MBA Handbook 2016

GCC MBA Handbook Handbook 2016 2016

The complete guide to studying a Master’s degree in Business Administration in the Gulf

OUTGROW THE MARKET W

ith projections for GCC economic growth slashed for 2016 and 2017, there are plenty of question marks about how corporates will perform. Already, oil and gas and the banking sector have shed staff.

But if you want to find one sector where optimism is the prevailing sentiment, look to executive education. Administrators and educators are bullish since they know a more-difficult job market will push more candidates to improving their career prospects through MBAs or other degrees. History shows that MBA enrolment numbers rise during economic downturns.

Indeed, proof of the MBA’s value may be that among graduates there’s optimism aplenty. Some have seen enhanced career prospects following graduation; some have gone on to find success and happiness by founding their own businesses (even with partners they met at B-school); others see their wider network giving them better options for finding work in a multitude of sectors should they be so unlucky as to lose their current role.

If you’ve been sitting on the fence, considering an MBA, 2016-17 could be a good time

GCC MBA Handbook 2016 Editorial: Cathal McElroy, Managing Editor; cathal@businessweekme.com; +971 4 432 9467 Sales & Marketing: Poonam Chawla, Asst GM Sales & Marketing; poonam@businessweekme.com; +971 50 144 0703 Neha Sharma, Deputy Sales Manager; neha@businessweekme.com; +971 (0) 443 29467

Editor’s note

to start. If you stay in work your present organisation will see an immediate benefit, whether by having you conduct strategic evaluations of their business through in-class projects, or simply by demonstrating an overall improved skill set in the office. And with many companies in a wait-and-watch mode, they’re more likely to see value in you spending time out of the office and in the classroom.

The high-quality programmes available teach a solid grasp of the big picture and how it impacts businesses, so alumni are able to better understand the implications of global economic trends and respond to them. Many schools also have close relations with industry and the public sector, ensuring that their courses and specialisations are up-to-date with the demands of the region in key areas like Islamic finance, human resources and entrepreneurship.

Meanwhile, a return to the classroom can be a welcome opportunity to experience again the thrill of learning after many years in a workplace and to take some time to consider future steps.

Art & Design: Steven Castelluccia, Art Director steven@businessweekme.com; +971 4 432 9467 Subscribe: subscriptions@businessweekme.com Address: PO Box 503048, Building 10, Office 346, Dubai Media City, Dubai UAE Web: www.businessweekme.com General enquiries : +971 4 4 329 467 BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK MIDDLE EAST is published by UMS International FZ LLC and Bloomberg L.P. Articles reprinted in this issue from BLOOMBERG

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1

CONTENTS FEATURES 4 Leadership in

uncertain times

With regional economies and global markets facing lower projected growth and numerous uncertainties, there’s more pressure than ever for corporate leaders to be at the top of their game

26 Founding an empire

As entrepreneurship grows in regional stature, many business schools are offering MBA programmes designed to teach key skills and knowledge for starting your own business

COUNTRY LISTINGS

30

QATAR

32

KUWAIT

34

SAUDI ARABIA

38

OMAN

42

BAHRAIN

28 The rise of specialised MBAs

More business schools are now offering specialised MBAs or options for concentrations. Can a specialised degree help you stand out in your chosen field?

36 Five signs it’s time

If you’re looking for a career acceleration or want to jump into an entirely new line of work, an MBA could be the skills boost you’re looking for. We reveal the five signs that it’s time to enrol

40 The lessons learned

It’s not enough to just sign up for an MBA—sacrifices have to be made and hard hours logged. But as graduates explain, there are plenty of benefits to be reaped at the end

44 Networking for success

Even in an age of connecting through LinkedIn, the old adage of “t’s not what you know, it’s who you know” still holds true. Meeting the right people can help you land a dream job

UAE

12

PROFILES 13

Manchester Business School

15

Manipal University

17

London Business School

19

Strathclyde Business School

21

SP Jain Global School of Management

23

Cass Business School

31

HEC Paris In Qatar

33

American University of the Middle East

A triple-accredited business school that’s around the corner… and around the world

Abu Dhabi Dubai

Executive MBA in Abu Dhabi and Dubai Our MBA and Masters programmes are consistently ranked among the best, most recently our Executive MBA was ranked top 10 in the UK (FT Executive MBA 2015). A key player in the UAE since 1995, we offer the prestigious Executive MBA in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and six other centres globally. As a triple accredited international business school, we are additionally accredited in the UAE by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and our MBA is delivered part time at weekends to meet the needs of busy executives.

Make Strathclyde your destination.

www.strath.ac.uk/uae

FEATURE

AGILE LEADERSHIP

Economic uncertainty means extra pressure on corporate leaders to be agile and use big-picture knowledge to inform long-term strategy, while job candidates have to be ready to add value to an organisation from day one

T

4

he global economy is experiencing a perfect storm of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. The IMF has downgraded its projections for global growth in 2016 and 2017; in the Gulf, reduced government revenues due to lower oil prices means uncertainty about future spending; and China’s economic rebalancing has caused a global headache. Nevertheless, many Gulf corporates remain optimistic about the year ahead and executive-hiring activity remains strong. Hays Executive has seen double digit growth over the last 18 months, says Jon Ashcroft, senior business director at the company. “There is always a demand for talented leadership and [now] there is more of a case to have a high calibre and experienced management team to navigate a company through more challenging markets.”

Two sectors, however, are experiencing a hiring freeze or contraction: oil and gas, as companies reduce headcounts in a bid to remain solvent; and banking, as institutions restructure in a climate of reduced liquidity.

There’s also more caution overall, adding up to more competition for a reduced number of roles, and more pressure for management to be at the top of their game.

What attributes are most in-demand during uncertain times? Corporate leaders should be highly aware of the broader environ-

ment and possess agility and resilience, says Sahiba Singh, head of leadership consulting, Middle East and Africa at Aon Hewitt. “What is required is leaders who are very highly self aware, and very willing to change with the needs of the environment.”

In an economy with steady growth, managers are often judged on how tightly they can manage the business internally, says Singh.

Yet leaders who become set in their ways– especially those with a good performance record–can become almost uncoachable.

Ideally corporate managers should operate like they have inbuilt GPS, constantly able to evaluate their own performance in response to the changing business environment, says Singh. “Contrary to popular belief that in a downturn you want conservative and risk-adverse leaders, you want people who have the internal strength and mental horsepower to be resilient when things are not going well, and to be able to bounce back. Because there are going to be challenges that no one foresees in an environment like this.”

In uncertain times there’s a need for corporate leaders to understand how the broader macroeconomic environment is affecting their business, especially given the interconnected nature of global business. Having a good grasp of the big picture can also help motivate rank and file staff, with corporate

leadership based on vision and the ability to engage with staff more effective than leadership based on charisma. A clear view of the future becomes even more important within sectors experiencing declining revenue and even job losses. “Staff want leaders that have an informed perspective which they can share, such as by giving some scenarios for the future to give them reasonable comfort,” says Singh. In trying circumstances, effective leaders can create a sense of emotional connect with their people, and are able to communicate in a clear manner which convinces staff and makes them feel supported. “They’re able to make sure that their people still want to give it their best, and don’t get unnecessarily panicked and leave the situation, which is often the case, especially in the Middle East given the transient nature of the workforce,” says Singh.

DRIVING CHANGE When hiring executives, Gulf corporates are looking for experienced leaders who can not only drive growth, but are able to drive change, embrace technology, find efficiencies, as well as manage costs and debt effectively, says Ashcroft. There is also a premium placed on certain specific skills in response to new business realities: in Saudi Arabia there has been an increase in companies seeking finance staff with knowledge of the new IFRS accounting standard, as companies seek to adapt to the new market requirement, says Ashcroft. “Additionally, since the middle of 2015 there has been a growing lack of liquidity in the Middle East and raising new capital for investment has been increasingly challenging. Consequently, senior placement professionals with access to ultra-highnet worth individuals are in high demand.”

The rise of new media means there has been a significant increase in demand for MBA graduates who have experience with search engine optimisation or social media to help companies improve their brand awareness online says Michael Todd, head of career services and corporate relations at the Institute of Management Technology Dubai.

“A lot of companies are looking at online mar-

keting, and they’re looking at the young talent because they expect them to be very aware, having grown up with social media. At a management level, the expectation is that they will have an understanding of how online marketing plays into an overall marketing strategy or a company’s strategy.”

Yet while companies prefer to hire candidates with technical skills, there’s also recognition that many skills can be learnt on the job–but only if candidates are motivated, says Todd. “From a soft-skills side, companies are really looking for talented candidates that have drive and creativity. Many have trouble finding applicants that are self-motivated, willing to go the extra mile with good communication and teamwork skills. These are important to companies because they believe they will expedite the learning process.”

Learning agility is one of the most sought-after soft skills, says Indu Niranjan, associate professor of finance and the dean of the Global MBA programme at the SP Jain School of Global Management. “Organisations look for individuals who have the capacity to learn things on their own.” Their global tri-city MBA sees candidates spend four months in each of Sydney, Singapore and Dubai, giving candidates exposure to three different economic and cultural centres. It’s in line with expectations from organisations that employees can work effectively in a global en-

ARE YOU EXPERIENCING ANY SKILLS SHORTAGES WITHIN YOUR ORGANISATION? IF SO, WHERE?

Source: Hays GCC Salary & Employment Report 2016

5

FEATURE vironment and relate to people from multiple cultures, says Niranjan. “Apart from skills employers are looking for the right attitude. One told me, ‘I’m not looking for altitude I’m looking for attitude.’”

The multi-ethnic working environment of the Gulf also means that corporate leaders need effective communication and relationship-building skills, alongside an understanding of the cultural dimension of doing business in the region, says Dr Marc Poulin, director of the MBA programme at the Canadian University of Dubai. “With increasing globalisation, business leaders need to understand how to draw parallels with different parts of the world, and how to effectively engage with them and bring their good practices to this region.”

SOURCE: HTTP://WWW.TOPMBA.COM/WHY-MBA/MBA-ROI-US-CANADA-WHAT-HAVE-WE-LEARNED

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CLIMBING THE LADDER The current economic environment won’t dissuade Gulf corporates from continuing to invest in developing key employees, even if they will be more cautious about making new hires, says Singh. “The focus becomes identifying and retaining high potential employees rather than across the board capability development. But companies definitely don’t stop capability development as soon as the times get trying.”

Nevertheless, potential hires need to be able to paint a clear picture about the value they can add to an organisation, which means understanding what the company is looking for, says Singh. And while employers are

4

RETURN ON INVESTMENT:

YEARS

“THERE ARE GOING TO BE CHALLENGES THAT NO ONE FORESEES IN AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE THIS.” – SAHIBA SINGH, HEAD OF LEADERSHIP CONSULTING, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA AT AON HEWITT

looking for candidates who are agile and effective managers in a crisis, it’s important to recognise both the short and long-term requirements of a company. Job seekers should communicate that they recognise that these are tough times, but that they are aligned to what the organisation is trying to achieve and are willing to do their part now, and if necessary shift their role in the future, says Singh.

“Businesses are constantly changing, so workers have to build confidence with their employer that they can not only do what is required today, but are willing to learn what needs to be done in the future and change tracks, no matter what the future throws up.”

For MBA candidates, the most important thing to recognise is that companies don’t want graduates who are just book smart, but want them to understand how to apply the business skills they’ve learnt in the real world, says Todd. “Students need to get involved in case studies or live projects with companies.” During the second year of the MBA at IMT, students work as a team on a company specific project–collecting data from the

It takes on average less than four

graduation, and the average

ings across their career and ac-

years (44 months) for gradu-

uplift in salary was 75 per cent,

cumulated wealth: At the ten-

ates to earn back their outlay for

from $52,723 to $91,417. Of

year mark the study found that

an MBA, according to a survey

course, these numbers vary

they were financially better off by

of MBA graduates in North

between business schools, and

$500,000 on average. Further

America by research company

some schools in the US had

down the track, 20 years after

QS. The analysis compared

ROIs as short as two years,

graduating MBA graduates were

pre-MBA earnings with the

some far longer. MBA graduates

more than $2.5 million better off,

salary boost experienced after

can expect to see greater earn-

the report estimated.

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FEATURE

LEADERSHIP AT MANIPAL GLOBAL

In today’s global economic environment, MBA graduates who have the right skill sets have an advantage in the marketplace.

The key skills that employers are demanding these days from a business school graduate include leadership, creative and critical thinking, communication and collaboration. A good MBA programme should focus on producing graduates with those qualities.

The MBA programme at Manipal University aims to

8

develop graduates to meet the needs of employers. Manipal University Dubai began operations in 2003: Since then, the institution’s MBA has gained a reputation for producing quality graduates who are equipped to develop a career in the ever-changing global business environment. The School of Business at Manipal University Dubai offers a regular MBA programme as well as an MBA Global Business programme.

The regular MBA programme is

company, analysing the issue, and making recommendations about what the company can do to resolve them. “These sorts of interactions-including internships–are vital.”

Similarly, employers are looking for candidates who have practical skills that can create value for their organisation from day one, says Patrick McClelland, director of graduate programmes in the School of Business Administration at the American University of Sharjah. McClelland says that employ-

34

FAST TRACK TO THE TOP

SOURCE: GMAC (2016) ALUMNI PERSPECTIVES SURVEY

OUT OF

GRADUATES say their degree resulted in faster career advancement

offered in an evening as well as a weekend format while the MBA Global Business programme is offered in the traditional weekday format. Both programmes are designed with a focus on quality teaching as well as practical exposure to the industry.

The structure of the Manipal University Dubai programmes are designed to develop skills across a broad range of functional areas in addition to the opportunity to specialise in a particular area. Emphasis is also placed on the development of the personal skills required for the current global business environment.

ers are looking for candidates who can think broadly, conceptually and analytically, but who also have a strong appreciation for relating this to a company’s bottom line. “Gone are the days where employers would hire people who are practitioners but lack capacity to think broadly; as are gone the days where employers would hire someone who can think conceptually, but lacks the ability to impact the organisation’s day to day operations. Employers are seeking a balance.”

Things are even more difficult in sectors where companies are reducing staff numbers. There, candidates need to do their best to stand out and be proactive, says Ashcroft. “For more challenging sectors candidates should appreciate the current market and try to be as flexible as possible,” he says. “For example, being open to relocating to the geographies where opportunities may exist.” Candidates can also consider moving into alternative sectors, says Ashcroft, and though this may be difficult, one strategy is to look for sectors or roles that may have some synergy to those that they have previously worked in. “Being prepared to step out of your comfort zone and consider new options could be worthwhile.

It is important to remain focused and calm and not allow market conditions to negative-

FEATURE

THE GENDER GAP Women MBA graduates receive a significant boost to their earning potential, and can expect an initial boost in salary post-degree that is similar to men–$20,000 on average–accord-

10

SOURCE: GMAC (2016) ALUMNI PERSPECTIVES SURVEY

ing to Graduate Management Admission

23

%SALARY SALARY

Council’s (GMAC) 2016 Alumni Perspectives Survey Report. Nevertheless, there persists a gender pay gap among business school alumni, which is most likely a continuation of the trend of lower salaries women earned prior to entering business school, according to the GMAC report. Business school can also accentuate the pay gap between genders, according to data from the Financial Times, which examined average salaries in the Middle East of MBA students prior to entering the programme and three years after completing it. Pre-MBA men earned

DIFFERENCE DIFFERENCE between men and women three years after MBA graduation

ly affect your search or your performance in the interview process.”

TIME TO TAKE AN MBA? The MBA has become such a ubiquitous feature of the corporate landscape that rather than having a direct benefit, its lack can be an impediment, says Martin Hughes, a design execution manager for Salam Technology and a graduate of the Manchester Business School MBA programme. “If you’re moving up into management then having the language and the commonality of expression that an MBA provides is increasingly important,” he says. “You need to be able to talk to a marketing person, a finance person, or a supply chain person and have the knowledge to be able to hold a conversation about the specifics of your company.”

With the MBA becoming almost a norm, many aspiring executives see it as a prerequisite for development. “If you’re applying for a job, chances are you’re competing with an

on average $73,000 while women earned 61,000, a 19 per cent gap. Three years after graduation, men earned on average $147,000, while women earned $120,000: the gap had widened to 23 per cent, a trend noticed in every other region in the world apart from Asia.

MBA graduate. It’s become almost a necessity because it gives you that edge,” says Todd.

Nevertheless, just as the MBA experience differs for everyone, so too does its value. Candidates need to work hard but also develop their network. “An MBA alone will not open doors to executive level opportunities, it is certainly a qualification that is well valued in the job market, but it must also be complemented with the right experience, track record and personal skill-set,” says Ashcroft.

Despite regional uncertainty, business schools are confident about enrolment numbers, which typically rise during downturns. “What we typically see in these kinds of environments is students striving to enhance their competitiveness by pursuing a greater degree of education,” says McClelland. “In fact we’re getting more and more requests from prospective students citing that they are concerned about maintaining their jobs, and working to do so. As far as motivation goes, we’re seeing more and more interest.”

See personality, not paper.

Hiring talented students and fresh graduates made easy.

INTERNSME.COM

UAE UAE

ABU DHABI SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT OOMBA General Fee: AED 135,000 Duration: 15 months Location: Abu Dhabi Accrediting country: UAE Enrolment deadline: Rolling

AL HOSN UNIVERSITY

A

Contact: Tel: +971 2 6917811 Email: info@adsm.ac.ae

ABU DHABI UNIVERSITY

OOMBA General OOMBA Human Resource Management

OOMBA Finance OOMBA Logistics and Supply 12

Chain Management

OOMBA Project Management Fee: AED 92,000 Duration: 12 months Location: Al Ain, Abu Dhabi Accrediting country: AACSB,

UAE Enrolment deadline: 22nd June Contact: Tel: Toll Free, 800 ADYOU/

800 23968; International Students, +971 2 5015555 Email: admissions@adu.ac.ae

AJMAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OOMBA Human Resources Management OOMBA Financial Management OOMBA Marketing Fee: AED 72,000 Duration: 24 months Location: Ajman Accrediting country: UAE

Enrolment deadline: End of August, sessions start early September Contact: Tel: +971 6 748 2222 Email: admissions@ajman.

ac.ae

AL AIN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OOMBA General OOMBA Accounting OOMBA Finance and Banking OOMBA Marketing OOMBA Human Resource Management OOMBA Management Information Systems Fee: AED 76,900 Duration: 1-3 years Location: Al Ain, Abu Dhabi Accrediting country: UAE Enrolment deadline: 15 May, 15 August, 1 January Contact: Tel: +971 3 702 4888 Email: business@aau.ac.ae

OOGeneral MBA OOMBA Finance OOMBA Banking OOMBA Accounting OOMBA International Business OOMBA Management Information Systems Fee: AED 90,000 Duration: 2 years Location: Abu Dhabi Accrediting country: UAE Enrolment deadline: Rolling Contact: Tel: +971 2 4070700 Email: mba@alhosnu.ae

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN DUBAI OOMBA General OOMBA International Finance OOMBA International Marketing OOMBA Management Fee: AED 126,000 Duration: 2 years Location: Dubai Accrediting countries: US, UAE Enrolment deadline: MidAugust, mid-December Contact: Tel: +971 4 399 9000

admissions@aud.edu AL GHURAIR UNIVERSITY OOMBA Financial management OOMBA Human resource management OOMBA Project management Fee: AED 90,000 Duration: 1 year full time Location: Dubai Accrediting country: UAE Enrolment deadline: Rolling Contact: Tel: +971 4 4 200223 ext.

304/303 Email: mbaadmissions@agu.

ac.ae

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN THE EMIRATES OOMBA Fee: AED 105,000 Duration: 1 year Location: AUE, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Accrediting country: UAE Enrolment deadlines: January, May, September Contact: Tel +971 4 4499000 p 14

Profile

T

MANCHESTER BUSINESS SCHOOL

he largest campus-based business school in the UK, Manchester Business School was established in 1960, and can count 25 Nobel prize winners among its staff and students past and present. Its Global MBA programme has been offered for almost two decades, and builds on the success of MBS’ full-time triple accredited MBA, and is highly ranked on the various global listings.

Designed for working professionals, it allows them to acquire a degree and progress their careers without having to interrupt their jobs, says Middle East director Randa Bessiso. The programme is delivered in a blended mode with a virtual learning environment. It is offered in six global centres including Manchester and Dubai, and is highly international, global both in content and in the mix of students, with more than 100 nationalities represented among its alumni. Students are able to travel to classes in other campuses around the world, and MBS will fund their accommodation twice to attend workshops in countries outside their base. The programme also offers different options depending on the career goals, including pathways for finance, engineering or project management.

MBS has been a pioneer with its MBA offering in the Gulf, and has been operating in the region for 10 years. “We’ve graduated around 900 students, so incoming students have access to a very strong and powerful alumni network. Already 30 per cent of our students in MENA are at a senior level, which is a reflection of the worldwide student body,” says Bessiso.

The school has played an active role since day one, collaborating with and listening to corporates

and government organisations. “We have strategic talent management partnerships with professional bodies in order to make sure our programmes stay relevant and market led.” The school ensures it’s supporting the vision of the UAE by giving opportunities for public access to its academics when they travel to the UAE to deliver workshops. Last year, as part of innovation year in the UAE, a key faculty member began researching creativity and innovation in the wider GCC, while back in 2010, MBS launched the Manchester Innovation Award For Emiratis, to encourage innovation among UAE nationals.

“Business management and education is a catalyst for the visions and strategies of the social and economic plans and objectives and inspirations of most nations, and here in the region it’s no different,” says Bessiso.

The Manchester method prioritises learning by doing, and is both reflective and applied, says Bessiso. “In every module students have to bring in experience from their work, resulting in immediate value from their learning on the programme.” Often, current employers are able to recognise an employee’s commitment to developing themselves and their careers. “They’ll be rewarded either with support for doing their MBA, or a promotion, larger projects, a new challenge,” says Bessiso.

“The MBA does change the way that graduates operate in business and the way they look at the world. They will become better managers as a result of it—and that will be very visible to their employers.”

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UAE Email: sro@aue.ae

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF RAS AL KHAIMAH OOGeneral MBA OOMBA Finance OOMBA International Business OOMBA Information Systems Management OOMBA Human Resources Management Fee: AED 86,400 Duration: 2 years Location: Ras Al Khaimah Accrediting country: UAE Enrolment deadlines: 16 August, 2016; 10 January, 2017 Note: International students must apply two weeks in advance of the stated deadline to meet visa timeline requirements

McClelland Tel: +971 6 5154601 Email: pmcclelland@aus.edu MBA coordinator, Merle Antonio Email: mantonio@aus.edu

AMITY UNIVERSITY

OOMBA General OOMBA Entrepreneurship OOMBA Insurance & Banking OOMBA PR & Event Management

OOMBA Real Estate and Urban Infrastructure

OOMBA Retail Management OOMBA Tourism Administration

Manufacturing Fee: AED 60,000

Fee: AED 50,000 Duration: 2 years Location: Ras Al Khaimah Accrediting country: India,

MBA (in Dubai, USA & UK) Fee: AED 106,000 + other expenses

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF SHARJAH OOGeneral MBA OOConcentrations in Finance and Human Resource Management Fee: AED 146,520 Duration: 18 months if taken full-time Location: Sharjah

otherwise stated)

Contact: MBA Director, Dr Patrick L.

OOMBA Finance OOMBA Marketing OOMBA Human Resources OOMBA Systems OOMBA Banking & Insurance OOMBA Operations &

OOExecutive MBA

OOMBA Hospitality

Accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education’s Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA); the School of Business is accredited by the AACSB Enrolment deadline: Rolling

B

BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY OFFSHORE CAMPUS RAK, UAE

Fee: AED 82,000

School of Graduate Studies and Research Tel: +971 7 2210900, Ext. 1602 Email: research@aurak.ac.ae

Accrediting countries:

51137080 Email: Ashwyn@btecdubai.ae

OOMBA Transport & Logistics

Contact:

14

Tel: Toll Free, 8002832/+971 5

Management

OOMBA Working professional Fee: AED 84,000 Duration: 2 years Location: Dubai (unless

accredited by the UGC’s National Assessment & Accreditation Council (NAAC) as well as the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) Enrolment deadline: 31 August Contact details: RAK Toll Free: 800BIT(248)/

Accrediting country: India Enrolment deadline: August Contact: Tel: +971 4 4554900 Email: admissions@

+971 5 29494110/503482778, Email: admission@biticrak.ae/ www.biticrak.ae

amityuniversity.ae

BITS PILANI, DUBAI CAMPUS

ANGLIA RUSKIN UNIVERSITY VIA BTEC DUBAI OOMBA General Fee: AED 70,000 (AED 58,000 before 1 May) Duration: 18 months Location: Dubai Accrediting country: UK Enrolment deadline: Rolling

OOMBA Engineering and

Contact:

Contact:

Technology Management

OOMBA IT Enabled Services Management Fee: AED 60,000 Duration: 2 years Location: Dubai Accrediting country: India Enrolment deadline: 9 June,

2016; 15 December, 2016 p 16

Profile says Fitzsimmons. With its day format, the Global MBA suits students seeking a graduate degree after a bachelor programme.

An MBA at Manipal University can support career advancement to a more senior level, or an outright career change, says Fitzsimmons.

“We’ve put the programme together to ensure that people can not only develop functional expertise in the broad areas of management, but also the soft skills that people need around leadership, entrepreneurial thinking, critical and creative thinking as well as communication skills.

These soft skills we embed in the programme.”

A key differentiator for the programme is the focus on quality teaching and outcome-based education, which balances practical skills with the academic learning, achieved through close interaction with industry and business. Meanwhile, in addition to international study tours, student understanding of the global economy is bolstered by bringing international faculty to the Dubai campus for a semester at a time, enabled by collaborations with other institutions around the globe.

Concentrations on offer are based on market and industry needs, with an emphasis on the fields of finance, marketing and entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is not just a useful skill for those who will start their own business: Entrepreneurial leadership and the entrepreneurial mindset are important skills for those pursuing a career within the corporate world, says Fitzsimmons. Most organisations realise that innovation is very important, and crucial for them if they want to maintain their competitive position and enhance the company, he says. “Employers are looking for these skills, so we’re placing a lot of emphasis on ensuring that our graduates are able to think and act like an entrepreneur, so that they can solve business problems and create value for the organisations.” While the region is facing uncertain times, Fitzsimmons points out that even in challenging times there’s opportunities. “Good managers should realise that and try take advantage of that.”

MANIPAL UNIVERSITY

W

ith strong links to local industry and the business world, Manipal University in Dubai is focused on developing critical skills among students, whether it’s a broad understanding of management areas or soft skills such as critical thinking or communication. Their general MBA is a full-time course, but delivered in a weekend or evening format in order to cater to working professionals. It teaches core subjects in the main professional areas of business, while electives allow students to choose a concentration or even dual concentration.

Hands-on experience is also essential for the learning process, and students can look to take a summer internship or project, enabling them to get industry traction, says Dr Jason Fitzsimmons, dean of corporate executive education and chairperson of its school of business. “It’s a very practical-focused course, case-based, with industry professionals regularly coming in to give guest lectures and to teach as adjuncts alongside the full-time academic faculty.”

Manipal University also offers an MBA in Global Business, designed to prepare graduates for an international career with exposure to the international business environment. It’s an opportunity to study in three countries, with its base in Dubai and with the option of completing a term of study with a partner institution in the UK or India. On top of that there is also an international study tour to a growth market in South East Asia. “It’s especially important for graduates to work across countries and across cultures, and this course gives them exposure to economically important markets,”

15

UAE Tel: Admission: +971 4 2753711 Email: admission@dubai.bits-

pilani.ac.in

C

CANADIAN UNIVERSITY DUBAI OOMBA in General Management OOMBA in Marketing OOMBA in Finance OOMBA in Human Resource Management OOMBA in Islamic Banking Fee: AED 92,480

CASS BUSINESS SCHOOL, CITY UNIVERSITY LONDON

OOExecutive MBA Fee: GBP 38,500 Duration: 2 years Location: Dubai Accrediting country: UK Enrolment deadline(s): Rolling Contact:

Ehsan Razavizadeh Tel: +971 4 4019318 Email: dubaiemba@city.ac.uk

Duration:

14 months Location:

Dubai, UAE Accrediting country: UAE Enrolment deadline:

16

Applications assessed on an ongoing basis for admissions in January, May and September Contact: Tel: +971 4 321 9090 email: info@cud.ac.ae

CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY VIA WESTFORD SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

OOMBA (Advanced Entry) with dual certification Fee: AED 44,000 Duration: 1 year, Location: Dubai, Abu Dhabi,

Sharjah Accrediting country: UK Enrolment deadline: Rolling Contact: Tel: +971 7 2432004/ 971 5

29263000 Email: info@westford.org.uk

CORNERSTONE COLLEGE RAK OOMBA Advertising Management OOMBA Airlines and Airport Management OOMBA Communication Management OOMBA Computer Application OOMBA Customer Relationship Management OOMBA Event Management OOMBA Export/Import Management OOMBA Financial Management OOMBA General Administration OOMBA Hotel Management OOMBA Hospital Administration OOMBA Human Resource Management OOMBA Information Technology OOMBA International Business OOMBA Marketing Management OOMBA Material & Supply Chain Management OOMBA Office Administration OOMBA Personnel Management OOMBA in Project Management OOMBA in Quality Management

OOMBA Retail Management OOMBA Travel & Tourism Management Fee: AED 36,000 Duration: 1 year Location: Ras al Khaimah Accrediting countries: India, UK Enrolment deadlines: April,

September, January Contact: Tel: +971 7 2433500/

+971 5 05752600

DUKE UNIVERSITY’S FUQUA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS OOCross Continent MBA Fee: USD 135,000 Duration: 16 months Global Executive MBA Fee: USD 162,000 Duration: 15 months Location: Online Accrediting country: AACSB (US), UAE Enrolment deadline: Rolling

D

Contact: Tel: +971 4 4019342/+971 4

4019306 Email: mideast@fuqua.duke.

edu

E

EMIRATES AVIATION UNIVERSITY OOMBA in Aviation Management OOMBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management OOMBA in General Management Fee: AED 120,000 Duration: 18 months Location: Dubai Accrediting country: UK Enrolment deadline: Rolling Contact: Tel: +971 4 6050109/112/104 Email: admissions@eau.ac.ae p 16

LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL

I

t’s one of the most prestigious B-schools in the world, with strong connections to the financial world. In Dubai, London Business School offers an executive MBA, a part-time programme designed for working professionals. While predominantly taught at the Dubai campus, it involves travel to the main campus in London, including for orientation week. Meanwhile, faculty are flown in from London to teach the programme in Dubai to ensure the academic experience is the same.

LBS is currently the top-ranked business school in Europe according to the Financial Times, while its MBA programme is ranked number three globally. This year LBS celebrates its 50th anniversary as a business school as well as the 10th anniversary of offering a programme in Dubai, says Mark O’Brien, senior recruitment and admissions manager at LBS’s Dubai Centre. “We certainly have a long commitment in the region, and the programme we deliver here is of the same quality and the same degree certificate as you would receive if you were on the home campus in London.” And while it comes with a heftier price tag than some of the other executive programmes on offer in the region, students see results, with an average salary increase of 41 per cent three years after graduation, according to a recent FT survey.

Students at LBS come from a wide variety of business sectors, nationalities and cultures. The average length of industry experience is 11 years,

Profile

but the range is from 5 to 25 years’ experience, meaning broad and diverse industry knowledge in each cohort.

Most candidates enrol with a view to accelerating their career and moving to a more senior general manager role within their current or similar organisation, says O’Brien. But the course also caters to budding entrepreneurs, those already active in entrepreneurship, involved in a family business, or who may be looking to make a career jump into a new sector. “Our programme teaches students leadership skills, especially adaptability, flexibility, and broader awareness of the economy globally through our subjects as well as the network that they build,” says O’Brien.

Along with industry breadth, LBS also has a well-formed reputation within the financial world. And while students from a finance background make up only 25-30 per cent of the intake for its executive MBA programme, connections to the world of capital can prove invaluable for graduates in almost any business area, especially entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is a special focus, with students looking for the skills, network, knowledge and confidence to help propel them down the path of starting their own venture.

LBS offers a raft of classes and electives focused on entrepreneurship, as well as the option of an entrepreneur summer school on its London campus. In Dubai, LBS calls on its alumni in successful entrepreneurial ventures to act as mentors-in-residence for current students. The regional and global alumni network is also a powerful resource, with regular events including breakfast meetings, guest speakers and lectures from faculty members.

A slower economy in the Gulf makes it a good time to take a career acceleration programme, readying students to hit the ground running, says O’Brien. Some may also have more free time, while the executive MBA structure means that candidates can retain the security of their current role.

17

UAE

G

GENEVA BUSINESS SCHOOL VIA LINCOLN UNIVERSITY OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

OOMBA International Management

OOMBA Healthcare

18

Management OOMBA Project & Operations Management OOMBA Quality Management OOMBA Educational Leadership Management OOMBA Human Resource Management OOMBA Global Banking & Finance OOMBA Supply Chain & Logistics Management Fee: AED 41,800 Duration: 14 Months Location: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Ruwais Accrediting countries:

Switzerland, USA Enrolment deadlines: Rolling Contact: +971 5 55538999

GUGLIELMO MARCONI UNIVERSITY VIA WESTFORD SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

OOMBA Health Care Management OOMBA Human Resource Management OOIMBA International Business OOMBA Supply Chain Management Fee: AED 32,000 Duration: One year, Location: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Online Accrediting country: Italy Enrolment deadline: Rolling Contact: Tel: +971 7 2432004/

971 52 926 3000 Email: info@westford.org.uk

HERIOT WATT UNIVERSITY DUBAI

Contact:

H

Anastasia.Safronova@hult.edu +971 4 427 5800

OOMBA General

OOInternational MBA

Fee: AED 88,000 Duration: 1 year full time/22

Duration: 1 year full time Fee: EUR 65,000

months part time Locations: Dubai, UK, Malaysia, Online Accrediting country: UK, UAE Enrolment deadline: MidAugust, mid-November Contact: Tel: +971 4 435 8700 Email: DubaiMBA@ebs.hw.ac.

uk

HIGHER COLLEGES OF TECHNOLOGY OOProfessional MBA Fee: AED 96,000 Duration: 2 years Location: Abu Dhabi, Dubai Accrediting country: UAE Enrolment deadline: 15 June Contact: Tel: +971 2 6922550 Email: masters@hct.ac.ae

HULT INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL OOMBA General Fee: USD 69,800 Duration: 1 year Location: Dubai, London, Boston, San Francisco

OOExecutive MBA Fees: USD 74,000 Duration: 2 years Location: Dubai, London,

Shanghai Accrediting countries: US, UK Enrolment deadline: Rolling

I

IE BUSINESS SCHOOL

OOGlobal MBA Duration: 15 months (part time) Fee: EUR 44,700

OOExecutive MBA Duration: 15 months (part time) Fee: EUR 55,200 OOGlobal Executive MBA Duration: 15 months (part time) Fee: EUR 75,000 OOIE Brown Executive MBA Duration: 15 months (part time) Fee: USD 130,000 Location: Madrid, Spain Accrediting countries:

Association of MBAs, EQUIS accredited, AACSB International Accreditation Enrolment deadline: Rolling Contact: Tel: +971 4 3598400 Email: uae@ie.edu, Marie.

gedeon@ie.edu, Lamia.dalle@ ie.edu

INSEAD BUSINESS SCHOOLT OOGeneral MBA (INSEAD MBA Programme) Fee: EUR 71,000 Duration: 10 months Location: France or Singapore Accrediting country: EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA Enrolment deadline:

January 2017 p 20

STRATHCLYDE BUSINESS SCHOOL O

ne of the oldest, largest and most respected business schools in the UK, Strathclyde Business School has consistently been ranked in the top 10 B-schools in the UK in both research and teaching quality. Its history has seen the institution achieve a number of firsts, including being the first UK B-school to offer a one-year, full-time MBA programme in 1966, and in 1988 became the first to offer a parttime MBA programme at its International Centres (launched in South-East Asia in 1988).

Today, the Strathclyde International Part-time executive MBA is offered at international centres in the UAE (in Abu Dhabi and Dubai), Oman, Bahrain, Singapore, Malaysia, Greece and Switzerland. A two-year, part-time MBA programme, with the exception of the mode of study it is in all respects identical to that offered on a full-time basis in the UK–entry criteria, programme content, assessment, books and core learning materials are the same, and it is taught by the same Strathclyde academics who teach in Glasgow.

A general MBA programme, students can expect to graduate with a broad understanding of business and management, advanced management skills and techniques, self-awareness as a manager and leader, and with increased confidence in all areas of business, says programme director Dr Ron Bradfield. “The Strathclyde MBA is highly experiential and based on collaborative learning, including class discussions and presentations, and in assessed group work assignments where students share their varied work experiences, knowledge, understanding and skills.” A particular focus for the school is strategy, with four courses related to the subject, one in each semester. These build on each other, culminating in a three-day Strategic Consulting in Practice workshop, where students undertake a real-life strategy assignment for a client. The focus on strategy has also been recognised in the rankings, with the

Profile

Strathclyde MBA placed seventh in the world for the subject in Financial Times’ 2015 ranking.

Entrepreneurship is also in focus, with core courses and elective options providing the essential skills to enhance the abilities of people working for themselves or about to set up in business, says Bradfield.

With the business environment dominated by uncertainty and ambiguity, business leaders need to have an appreciation that the future is not predictable, Bradfield says. “One has to understand what the driving forces are that will create the future, and how they may combine in ways different from what we have seen in the past. Those in business need to take a long term view–five plus years–rather than have a preoccupation with the short term, which currently dominates industry and governments.”

Strathclyde has long encouraged this manner of thinking, with a course in which students are required to develop a set of scenarios about a particular issue and the ways in which it may evolve in different ways over the next 15-20 years. More recently it added a course on technology and innovation.

Beyond a solid understanding of the fundamentals of business (such as accounting, finance, marketing, operations and managing people), business leaders must have the ability to work within, and to lead, manage and inspire widely diverse teams–”to walk the talk”, says Bradfield.

But perhaps most important, even senior management need to recognise that a degree (including the MBA) is not the end of education: “What is required today is lifelong learning and the skills for managing and sustaining progress in organisations,” Bradfield says.

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UAE Round 1: 2 March, 2016 Round 2: 20 April, 2016 Round 3: 15 June, 2016 Round 4: 27 July, 2016 September 2017 Round 1: 21 September, 2016 Round 2: 30 November, 2016 Round 3: 25 January, 2017 Round 4: 1 March, 2017 Contact: Email: mba.info@insead.edu

INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY OOGeneral MBA Fee: AED 92,000 Duration: 2 years

OOExecutive MBA Fee: AED 70,000 Duration: 14 months Enrolment deadline: Rolling Location: Dubai Accrediting country: US, UAE Contact: Tel: +971 4 4227244 Email: admissions@imtdubai.

ac.ae

LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL OOExecutive MBA Fee: 109,500 USD Duration: 20 months Location: London, Dubai Accrediting country: UK Enrolment deadline: July

plus a six-month live company project) Location: Workshops held in Dubai, Manchester, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and São Paulo Accrediting country: UK Enrolment deadline: 20 June Contact: Tel: +971 4 4468664 Email: mba@mbs-worldwide.

ae

Enrolment deadline: Rolling

20

Fee: GBP 32,918 Duration: 30 months (2 years

L

MANIPAL UNIVERSITY DUBAI OOMBA General Option for weekend courses (Friday and Saturday) or weekday evenings (4 days a week) Fee: AED 61,600

OOMBA Global Business (Three-country immersion) Fee: AED 79,600 Additional fee of AED 13,000 per year for 3 countries global immersion Duration: 2 years Accrediting country: UGC, India.

Licensed by KHDA (Dubai) Enrolment deadline:

MBA Full time (Weekend/ Weekday) Admission cycle 1: February/ March

Contact: Tel: +971 4 3678100 Email: admissions@mdx.ac

MURDOCH UNIVERSITY DUBAI OOGeneral MBA Fee: AED 96,000 Duration: 16 months full time, 2 years part-time Location: Dubai Accrediting country: Australia Enrolment deadline:

Second week of May, Second week of August, Second week of December

Admission cycle 2:

September

murdochdubai.ac.ae

Contact:

Mark O’Brien Tel: +971 4 4019301 Email: Mobrien@london.edu

Manipal University, Dubai G04, Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) PO Box 345050 Dubai, UAE Email: admissions@ manipaldubai.com Telephone: +971 4 4290 777,

M

MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY DUBAI OOMBA General OOMBA Marketing OOMBA Finance OOMBA Operations and Logistics OOMBA International Business OOMBA Business Excellence Fee: AED 100,000 Duration: 1 year full time, 2 years part time Location: Dubai Accrediting country: UK Enrolment deadline: 25 September

Contact: Tel: +971 4 4355700 Email: admissions@

Contact:

MANCHESTER BUSINESS SCHOOL OOPart-time Global MBA

+971 4 4290 705 Fax: +971 4 369 4541

NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY OOGeneral MBA Fee: AED 80,400 Duration: 18 months Location: Abu Dhabi Accrediting countries: US

N

p 22

Profile

SP JAIN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT S

P Jain School of Management established its Dubai campus in 2004. It is the youngest business school to enter the global top 100 lists, says Dr Balakrishna Grandhi, dean of the EMBA programme, while its full-time programme was recently among the top 10 international MBA programmes as ranked by Forbes. In Dubai it offers the executive MBA, as well as the international MBA, which is a tri-city programme that incorporates Dubai as well as Sydney and Singapore. Those entering the EMBA have average work experience of 12-15 years, while for the global MBA applicants must have a minimum of three years’ experience.

Following benchmarking of their EMBA with global peers, Grandhi says he’s confident about the course’s value. “I believe we have one of the finest executive MBA programmes in the world, and it has been received extremely well.”

With the course designed to groom candidates for a senior position within an organisation, the focus is on developing mental strength and stamina, so that they can handle ambiguous and difficult situations in the workplace while thinking critically, he says. “We are trying to groom corporate athletes, and believe there is a lot they can take by way of learning from what athletes need to do in order to win recognition. They need to sweat, flex the body and the mind, and practice—it doesn’t come easy and there’s no shortcut.”

Innovations and key features in the programme include eight out of 36 credits taught through blended learning, giving students flexibility about accessing content online. With a choice of 12 electives, candidates can pick and choose a com-

bination that suits their long-term objective.

“There’s an opportunity for them to customise their learning.” SP Jain has also introduced five “rigorous and comprehensive simulations” in which students are required to manage a company and take decisions, so that they can learn about the impact of their decisions and realise mistakes in the classroom, rather than in the real world. Another feature is applied business research, where students focus a specific problem of strategic intent in the workplace.

Dr Indu Niranjan, dean of the global MBA, and based in the Singapore campus, says their programme corresponds to the the rising demand for global exposure and global learning in the corporate job market. With Dubai exposing students to the Middle East, Singapore to South East Asia, and Sydney to the Western hemisphere, the programme covers all the three main cultural and business centres, says Niranjan.

The focus in each location is on interacting with industries that typify the region, such as shipping, banking and oil and gas in Singapore, and supply chain, networking, and conferences in Sydney. The programme incorporates guest sessions from local companies, in order to give insights into the culture of the place, talk about how decisions are made, and how industries have grown over a period of time, says Niranjan. “Students learn about the dynamics in that particular location, and the nuances and tactical knowledge about how to do business is being shared with students.” Meanwhile, spending four months living in each city gives them a broader appreciation of the local culture than could be obtained solely from the class setting and text books, she says.

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UAE (AACSB) and UAE

OOGeneral MBA

Enrolment deadline: Last

Eligibility: For people with a

week of May, first week of September

non-business degree or 16 years of relevant education with minimum 55 per cent marks or 2.0 CGPA Fee: AED 48,000 Duration: 24-30 months

Contact: Tel: +971 2 4048523/ +971 5 0

1204064 Email: nyitad@nyit.edu

S P JAIN SCHOOL OF GLOBAL MANAGEMENT OOExecutive MBA Fee: USD 23,190 Duration: 18 months Location: Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore and Sydney

S

OOGlobal MBA Fee: USD 47,715 Duration: 1 Year Location: The GMBA is a

22

tri-city programme where students study four months each in Dubai, Singapore and Sydney, Accrediting countries: TEQSA, Australia; KHDA, Dubai; CPE, Singapore Enrolment deadlines: EMBA Dubai: May 2016. GMBA: October 2016.

Contact: Tel: +971 4 429 1234 Email: pg.dubai@spjain.org

36 SHAHEED ZULFIKAR ALI BHUTTO INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY OOGeneral MBA Eligibility: For people with a business degree or 16 years of relevant education with minimum 55 per cent marks or 2.0 CGPA Fee: AED 24,000 Duration: 18 months

OOGeneral MBA Eligibility: For people with

14 years of education with minimum 55 per cent marks or 2.0 CGPA Fee: AED 60,000 Duration: 36-42 months

OOExecutive MBA Fee: AED 48,400 Duration: 24 months Accrediting country: Pakistan Location: Dubai Enrolment deadline: 31 August Contact: Tel: +971 4 3664601 Email: info@szabist.ac.ae

SWISS BUSINESS SCHOOL VIA AL TAREEQAH MANAGEMENT STUDIES

OOMBA General OOMBA Supply Chain Management & Logistics

OOMBA Human Resources Management

OOMBA Finance OOMBA Marketing OOMBA Tourism Management Fee: AED 44,500 Duration: 1 year full time, 12-18

months part time Location: Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, Ras al-Khaimah,Sharjah and Dubai Accrediting country:

Switzerland, USA Enrolment deadline: Rolling Contact: +971 5 56490500

info@atmsedu.org

SYNERGY UNIVERSITY

OOExecutive MBA in Strategy SKYLINE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OOMBA E-Governance OOMBA Marketing OOMBA Finance OOMBA Human Resource Management OOMBA Strategic Management and Leadership Fee: AED 90,000 Duration: 18 months Location: Sharjah Accrediting country: UAE Enrolment deadline: 2nd week of May, 2nd week of September Contact: Tel: 971 6 5441155 Email: admissions@

skylineuniversity.ac.ae

and Leadership Fee: AED 88,080 Duration: 18 months OOMBA Women’s Leadership Fee: AED 80,740 Duration: 2 years Location: Dubai Accrediting country: UK, UAE, Russia Enrolment deadline: July-August Contact: Tel: Toll Free: 800 SYNERGY/

800 7963749/ +971 4 4206699 Email: mba@synergydubai.ae

THE BRITISH UNIVERSITY IN DUBAI OOGeneral MBA Fee: AED 64,000 Duration: Under 18 months

T

p 24

Profile

CASS BUSINESS SCHOOL C

ass Business School is part of City University London, and the Lord Mayor of the City of London is the Chancellor of the University. Its main campus is based in the financial district in the UK’s capital, so it’s no surprise that it has a strong showing in the world of finance and banking. Its executive MBA has been run in Dubai since 2007, in collaboration with Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) and the Government of Dubai, says Ehsan Razavizadeh, founding director for MENA and head of the Dubai Centre. “In 2007 we were the first leading business school to introduce a specialisation in Islamic finance and energy as part of the MBA.” The two-year, part-time EMBA covers the core modules of business management, such as accounting, finance, marketing and strategy, as well as electives including entrepreneurship and commercial finance. It also provides a number of soft-skills workshops, such as interviewing skills, CV-writing and team working. Networking is also a focus. “Networking is an extremely important part of an MBA, and these events are an opportunity for students and alumni to meet one another and be aware of the opportunities this network presents,” says Razavizadeh.

Faculty is flown in from London to guarantee the quality of the delivery, and students in Dubai have the same experience in terms of content and quality as those in London, says Razavizadeh. Average work experience for incoming students is around 11 years, and taking the EMBA may be an opportunity to change their career, or become head of a business unit, or start their own business. “Many also need intellectual stimulation and challenge. After 10-12 years of being

in the same sector or industry, you need some sort of challenge. Most enjoy the time spent studying and being together for a long weekend and establishing a new network.”

Talking about general trends in the MBA sector in the Gulf, Razavizadeh says that over the years inquiries from potential students have become more sophisticated and detail-oriented, wanting to know about the strength of the network, regular events, and the international trips that are on offer. Cass offers trips including one to South Africa, with a theme of leadership and change management, and another to Silicon Valley, with a theme of entrepreneurship and new venture creation.

Demand for specialisation is also rising, he says, with potential students wanting to know about a school’s strength. Cass is very famous for it’s finance and banking, says Razavizadeh.

“In fact we have one of the largest faculties of finance and banking in Europe.” For potential students looking at an MBA programme, Razavizadeh says it’s important that they ensure the course is right for them from an academic point of view, including content, modules and electives, “but it’s also very important to meet with current students and alumni to talk with them about the challenges of doing an MBA while you have a full-time job, as well as knowledge of each particular institution”. Potential students may also consider the option of visiting the home campus to get an appreciation for the school.

“Our operation in Dubai is part of a greater presence in London. Seeing that makes a huge difference,” he says.

23

UAE Location: Dubai Accrediting country: UAE, with

Email: sbs-uaemba@strath.

ac.uk

UK affiliation Enrolment deadline: End of July,

end of November Contact: Tel: +971 4 3913626 Email: admissions@buid.ac.ae

THE EMIRATES ACADEMY OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT

OOMBA International Hospitality Management Fee: AED 100,070 Duration: 1 year full time, up to

2 years part time Location: Dubai Accrediting country: UAE, UK

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY OOGeneral MBA OOMBA in Manufacturing Excellence Fee: AED 86,400 (Dubai), AED 130,032 (Al Ain and Abu Dhabi) Duration: 2 years Location: Al Ain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi Accrediting country: UAE Enrolment deadline: Information unavailable Contact: Tel: +971 3 7673333

and Australia 30 October, 30 January, 30 June Contact: Tel: +971 4 3155555 Email: info@emiratesacademy.

edu

U

UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE BUSINESS SCHOOL

OOExecutive MBA Fee: AED 135,000 Duration: 24-30 months Location: Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Electives can also be taken in Glasgow, or in Athens, Bahrain, Kuala Lumpur, Muscat, Singapore and Zurich Accrediting countries: UK, EU, USA, UAE (AMBA, EQUIS, AACSB, CAA) Enrolment deadlines: March for April intake, September for October intake Contact: Tel: +971 2 4048546/+971 4

2089280

OOMBA Distance Learning – Global Fee: GBP 21,500

OOMBA Innovation, Enterprise and Circular Economy – Global Fee: GBP 16,500 Duration: 2-6 years Location: Dubai Accrediting countries: Triple accredited business school (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS); AMBA accreditation Enrolment deadline:

Enrolment deadline:

24

UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD OOMBA Executive Part Time Fee: GBP 21,500

Three weeks prior to commencement, intakes in September and April

UNIVERSITY OF BANGOR VIA WESTFORD SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT OOMBA General Fee: AED 51,000 to AED 75,000 Duration: 1-2 years Location: Dubai, online Accrediting country: UK Enrolment deadline: Rolling

OOMBA Leadership and Human

Contact: Tel: +971 7 243 2004/971 52

OOMBA Operations and

926 3000 Email: info@westford.org.uk

Contact: Email: applymbaglobal@

bradford.ac.uk; applymba@bradford.ac.uk

UNIVERSITY OF DUBAI Resource Management Logistics Management

OOMBA Finance and Accounting

OOMBA International Business UNIVERSITY OF BOLTON

OOGeneral MBA

Tuition fee: AED 49,500 Duration: 2 years Location: Ras al-Khaimah Accrediting country: UK Enrolment deadline: 15 August Contact: Tel: +971 7 2211221 Email: info.uaecampus@

bolton.ac.uk

and Marketing Fee: AED 103,520 Duration: 15 months Location: Dubai Accrediting country: USA, UAE Enrolment deadline: 9 April,

June, September, January Contact:

Mirna Ayman Tel: +971 4 5566 876 Email: mayman@ud.ac.ae

Accrediting country: UAE,

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHAMPTON VIA BTEC OOMBA general Fee: AED 70,000 Duration: 18 months Location: Dubai Accrediting country: UK Enrolment deadline: Rolling Contact: Tel: Toll Free: 800 2832/ +971

55 1137080 Email: ashwyn@btec

Australia Enrolment deadline:

Summer semester: 10 May Contact: Tel: +971 4 278 1800 Email: info@uowdubai.ac.ae

UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON VIA WESTFORD SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

OOMBA (top-up) with dual certification

UNIVERSITY OF SHARJAH OOExecutive MBA Fee: AED 85,800 Duration: 18 months to 24 months Location: Sharjah Accrediting country: UAE Enrolment deadline: 1 May Contact: Tel: +971 6 5053871 Email: emag@sharjah.ac.ae

UNIVERSITY OF WALES VIA AL TAREEQAH MANAGEMENT STUDIES OOMBA General Fee: AED 42,500 Duration: 1 year full time, 12-18 months part time Location: Abu Dhabi, Dubai Accrediting country:

Fee: AED 40,000 Duration: 1 year Location: Dubai, Abu Dhabi,

Sharjah, Online Accrediting country: UK Enrolment deadline: Rolling Contact: Tel: +971 7 2432004/ 971 5 2

9263000 Email: info@westford.org.uk

UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER VIA BTEC OOMBA general Fee: AED 70,000 Duration: 18 months Location: Dubai Accrediting country: UK Enrolment deadline: Rolling Contact: Tel: Toll Free, 800 2832/+971 5

Switzerland, USA

51137080

Enrolment deadline: Rolling Contact: Tel: +971 5 56490500 Email: info@atmsedu.org

Email: ashwyn@btec

UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG OOMBA General Fee: AED 100,400 Duration: 18-30 months Location: Dubai

25

FEATURE

FOUNDING AN EMPIRE As recognition of the importance of entrepreneurship to the GCC continues to grow, many MBA programmes are offering courses on the topic. With some using the MBA as a springboard for starting their own business, how exactly does the course help?

26

A

t a time when the GCC is confronting hard economic realities due to declining oil revenues, entrepreneurship is shaping up to be a potent force. And for many entrepreneurs, an MBA is an essential stepping stone.

With a desire to change his career from engineering, either into a corporate role or to fulfil his dream of starting his own business, Dubai-based Daniel Wanies enrolled in an EMBA with the London School of Business. Since graduating, Wanies has founded two businesses, and he credits the course with giving him the confidence to take the step. “You read a lot of case studies in the MBA, and you realise it’s not just geniuses or people up in the cloud who can start a business. Often it’s regular, down-toearth people who decide to take the plunge.”

Philip Bahoshy enrolled in the MBA offered

by INSEAD Business School, originally with

the intention of joining the family business.

Instead, he founded Magnitt, which he hopes will become the largest online community platform for startups in the Middle East. He describes it as “AngelList meets LinkedIn for the MENA region.” “We’re trying to connect all the different startups and founders in the region to the different stakeholders in the ecosystem,” he says. He acknowledges that doubling down and starting a new venture straight after the hefty financial outlay of an MBA can seem risky, but for him the time and the opportunity cost were right, with the Gulf’s nascent tech sector beginning to boom.

While there is a perception in some quarters that an MBA isn’t helpful to an entrepreneur who wants to think outside the box, many of the skills and processes taught in the programme are essential for someone running their own

business, says Bahoshy. “You learn about branding a product, market size, how to position your product, how to identify the problem you’re looking to solve, and other specifics such as term sheets,” he says. “Doing an MBA doesn’t teach you how to be an entrepreneur, but if you have entrepreneurial spirit and mindset it can help provide you the framework to apply it.” His tip for budding entrepreneurs starting on an MBA is to bring ideas early on that can be discussed in class and worked on in case studies.

He recommends using the full benefits of the faculty, teachers, classmates and the community to test and explore ideas for a business, so that by the time you’re exiting the MBA you have something to work with.

Both Bahoshy and Wanies describe the inclass presentations and ongoing discussions outside the classroom as an essential process that can help hone and improve ideas, as well as attract potential business partners, whether through fellow entrepreneurs or financial backing. LBS has a specific entrepreneurship course, where students present ideas in front of the class. After the presentations small groups would huddle in discussion, Wanies says, and an organic process would take place outside the classroom, with lots of meetings and students going out for lunch to discuss ideas.

“The network was a major asset, not just in providing me with partners to go into business with, but ideas,” says Wanies. “You get people from finance, from consulting, from family business. All those brains put together and the ideas coming in together make for a great network of people to bounce ideas off.”

Wanies met his future business partner in

“YOU REALISE IT’S NOT JUST GENIUSES OR PEOPLE UP IN THE CLOUD WHO CAN START A BUSINESS” – DANIEL WANIES, ENTREPRENEUR AND GRADUATE OF THE EXECUTIVE MBA PROGRAMME AT THE LONDON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

MAGNITT AIMS TO CONNECT MENA STARTUPS WITH THE WIDER TECH ECOSYSTEM

the LBS course, and together they decided to found an events company, Empire GCC, after using Google trends and Google analytics to spot a gap in the market. “We saw that there were lots of searching for these services here in the UAE, but the market hasn’t been wellserved,” he says. It’s a high-profit business, Wanies says, and it’s quadrupled in size each year of its operations. Success in that venture gave him confidence to embark on his second, a high-end butchery in Jumeirah in Dubai, which he describes as a passion project.

Entrepreneurship is taught through many MBA programmes in the Gulf, and some institutions offer a chance to specialise in the subject.

But it’s not just a useful skill for those who will start their own business: Entrepreneurial leadership and the entrepreneurial mindset are important skills for those pursuing a career within the corporate world, says Dr Jason Fitzsimmons, dean of corporate executive education at Manipal University in Dubai and chairperson of its school of business. Most organisations realise that innovation is crucial for them to maintain their competitive position and enhance the company, says Fitzsimmons. “Employers are looking for these skills, so we’re placing a lot of emphasis on ensuring that our graduates are able to think and act like an entrepreneur, meaning they can solve business problems and create value for the organisations they go into.”

27

FEATURE

28

RISE THE RISE OF SPECIALISED MBAS

Specialised MBA courses can help you get ahead in your chosen career, but what happens if you decide you want to change your focus?

W

hile the Masters of Business Administration was once offered solely as a general course on management, today more and more B-schools in the Gulf are offering MBAs with the option to specialise in one or more areas. Some schools, such as Emirates Aviation University, offer sector specific degree courses in areas such as aviation management, while others allow students to concentrate in areas such as Islamic finance or human resources.

Yet it’s not a trend embraced by all. “The MBA is a ‘master of business’ and by definition therefore is a generalist degree with 12-14 subjects covering all of the fundamental areas of business,” says Dr Ron Bradfield, director of Strathclyde Business School UAE. “If someone wants to specialise in a particular area–for example finance, accounting, marketing–they should undertake a Master of Science (MSc) degree which is a specialist degree and will generally comprise 10-12 subjects in the specialist area.”

It’s not an uncommon sentiment in the world

of MBAs, yet the general trend seems to be that, along with the MBA becoming more common, more candidates are choosing to take a cluster of electives and graduate with a specialisation. Of course, it’s worth noting that precisely what constitutes specialisation and concentration can differ between institutions: sometimes it’s about clustering electives, or sometimes it means taking a longer course.

The American University of Sharjah offers two concentrations for its MBA students: Islamic finance and human resources. These are offered in response to the business environment of the UAE and the wider GCC, says Patrick McClelland, director of graduate programmes at the School of Business Administration. The specialisation in Islamic finance is available as Dubai emerges as an international financial centre. Meanwhile, the HR specialisation is in place to target organisations that are experiencing a wave of Emiratisation. “We’re training HR managers who are responsible for hiring, training, retaining and rewarding large

numbers of Emiratis as they enter the private isations in addition to its general programme, inwork force,” says McClelland, adding that he cluding global banking and finance, logistics and believes that institutions which offer MBAs have supply chain management and quality managea responsibility to design products that meet ment. While general management programmes the needs of the local market. provide ample room for students to choose any Indeed, accreditation authorities in the UAE pathway that they may want to, specialisation have a stated preference for institutions to brings the distinct flavour of a programme, says offer specialised rather than general MBAs, programme coordinator Arun Kumar. says Professor Amitabh Upadhya, dean at “Students who are more determined on their Skyline University College in Sharjah. He notes choice could benefit from specialising in their that all graduates must complete nine core area,” he says. “These are also at times the recourses, with three additional courses comquirement of recruiters to select candidates.” prising the concentration in fields including Nevertheless, students should be cautious e-governance, marketing, and strategic mannot to over-specialise in business areas that agement and leadership. won’t have market longevity or are only relSpecialisation also allows stuevant to one specific region, dents to concentrate on areas Kumar says. “Courses should they believe will be essential be well researched and learnfor their career. The Qatar Uniers should ensure that the skills versity offers a specialisation in taught over the programme are entrepreneurship and business scalable to different sectors and analysis, the latter encompasscountries over a period of time.” ing the burgeoning field of Big Potential students considerData. Professor Belaid Aouni, ing a specialised MBA should associate dean for research and consider carefully what they graduate studies, says that busiwant to do after they graduate, ness analysis has proven to be says Zeina Sleiman, INSEAD a popular field, with some stuBusiness School’s Middle East dents seeing an instant appli& Africa associate director cation to their existing roles. An of institutional relations and example of this was a student alumni affairs. “For example, who worked as a hospital adsomeone wishing to transi– DR MARC POULIN, DIRECTOR ministrator and was handling tion to a role in the airline inOF THE MBA PROGRAMME AT large amounts of data. dustry may benefit from the CANADIAN UNIVERSITY DUBAI MBA students at the Canadifocus of a specialised MBA an University Dubai can choose in the subject. It’s important to specialise in one of five business areas– to look at which recruiters hire from the progeneral management, human resource mangrammes–are the roles and the location of agement, marketing, finance or Islamic banking. the companies what you aspire to?”

Dr Marc Poulin, director of the MBA programme INSEAD offers a general management proat CUD, says that there is value in specialised gramme and does not offer a specialisation (alMBA programmes that meet a niche employthough it is possible to specialise somewhat er demand. “Furthermore, since the MBA has through the choice of electives). “Students may become the benchmark for individuals seeking have an idea of the role they would like after to progress into management and leadership graduation, but some will change their minds as roles, specialised programmes offer individuals they discover new opportunities which they had the opportunity to differentiate themselves in not considered. Our career development team the market.” he says. works closely with the students throughout Geneva Business School, with campuses the programme to help them make the career across the UAE, offers a wide variety of specialchoice that is right for them,” says Sleiman.

“SPECIALISED PROGRAMMES OFFER INDIVIDUALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DIFFERENTIATE THEMSELVES IN THE MARKET”

29

QATAR

30

HEC PARIS IN QATAR

OOExecutive MBA

Fee: USD 89,500 Duration: 16-18 months

intensive programme Enrolment deadline: Programme starts in February 2017

QATAR UNIVERSITY

SWISS BUSINESS SCHOOL VIA AL TAREEQAH MANAGEMENT STUDIES

Fee: QAR 2,000 for one credit

OOGeneral MBA Fee: QAR 44,500 Duration: 12 months, 12-18

Contact:

hour. 36 credit hours (in total QAR 72,000) for students with business degree/48 credit hours (QAR 96,000) for students with non-business degree Duration: Business graduate, 2 years/Non-business graduate, 2.5 years Location: Doha Accrediting country: AACSB Enrolment deadline: 10 May

Admissions Office Tel: +974 4 4540161 Email: info@hec-q.qf.org.qa

Contact: Tel: +974 4 4033333 Email: cbegrad@qu.edu.qa

OOSpecialised Master in Strategic Business Unit Management Fee: USD 59,500 Duration: 18 months intensive programme Enrolment deadline: Next course starts November 2016 Location of all courses: Tornado Tower, Doha, Qatar Accrediting countries: EQUIS, Association of MBAs, AACSB

OOMBA General OOMBA Business Analytics OOMBA Entrepreneurship

months part-time Location: Doha Accrediting country:

Switzerland, USA Enrolment deadline: Rolling Contact: +971 5 56490500

info@atmsedu.org

Profile

A

flourishing educational sector in Qatar means more opportunities for professionals and business leaders to up-skill. HEC Paris was the second ranked business school in the world for executive education in 2015, according to the Financial Times. HEC Paris in Qatar is the only institution in the country to offer two executive degree programmes, says Professor Laoucine Kerbache, dean and CEO of HEC Paris in Qatar.

It runs the executive MBA, providing executives with an understanding of the social, economic and environmental aspects of international business; and the Specialised Master in Strategic Business Unit Management (SBUM), which aims to enhance leadership skills and management acumen, as well as foster a genuinely entrepreneurial approach to management.

“HEC Paris is unique in that it concentrates on providing part-time, high-quality executive education programmes that have been customised to promote business leadership and entrepreneurship within the specific context of Qatar and the region,” says Kerbache. That effort includes a research office established in Qatar in 2014 in order to develop local and regional content to be used as case studies.

Custom programmes targeting family owned businesses have also recently been launched.

“These are designed to strike a delicate balance between preserving deeply-rooted family values and traditions with contemporary models of management, innovation and market dynamics. Such programmes enable them to face the challenges and issues that are unique to their businesses.”

In a fast-moving world, executives in managerial positions may find themselves in need of training and skills in business and management in order to operate at their full potential. HEC Paris’ EMBA programme provides executives with a set of fundamental skills to expand their knowledge and leadership capabilities, says Kerbache.

“It is a high-quality curriculum, which embodies the latest regional and global trends in executive management, leadership and entrepreneurship.

The EMBA provides the necessary tools to help them make a positive impact on their individual performances and contribute to the growth of business organisations.”

As technological changes accelerate in the world of business, HEC Paris has adapted its pro-

HEC PARIS grammes to suit the increasingly competitive and ever-changing business environment. One of the EMBA majors is digital transformation of businesses, which focuses on the design of digital business and corporate strategies as well as company innovation. It is aimed at executives seeking to develop new sustainable business models, manage change and extract value out of changing markets, says Kerbache.

To date, HEC Paris in Qatar has graduated 347 participants, of whom 253 are Qatari nationals. All these graduates hold top executive management positions in public, private, and governmental organisations in Qatar and in the region. HEC Paris has also produced more alumni in CEO positions within Fortune Global 500 companies than any other European business school. “Our multidisciplinary approach to management speaks to all nationalities and profiles and serves the need of a globalised market,” explains Kerbache. “It encourages students to think in an unconventional manner, reinvent themselves and consequently fulfil their individual potential. Furthermore, HEC Paris provides a model of social diversity aimed at training responsible business leaders make a positive contribution to a sustainable society as a whole.”

31

KUWAIT

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF THE MIDDLE EAST IN AFFILIATION WITH PURDUE UNIVERSITY

OOMBA General Fee: Information unavailable Duration: 22 months Location: Kuwait City Accrediting country: Kuwait

(affiliated with Purdue University, USA) Enrolment deadline: End of August

Contact:

Contact: Tel: +965 2 2251400 Email: info@aum.edu.kw Fax: +965 2 2251427

Hassan Khalaf Tel: +965 2 2470115 Email: hassan@msm-kuwait. com

GULF UNIVERSITY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

SWISS BUSINESS SCHOOL VIA AL TAREEQAH MANAGEMENT STUDIES

OOMBA General 32

KUWAIT MAASTRICHT BUSINESS SCHOOL OOMBA Specialisations in international business, banking and finance, retail management Fee: KWD 8,400 Duration: 30 months Location: Kuwait City Accrediting countries: AMBA, ACBSP, IACBE, PUC (Kuwait) Enrolment deadline: Rolling

Fee: KWD 10,800 Duration: 2 years Location: Kuwait City Accrediting country: Kuwait,

AACSB

OOGeneral MBA Fee: KWD 3,700 Duration: 12 months, 12-18

months part-time Location: Kuwait City

Enrolment deadline: Mid-August Contact: Tel: +965 2 5307147 Email: Alhashmi.a@gust.edu.

Accrediting country:

kw

info@atmsedu.org

Switzerland, USA Enrolment deadline: Rolling Contact: +971 5 56490500

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF THE MIDDLE EAST T

he American University of the Middle East offers a general MBA programme designed to provide balanced interdisciplinary coverage of most effective functional management areas, developing leaders and executive managers who can recognise and solve complex business problems. It’s aimed at developing graduates who understand the competitiveness and the dynamics of market structures and can formulate successful strategies in order to succeed in a constantly changing competitive environment, with enhanced critical thinking, practical skills and expertise in the use of models and problem-solving tools along with professional and interpersonal skills.

“The uniqueness of this programme is that it goes beyond the traditional classroom education to other proven learning methodologies which will make the learning experience of our students more appealing and more practical,” says an AUM spokesperson.

Specific features of the programme include leadership competency assessment and coaching, as well as special emphases on performance management, operational management and addressing the global dimension of the business, as well as hands-on practical experience in managing organisations. There’s also inclusion of sophisticated technological infrastructure, and the student-centred approach promotes the use of technology during assignments, projects and teamwork collaboration.

“In our Real Life labs students practice business and executional skills through the learning

Profile and technological resources available in such labs. Students practice in a state-ofthe-art trading lab, decision support lab, and several business simulations,” says the spokesperson.

It all adds up to improved performance in the job market, meaning higher salaries and more fulfilling roles.

“AUM graduates will be passionate and hard workers, achievers and ethical leaders, and effective team players with entrepreneurship instilled in them. Our graduates will carry with them sound business ethical values and a sense of responsibility towards the society, so as to be valuable members and leaders in their work fields and communities. They have a high level of credibility, are extremely confident and able to interact and influence other workers.”

AUM MBA graduates also benefit from vast networking opportunities including faculty, guest speakers and other fellow students which significantly extend a professional network that can be utilised in the future.

Challenging elements in the global economy mean that contemporary business knowledge is paramount, and business leaders must be familiar with new, effective business models that have proven successful globally. “The competency of thinking and design is imperative in today’s challenging business environment.

Leaders with this skill are able to identify the challenges that come from the environment and are ready to quickly react and adapt to the changes.”

Professionals need to have the ability to make decisions in ambiguous situations and be able to initiate, manage and implement change within their corporations. “Leadership, especially corporate leadership, is all about planning, strategy, and taking the long term perspective. It is very crucial to step back and see the world from a much larger angle. AUM graduates are open to new market opportunities that transform the business and are essential to economic growth.”

33

SAUDI ARABIA ALFAISAL UNIVERSITY OOMBA General Fee: SAR 200,000 Duration: 24-36 months Location: Riyadh Accrediting country: Saudi Arabia Enrolment deadline: End of June Contact: Tel: 920 000570 (Local)

+966 11 215 7777/8907 (International) Email: mba@alfaisal.edu or gradstudies@alfaisal.edu

AL YAMAMAH UNIVERSITY

34

OOMBA General

Fee: SAR 153,900

Executive MBA

Contact: Tel: +966 11 4949000 Email: info@dau.edu.sa Fax: +966 11 4949490

OOExecutive MBA

Arabia

Accrediting country: Saudi Arabia Enrolment deadline: Information unavailable

Enrolment deadline: Information Contact: Tel: +966 11 224 2222 Ext.

Fee: SAR 85,000 Duration : 21 months Location: Tabuk

Email: info@yu.edu.sa

Contact: Tel: +966 14 425 2500 Email: emba@fbsu.edu.sa

DAR AL ULOOM UNIVERSITY OOMBA General Fee: Information unavailable Duration: 2 years Location: Riyadh Accrediting country: Saudi Arabia Enrolment deadline: End of August

KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY OOMBA General OOExecutive MBA Fee: Information unavailable Duration: Information unavailable Location: Jeddah Accrediting country: Saudi Arabia

3223

Contact: Tel: +966 2 6951265

KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS

OOMBA General Fee: SAR 15,750 for Saudis,

FAHAD BIN SULTAN UNIVERSITY OOMBA General OOMBA Marketing OOMBA Human Resource Management OOMBA Accounting OOMBA Finance OOMBA General Management OOMBA Management Information Systems OOMBA Engineering Management Fee: Information unavailable Duration : 21 months

Fee: SAR 189,000 Duration: 24 to 36 months Location: Riyadh Accrediting country: Saudi

unavailable

Enrolment deadline: Information

unavailable

24,750 for non-Saudis Duration: 3 years Enrolment deadline: Opens in

August and February

OOExecutive MBA Fee: SAR 130,000 Duration: 2 years Location of all courses: Dhahran Accrediting country: Saudi

Arabia, AACSB Enrolment deadline: End of April Contact: Tel: +966 13 8601143 Email: emba@kfupm.edu.sa

KING FAISAL UNIVERSITY

OOGlobal MBA

Fee: SAR 200,000 Duration: 2 years Location: Riyadh Accrediting country: Saudi

Arabia Enrolment deadline: Early June Contact: Tel: +966 11 215 8907 E-mail: mba@alfaisal.edu

PRINCE MOHAMMAD BIN FAHD UNIVERSITY OOMBA General Fee: SAR 180,000 Duration: 2 years

OOExecutive MBA Fee: SAR 120,000 Duration: Information

35

unavailable Location: Al Khobar

Location: Riyadh Accrediting country: Saudi

Accrediting country: Saudi

Arabia

Arabia unavailable

Enrolment deadline: Two months before semester starts

Contact: Tel: +966 13 849 8526/+966

Contact: Tel:+ 966 1 4948335/

13 849 8599

+966 1 4948556/ +966 50 5915964 Email: mba@psu.edu.sa Fax: +966 1 4548317

Enrolment deadline: Information

PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY OOMBA General OOMBA Finance OOMBA Human Resource Management OOMBA Marketing Fee: SAR 40,000 per semester Duration: 2 years

QASSIM UNIVERSITY

OOMBA General

Fee: No Fees Duration: 2 years Location: Buraidah Accrediting country: Saudi

Arabia, AACSB Enrolment deadline: Watch out for admission window at University website Contact:

gs.CBE@qu.edu.sa

UNIVERSITY OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY OOMBA General Fee: SAR 150,000 Duration: 2 years Location: Jeddah Accrediting country: Saudi Arabia Enrolment deadline: August Contact: Tel: +966 12 2159000 Fax: +966 12 2159010

5 CAREER

SIGNS NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO DO AN MBA

36

1

An MBA requires a big commitment of effort, time and money, yet for many ambitious career climbers it’s seen as a must-have. We explore five signs that now is the right time for you to enrol in an MBA

YOU HAVE A TECHNICAL BACKGROUND The MBA was originally conceived as a course to teach general business administration skills to people with more specialist and technical knowledge. Today, one of the best reasons to pursue an MBA is if you have an undergraduate degree in a technical discipline such as engineering, architecture or information technology, and you want to move from a supervisory role within your field to mid-level management and eventually upper management positions.

“Former technical students who are moving up the ladder recognise that they need a broader business education,” says Patrick L. McClelland, associate professor of management and director of graduate programmes at American University of Sharjah’s School of Business Administration. “An MBA teaches you how to grapple with the complex issues that come from within an organisation, including strategy, marketing and finance.

2

YOU’VE HIT A GLASS CEILING AT WORK Often there are limits to how far up the corporate career ladder you can climb with just your original undergraduate degree. The reality in the Middle East is that, similar to the UK and US, the MBA is increasingly seen as a prerequisite for senior management positions, particularly in multinational corporations, says Dr Ron Bradfield, director of Strathclyde Business School UAE. “Signs that an MBA is needed are when your career progression starts to slow and you are not on the ‘high flyer’ or ‘high potentials’ lists; or you start to see younger people with MBAs coming in to take positions above you.” However, don’t blindly enrol in an MBA simply because you feel your career isn’t moving upwards fast enough. It’s important to investigate how obtaining an MBA will improve your position. “An MBA will accelerate your career, but it won’t jump-start it. If you’re in a company, make sure you talk to them beforehand. Will they support you? Does it open up career options for you within that company?” says Martin Hughes, who works as a design execution manager for Salam Technology in Qatar, and was a graduate of Manchester Business School’s MBA programme in 2014.

3

YOU WANT TO CHANGE CAREERS It’s common enough: boredom, frustration and the realisation after several years of growth within a particular career path that you’ve had enough and are looking for an entirely new challenge. Because of the broad focus of an MBA, the degree can help parachute you into a new business in a relatively senior position, even if your current work experience is in a different industry. Many students who join the MBA programme at the INSEAD Business School are looking to make a career change either in sector, function or geography–or in some cases all three–says Zeina Sleiman, INSEAD Business School’s Middle East and Africa associate director of institutional relations and alumni affairs. “The MBA, widely recognised by recruiters worldwide, enables them to achieve this.”

4

YOUR COMPANY WILL SUPPORT YOUR STUDY

While many corporations are taking a more cautious approach to spending due to prevailing economic uncertainty, most are still willing to invest in their most valuable talent. That can include partially subsidising MBA fees or providing more flexibility around working hours to allow you to attend class. While MBA students were traditionally full time in the 80s and 90s the trend today is towards part-time or flexible time, with courses in the evening or weekends. But the massive time commitment means that having the right circumstances at your workplace–if you need to continue working– will make studying much easier. Companies themselves obtain a big benefit when an employee embarks on an MBA, since during the programme they’re able to work on projects, research and strategies that can provide fresh insights into the company’s operations.

5

YOU’RE WORRIED ABOUT JOB CUTS IN YOUR SECTOR Ongoing spending cuts and redundancies in two crucial sectors in the Gulf–oil & gas and banking– illustrate the dangers of having too narrow a focus. The MBA provides a broader skill set that can function as an insurance policy in case your sector experiences a downturn and you need to jump to a different field. “The MBA gives you more agility in the job market, and you need to be agile because you never know when your industry will be impacted,” says Michael Todd, head of career services and corporate relations at the Institute of Management Technology Dubai. If you’re too specific in your experience and skill set, it limits your options and your mobility, says Todd. “You need to have enough of a skill-set so that they can be transferred into another industry.”

37

OMAN ARAB OPEN UNIVERSITY

OOGeneral MBA

Fee: OMR 4,620 Duration: 2 years Location: Muscat Accrediting countries: Oman

and UK Enrolment deadline: End of

September Contact: Tel: +968 2 4699444 Email: info@aou.edu.om

COLLEGE OF ECONOMICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE (SULTAN QABOOS UNIVERSITY)

38

OOGeneral MBA Fee: OMR 4,500 for Omanis

or OMR 5,400 for other nationalities Duration: 3 years (part time) Location: Muscat Accrediting country: Oman Enrolment deadline: End of February Contact: Tel: +968 2 4142972/2925 Email: Nada Al-Mahrooqi

Accrediting countries: US

(IACBE), Oman Enrolment deadlines: 30 April,

30 June Contact: Tel: + 968 2 4583585/555 Email: mba@mcbs.edu.om

OOExecutive MBA

MIDDLE EAST COLLEGE

Fee: OMR 9000 Duration: 24-30 months Location: Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

OOMBA – Information

Technology Fee: OMR 6,285 Duration: 2 years, part time Location: Muscat Accrediting country: Oman Enrolment deadline: Rolling Contact: Tel: +968 2 4531400 Email: info@mec.edu.om

OOGeneral MBA Fee: OMR 8,000

With specialisation (Finance and Human Resources): OMR 10,500 Duration: 16 months Location: Muscat

Electives can also be taken in Glasgow, or in Athens, Bahrain, Kuala Lumpur, Muscat, Singapore & Zurich Accrediting countries: UK, EU, USA, UAE (AMBA, EQUIS, AACSB, CAA) Enrolment deadlines: End of February for April intake, End of August for October intake Contact: Tel: + 968 2 4505758

UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE, UK VIA MAJAN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

OO MBA General Fee: OMR 5,750 Duration: 2 years Location: Muscat Accrediting country: UK Enrolment deadline: 17 July Contact: Tel: +968 2 473 0448 Email: pg.admissions@

majancollege.edu.om

nada@squ.edu.om

FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY VIA THE MODERN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND SCIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE BUSINESS SCHOOL VIA THE COLLEGE OF BANKING AND FINANCIAL STUDIES

UNIVERSITY OF HULL VIA MDCI OOMBA General Fee: GBP 19,000 Duration: 2 years Location: Muscat Accrediting country: UK Enrolment deadline: End of July

Dina Al Maimani, Programme Coordinator Email: Dina@cbfs.edu.om Yaqoob Al Qaidhi, Programme Coordinator Email: yaqoob@cbfs.edu.om

WALJAT COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCE OOMBA dual specialisation (Human Resource Management, Marketing Management, Finance Management and Systems Management) Fee: OMR 6,000

OOEMBA

+973 1 72160 02

Fee: OMR: 5,280 Duration: 2 years Location: Muscat Accrediting countries: Oman, India Enrolment deadline: July Contact: Tel: +968 2 4446337/660 Email: waljatcm@omantel.net.

Email: hameed@mdci.edu.com

om; info@waljat.net

Contact: Tel: +973 3 6732 777/

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GRADUATES

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF IT

IT Completing an MBA can be a big step in your career progression, but graduates agree that to get the most out of your course you need to work hard and know in advance what you’re there for

40

T

here are many variables when it comes to choosing to do an MBA or executive MBA programme. Full time or part time? A local campus or travel overseas? A top-flight school or a more affordable option? But the most important aspect may be knowing what you want out of your MBA. Dr Atul Anant Aundhekar had 18 years of experience as a general physician under his belt when he decided to enrol in the executive MBA programme at SP Jain School of Global Management in Dubai. He chose the EMBA because he wanted to understand the business structure of the healthcare system— or even any business system. Dr Atul, who speaks six different languages professionally, says that career introspection is very important. “Understand your core competencies and your strengths,” he says. “Don’t be too focused on short-term job market demands.”

While surveys of graduates suggest that the younger a person completes an MBA, the greater the jump in income post-graduation, Dr Atul says he wanted to seek knowledge rather than just financial benefit. “Eighteen years of a career gives a different dimension to your perspective about

how you want to spend the rest of your working life, because you know the years in front of you are limited,” he says. Dr Atul advocates thinking about a career holistically, breaking it down into five-year blocks and considering where you want to be at the end of your career. He himself has a personal ambition to develop a hub-and-spoke model to deliver healthcare to interior, rural areas of his native India.

After completing his EMBA he worked for four years with Landmark Group as chief operating officer of iCARE Clinics, a newly-started vertical

“WHEN YOU DO AN MBA, IT’S NOT JUST YOU: IT’S YOUR KIDS, IT’S YOUR FAMILY, IT’S YOUR WORK, IT’S AN ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM THAT’S INVOLVED” – MARTIN HUGHES

that acquires under-performing multi-speciality clinics and turns them around with efficiencies, such as improving utilisation of doctors’ time and reducing patient waiting time. He’s since joined a new healthcare vertical with a similar focus as CEO. But is he any closer to fulfilling his ambition of delivering healthcare to rural India? He says that the model he’s working with currently is very similar to one that could be replicated with a non-profit or even a profit-oriented organisation in India. “I’m quite confident if I can deliver it here. I can make it successful in India with a much larger demography,” he says.

“EIGHTEEN YEARS OF A CAREER GIVES A DIFFERENT DIMENSION TO YOUR PERSPECTIVE ABOUT HOW YOU WANT TO SPEND THE REST OF YOUR WORKING LIFE, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE YEARS IN FRONT OF YOU ARE LIMITED”

KNOW HOW YOU LEARN Knowing how you learn is an important aspect of successfully completing an MBA, says Martin Hughes, a design execution manager for Doha-headquartered Salam Technology and a graduate of the Manchester Business School MBA programme in Dubai. For those who work best independently, some courses offer more modules that can be completed from home. It’s important to recognise from the outset that the MBA is a large time sink, says Hughes, and to plan accordingly. He advocates loading course material onto a tablet so you can read it whenever you have a spare moment.

“You need to understand what your rhythms are. Do I work best early in the morning, or late at night? Do I prefer to leave everything to the weekend and just do a single eight or ten-hour shift?” says Hughes. These decisions then influence the amount of time left over for personal life. “You have to make compromises, there will be things you cannot do because you do not have time to do it,” he says. One thing to remember: When you do an MBA, it’s not just you: it’s your kids, it’s your family, it’s your work, it’s an entire ecosystem that’s involved.”

Peer support and networking is frequently cited as one of the most important outcomes of an MBA course. Hughes advises looking around the room on day one to see who is interested in the material and is asking questions, then going to them at the end of the class, taking them for coffee and asking if they want to form a study group. “As a group you will be mutually self-supporting, you will have five-to-six people looking at the work you do,

– DR ATUL ANANT AUNDHEKAR giving you feedback and reviews.” Hughes graduated from the MBA course with a distinction, which he says was the result of hard work and dedication. “The more you put in, the more you get out of it.”

BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS Riaz Jumabhoy graduated with an MBA from the University of Strathclyde in 2007. Since then, he has enjoyed solid career progression, taking on increasingly senior roles in organisations in the oil and gas industry, and today is the MENA regional director at Gardner Denver Pumps. Nevertheless, prospects for the oil and gas sector as a whole are currently bleak, with little hope of an upturn before 2018, says Jumabhoy. “Companies have to shrink quite dramatically in order to stay solvent and retain some kind of business so that they can come out of this in two to three years’ time and be ready for a possible pick-up.”

Jumabhoy says that one advantage of an MBA is that it allows you to escape being stuck in a particular industry with a specific skill-set.

“Once you have the MBA you don’t have to worry about being pigeonholed since your skills are transferable.” Yet network development during the course is an essential part of future job prospects. “If I lost my job tomorrow, I’d look to my network within the oil and gas industry to find a new job. But I could also look at my MBA network and use it to move across industries, whether banking, retail or hospitality. There are more doors open to you,” says Jumabhoy.

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OOMBA in cooperation with ESSEC Business School Electives in Public Private Partnerships and Utilities Management Fee: BHD 13,600 Duration: 18 months Location: Manama with two residencies in Paris and Singapore Accrediting country: GCC countries Enrolment deadline: End of May

42

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UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF BAHRAIN OOMBA General (concentrations in Management or Islamic Finance) OOMBA Islamic Finance Fee: BHD 10,000 Duration: 1.5 years Location: Manama Accrediting country: Bahrain Enrolment deadline: September, January Contact: Tel: +973 1 7790828,

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NETWORKING

CONNECT FOR SUCCESS

An MBA offers more than just knowledge—it can also be a chance to connect with a group of individuals that can help drive your business and career

I

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t’s no secret that most–if not all–of the information taught in an MBA course can be found online or is readily available in text books. But many graduates say that the true value of an MBA is the experience, and the people you meet. Network development has long been a key element of an MBA programme—and in today’s hyper-competitive world it’s more important than ever.

Marc Mulder, managing partner at executive recruiter Wise&Miller, relates an anecdote of a chief financial officer position advertised on LinkedIn that received more than 1,000 applications. Mulder was able to pass on the CV of a contact to the managing director in the firm, enabling his contact to get the job. He says that while an MBA from a top school can be crucial in certain industries, such as investment banking or consulting, in general what is most important is knowing the right people. Those who are career-minded should work hard to cultivate an expansive network, says Mulder. “The best people, if they aren’t out-going and they don’t have the right network, will fail,” he says.

Most B-Schools work hard to cultivate an alumni community, including mixer events for new students. The nature of the network is that many alumni are willing to give their time and energy, as well as draw on their network’s resources if they need it. Martin Hughes, a graduate of Manchester Business School, describes the alumni network as well organised.

In one instance he successfully reached out to get expertise on operational planning. “You have to be that generous as well—it’s something that I make a point of,” he says.

Philip Bahoshy completed his MBA at INSEAD Business School and says that the connections he made there will likely be life-

long. “The people you meet are also choosing to do an MBA, so while you’re there you have a natural affinity of understanding.

When you hang out with alumni you have the basis for a conversation, and there is a very strong connection here in the region.”

He says that the value of the network is that it opens doors in almost every industry, with alumni either able to get you an introduction or a direct conversation with someone involved in the recruitment process.

Enrolling in a top-business school can create a high-powered network, says Daniel Wanies, an entrepreneur who completed an MBA at the London School of Business, well known for its clout within the financial world.

He came out of the programme with a good group of intelligent friends, and access to a network of people with connections deep into the financial world. His network has helped him spread the word about the two businesses he’s founded since completing his MBA. With word-of-mouth the best method of marketing for any business, a strong network is an essential method of getting the word out about your venture, he says. “What you do get if you pay for a top school is that you get an amazing network. For entrepreneurship I would consider that really important because that’s where your partners are going to come from,” says Wanies. His advice: study hard for the GMAT and try to go for one of the top 20 globally, if possible.