the leading edge in a complex and competitive environment. Studying with us provides real insight and practical solutions for the future, by combining the highest academic standards with the very latest business practice.”
Students who study part-time benefit from being able to directly apply their learning from the programme to situations at work, and because of this, it’s common for part-time MBA students to secure promotions during their MBAs. Students from Imperial’s Executive MBA typically increase their salary by 59 per cent just three years after graduating from the programme.
Imperial’s MBA graduates now work in senior management roles for some of the world’s top firms, including Accenture, Barclays, KPMG and McKinsey, forming an impressive network with benefits beyond the time spent studying.