For more than 35 years, the Ulster University Business School has upheld a tradition of delivering an exceptional Executive MBA. Throughout the decades, both past and present, its graduates have assumed pivotal leadership roles on a global scale.
The Executive MBA offered at Ulster University is a globally recognised qualification enabling experienced and aspiring business leaders and managers to shape a successful career. To guarantee that the course and its modules remain a true reflection of the evolving dynamics within the local and global business world, a comprehensive update is undertaken every five years. This year marks the inaugural implementation of the newly revised programme for 2024-2029.
“The Executive MBA is crafted to develop more strategic, innovative, and responsible leaders, impacting organisations and the Northern Ireland economy globally,” Course Director Mark McCrory explains.
The programme aims to cultivate the essential knowledge, skills, and values needed for success today and in the future, while the limited intake ensures a concentrated and focused learning experience.
“Often when students join the programme they are already well established in their chosen field and ready to take their career to the next level, branching into senior management and leadership positions that extend across the organisation. That is the starting point of the Executive MBA, to enhance students’ knowledge of business functions, processes and strategies that extend beyond those they are familiar with,” Mark continues.
The core modules in the Executive MBA are accounting and finance for senior leaders, operational excellence, people and change, and marketing management: modules like strategy and international competitiveness seek to develop a global perspective, and the leadership development module focuses on developing ethical, values-based leadership and promoting sustainability.
Mark adds that the entrepreneurship and enterprise development module helps students further “develop an understanding of the mindset, knowledge and skills needed to pursue entrepreneurial activity both within organisations and through new venture creation.”
He continues:
“The corporate governance and boardroom management module is another core part: it considers how corporate governance, underpinned by transparency, accountability and integrity, translates into practice for achieving organisational objectives as effectively and ethically as possible.”
New with the revision of the programme are additional modules including leading digital transformation and innovation. “That looks at how senior managers and leaders can leverage digital technology to bring about cultural transformation and how to meet consumers’ needs,” Mark explains.
“Strategy and international competitiveness is another new module and this is about the international positioning of organisations in NI within the global economy and in a post-Brexit world, not just locally. What is special about this module is that it is informed by the link Ulster University has with Harvard Business School and they have been trained on the Harvard approach,” he adds.
A hallmark of Ulster University’s Executive MBA is its intentionally small intake, welcoming only 20 students annually. Mark elaborates:
“This deliberate choice fosters a cohesive group, centred on in-class discussions of real-life cases and the professional experience of the candidates.” He says the programme emphasises small-group and project based learning, creating an immersive and collaborative atmosphere.
Experienced teaching staff, often with industry backgrounds, and guest speakers from a pool of thousands of alumni and industry experts further enhance the uniqueness of the learning experience. The average Executive MBA student comes with eight to 10 years of senior level work experience, contributing to a diverse cohort.
Mark continues:
“There’s a rich variety of backgrounds and experience in that group, and that’s beneficial to the students.” And while admission criteria includes a second-class honours degree, there are exceptions considered based on individual backgrounds. This stringent process ensures a cohort of high-calibre professionals, enriching the collective learning experience.
“It’s about students relating their work experience, encouraging them to take action in their own organisations. The curriculum has evolved to include action research projects, replacing traditional dissertations and helping sponsored students to demonstrate the immediate impact of the programme to their employers.”
Delivered on a part-time basis over two years through lectures and workshops, there are no exams in the Executive MBA. Instead, the schedule focuses on opportunities to apply knowledge immediately via practical based assignments, and calls upon industry experts as guest speakers to offer invaluable insights into real-world scenarios. Encouraging a reflective and practical learning approach, the programme capitalises on immersive technology suites and active learning methodologies.
Mark says:
“It’s about students relating their work experience, encouraging them to take action in their own organisations. The curriculum has evolved to include action research projects, replacing traditional dissertations and helping sponsored students to demonstrate the immediate impact of the programme to their employers.
“The programme is also designed with busy professionals in mind,” Mark adds. “Learners have access to online resources and a structured curriculum, helping them balance their studies with existing commitments and limit any disruption to their career.”
While there isn’t a typical student, the cohort shares one thing in common; career progression.
“Most students want to progress in their careers, seeking to stay in their current roles and step up.” Mark notes that each year sees a few participants looking for a change, self-sponsoring their education, and leveraging the Executive MBA to pivot in their careers. Additionally, individuals contemplating entrepreneurship find the programme beneficial in providing a broad foundation for their endeavours. Geared to equip seasoned professionals with the strategic leadership skills necessary for success in today’s dynamic business landscape,
Mark concludes:
“People are drawn to the course primarily for career progression. Our students are usually in a place where they want to move into a senior leadership position or change direction. Some self-sponsor, others are supported by their business. This gives credibility and – while it’s a big investment – we ensure it’s worthwhile by delivering real value at both an individual
and business level.”
Applications are now open for September 2024. The current course spans two years and the programme offers a 10% discount for Ulster University alumni, further enhancing the accessibility and appeal of the Executive MBA.
Speaking about his experience during and after completing the MBA, Global Business Manager for Sunjet inkjet inks, David Reid, said:
“The education that comes from the Ulster EMBA sets you up to understand, empathise, and work with all the functions around a boardroom table. Having that wider knowledge breaks down the functional, vertical barriers and ensures that you take a rounded approach on how best to build on the success and manage the challenges in a company – and not just focus on your own vertical function.
“From a financial perspective, the course gave me the skillset to understand the full costs involved both above and below the line in my business area, which is essential when negotiating large-scale business for the long-term of any business and how to maximise a company’s value.”
Today Mr Reid uses the knowledge he acquired from the EMBA “in my day to-day work to maintain a successful business in a high growth area”.