The webinar ‘Designing and Sustaining MBA Programs that Reflect Business Relevance and a Disruptive World’ organized together with Georgia State University CIBER received very positive feedback, participants were also engaged in exciting discussion during the webinar. Two distinguished speakers, Dr. Liesl Riddle, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, Associate Professor of International Business and International Affairs, George Washington University School of Business, US and Dr. Andreas Schotter, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, Associate Professor of International Business and International Affairs, George Washington University School of Business, US, shared their valuable experience and insights on designing, managing and teaching MBA programs.

Key takeaways:

  • Understanding potential challenges when maintaining top quality and attractiveness of a MBA program.
  • Obtaining tips for MBA program managers on how to design and manage MBA program with agility.
  • Obtaining tips for the educators teaching on MBA programs on how to remain at the top of the global business agenda and how to deliver relevant insights for managers who are operating in turbulent, disruptive world.

Audiences also raised very interesting questions regarding pros and cons of hybrid teaching mode, the applicants’ pricing expectation on face to face compared to online programs, the size of the recruiting and advising team, etc.

The webinar also included rather extensive discussion on who should teach on MBA programs: should it be practitioners, or full-time academics? The participants agreed that developing the teaching faculty on MBA programs is not straightforward and very challenging. It is essential to select faculty who has strong motivation to teach and sees value in this activity. Educators on MBA programs should have willingness to learn, adapt their content and teaching style according to the audience, and should be eager to work with the program management on curriculum development. The role of program manager is essential when ensuring consistency in delivery and overall quality of the program.

Finally, having institutional support for adapting Information-Communication Technologies and new pedagogical trends in the programs are becoming essential, as MBA program participants increasingly lean towards hybrid education, in which part of the modules are provided online, and the other part on campus.

Watch the recording of the webinar – here.