MBA's Still the Acid Test of Today's Business Hopefuls

LONDON, May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

MBA graduates are still the most likely of all course leavers to get good jobs, according to GMAC's Regional Director.

MBA graduates are still the most likely of all course leavers to get good jobs, despite today's economic challenges, said GMAC's Regional Director.

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In an exclusive interview with the ITN Education News Channel, Ben Glover said business school graduates do not to face the same problems as alumni in other disciplines, who often struggle to find meaningful work and go on to question the value of the course they've taken.

Speaking on the eve of the Association of MBAs' (AMBA) International Conference for Deans and Directors, he told ITN: "92 per cent of graduates from business schools we surveyed were in work at the time of graduation. That's an all-time high. 72 per cent said that their new position met or exceeded their expectations and three quarters said that without the skills they learned at business schools they wouldn't be in the position they're in now."

Future proofing the MBA to maintain these standards was the theme of AMBA's annual conference in Warsaw (15 - 17 May). Setting the tone for discussions about the virtual classroom of the future Nokia's Education and Technology Specialist, Bhanu Potta told conference delegates of senior business school management: "The speed of change in student learning styles far outpaces the speed of change in teaching practices."

In AMBA's snapshot survey conducted during the three day conference, 65% of the delegates from the world's leading business schools said online education and the changing attitudes of a new generation of learners would have the biggest impact on management education in the next five years.

The Deans and Directors also agreed that innovation was critical to success, with over 77% of the delegates saying they thought that the MBA will have to innovate in order to remain the flagship business school degree.

Meeting in Warsaw, under the backdrop of Poland's transformation and achievement, the conference delegates also demonstrated the changing dynamic of MBA education. The business schools attending from emerging or growth economies showed how their MBA programmes are driving the economy and that business schools from developed countries will soon need to catch up.  

"The emerging economy business schools have a great advantage to become number one in the world because they don't need all this time for unlearning because they are just learning," said Professor Danica Purg, President, IEDC-Bled School of Management in Slovenia and President of CEEMAN.

To see the full interview with GMAC's Ben Glover, more ITN interviews from AMBA's annual conference and specialised content from industry professionals and experts within the education sector, please visit the ITN Productions' Education News Channel, here: http://www.educationnews.itn.co.uk

Education News, presented by Natasha Kaplinsky, has reports on the MBA and its providers from around the world, including:

• Futurist and Founder of Kjaer Global Anne Lise Kjaer talks about the future of the MBA in the digital age
• Professor Walter Baets and Professor Philip McLaughlin debate over the primary goal of the MBA - generalist or specialist?
• AMBA Global AMBAssador Naush Akram reflects on the benefits of undertaking an MBA
• Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Harwood-Whitcher discusses the pros and cons of the virtual business school
• A new Executive MBA at Ashridge that offers its students both innovation and excellence
• How Audencia Nantes School of Management is teaching its students about corporate and social responsibility
• The University of Carlos III is combining the practical and the academic in its MBA
• The continuing international success of the Graduate School of Business at Cape Town
• HEC Lausanne's unique teaching pathways, including Healthcare Management, reflecting increasing specialism within the MBA
• Imperial Business School is leading the way with the teaching of Continuing Professional Development within its MBA
• Nurturing tomorrow's wealth creators at Nagoya University of Commerce and Business
• How QUT Brisbane Business School is teaching business for the real world

Education News is the latest industry channel from ITN Productions' corporate production team, which works with trade bodies and associations to deliver high-quality news programming for individual vertical business sectors, producing videos about key industry topics, sharing best practice and updating on industry developments.

About ITN Productions: ITN Productions is ITN's central creative hub producing content for major global brands in the broadcast, online, mobile and corporate sectors.

About the Association of MBAs: AMBA accredits MBA, DBA and MBM programmes in more than 200 business schools around the world and connects MBA students, alumni, business schools and employers with its membership services. http://www.mbaworld.com 

Education News enquiries: Derek Dyson, Executive Producer, ITN Productions

Tel: +44(0)20-7430-4646 or email: Derek.Dyson@itn.co.uk

For media enquiries about AMBA, please contact: Carol Turner, Communications & PR Manager, +44(0)207-246-2674, C.Turner@MBAWorld.com