Lifelong learning is our future. According to Statistics Canada, 65 percent of jobs in the future will require a post-secondary education. As North America moves towards a service-based economy, higher education will help Canadians manage future prospects. As a result, universities across the country are providing programs to bridge current workers for future changes.
Which MBA is right for me?
Students can choose an MBA program on either a full-time or part-time basis, online, in-class, or in a hybrid format. Students can opt for an MBA, or Executive MBA (EMBA) program, depending on their needs. Shai Dubey, the director of Queen's MBA program, explains the difference between the two options. EMBA's, he says, are ideal for those in the advanced stages of their profession because they need to accelerate their careers. Dubey describes the typical MBA applicant as having less experience, around 29 years of age, and seeking a career change. Contrary to what some believe, most MBA applicants have diverse educational backgrounds and do not usually have an undergraduate degree in business.
Chris Skerik, an associate at TD Commercial Bank and recent graduate of Athabasca's MBA program, supports Dubey's observations. With an undergraduate degree in political science, he admits how he wasn't sure if he would measure up to his new classmates. Initially I was insecure, but soon realized that it didn't matter.
What am I going to learn?
Don't go in thinking ÔÇÿI'm going to come out with X,' Dubey explains, because a quality MBA program is transformational. Skerik agrees. He believes he went through a personal change process, resulting in plans for the second act of his career.
Dubey explains the academic side is one component of the MBA, but it's the soft skills that truly groom students into becoming the complete package. The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of the business world, which includes dealing with diversity. At Queen's, students are trained on how to handle conflict in a productive way, to take input from people from diverse backgrounds, and to help people understand that people think differently.
Dubey further advises applicants to prepare themselves for a different style of learning. Traditional undergraduate programs use conventional professor-led lecturing styles; MBA programs integrate technology in the learning process. Dubey has observed how video conferencing has produced a paradigm shift in learning. Rather than facing the instructor, students face each other. They read each other's facial expressions and body language. As a result, networking has become stronger with video conferencing because it encourages people to connect in a different way.
Trends in the MBA
Dubey believes that trends in education reflect trends in the world. There will be more globalization, he explains. With North America being home to the largest schools, Canada has a real play in the global markets.
Simon Fraser University's Segal Graduate School in Vancouver is rolling out their new Americas MBA for Executives this August in collaboration with three other graduate schools in Brazil, Mexico, and the U.S. Derek Moscato of SFU's Beedie School of Business believes this program is ideal for professionals working in industries where trade is paramount and operate within the parameters of NAFTA.
Many universities, including Queen's, are actively recruiting women. According to TD Economics Special Report, The Changing Canadian Workplace, women are still under-represented in management positions. Dubey explains Queen's success in increasing female enrollment by actively recruiting them and breaking down the stigma that only men can hold senior roles.
What do employers think of the MBA?
Allison Guld, director of talent acquisition at Blast Radius, an online marketing firm in Vancouver, reveals that some of her senior personnel hold a wide variety of postgraduate degrees. Higher education is definitely valued, she says, explaining that MBAs are appropriate for positions focusing on strategy. She believes potential employees should remember that work experience has credence over a degree. Randall Mountain, human resources counselor at TD Canada Trust, shares a similar view. We look for a balance of education, work experience, and accreditation for our roles.
TD Bank Financial Group has a Management Associate Program operating out of Toronto that actively hires new MBA graduates on campus. When selecting an MBA program, look into the university's career centre to see if they help graduates connect with employers too.
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