External summary

An MBA, as a generic post-experience qualification, provides at its core the essential preparation for participants to progress with confidence and competence into executive positions within a wide range of businesses, consultancies, public and other purposeful organisations. Based on prior managerial experience, often narrowly focused in a particular discipline, participants extend and broaden their knowledge to develop a theoretical and practical understanding of how businesses and markets work, how strategies are crafted, how businesses are financed and performance measured, how value is created through marketing, how value is delivered through efficient and effective operations, and how organisations are managed and motivated. This core knowledge is delivered alongside the development of key interpersonal skills in research, analysis, problem solving, communication, project management and effective teamwork.

In addition to these core characteristics the Edinburgh MBA seeks to offer enhanced value. The Edinburgh MBA is positioned to better prepare managers for the type of strategic leadership needed in an increasingly competitive, volatile, uncertain and complex business world. Successful businesses of the future will need leaders who are proactive, entrepreneurial and adaptable. Leaders who can (personally and in an organisational role) think and act strategically in this volatile environment, managing the risk and challenges involved, but also spotting and seizing opportunities for efficiency, innovation, advantage and new business. Successful businesses also need leaders who will act responsibly in their stewardship of resources and deliver value to all stakeholders. Most importantly, businesses need leaders who have the capability to bring about change through effective interpersonal skills.

The main programme aims are to develop leaders who:

• Demonstrate a strategic mind-set and skill-set.
• Understand the importance of responsible and professional leadership.
• Are confident and capable critical thinkers and decision-makers.
• Have an international perspective.
• Have the potential to lead innovation and change in organisations.
• Value and take advantage of the benefits of collaborative and lifelong learning.

Educational aims of programme

The programme is designed to introduce participants to the core management and business disciplines as a preparation for progression into leadership roles. The focus is on the application and integration of new and previous knowledge as well as understanding the underlying theoretical frameworks. Participants will also learn considerably from international colleagues and from the practical application of theory to real life business problems encountered during the MBA. Professional Development, a core course designed to enable you to reflect upon and take ownership of your own personal skills development, runs throughout the programme.

Specific educational aims are to:

• Enable all participants to recognise, understand and apply the language and theory of the field of business, management and leadership.
• Foster an ability to critically analyse, synthesise and solve complex unstructured business problems.
• Encourage strategic, holistic and cross-discipline thinking.
• Encourage an aptitude for business improvement, innovation and entrepreneurial action.
• Encourage a global mind-set which demonstrates sensitivity to the implications of differences in culture and context.
• Encourage the sharing of experiences to enhance the benefits of collaborative learning.
• Instil a sense of ethical decision-making and a commitment to the long-run welfare of both organisations and the communities that they serve.
• Encourage participants to value diversity and equality in management and leadership.
• Develop higher-order interpersonal skills to contribute to effective leadership.

Programme outcomes: Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the programme, students will be able to:

• Describe and critically analyse the environment in which purposeful organisations operate and the way that they are effectively managed in this environment.
• Use frameworks to devise suitable plans of action for any specific purposeful organisations through analysis and integrated problem solving.
• Identify global aspects and social responsibility in the management of purposeful organisations.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in research and enquiry

By the end of the programme, students will be able to:

• Apply models and frameworks for analysis in business.
• Collect information and critically assess, analyse and interpret complicated business problems and cases.
• Integrate knowledge and information from different business domains to produce holistic plans and solutions.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal and intellectual autonomy

By the end of the programme, students will be able to:

• Reflect on interpersonal skills and abilities.
• Undertake independent learning and display independent thought, acknowledging the importance and limitations of their own knowledge.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in communication

By the end of the programme, students will demonstrate:

• Ability to present clearly and cohesively both orally and in writing.
• Capacity for synthesising written and verbal information.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal effectiveness

By the end of the programme, students will be able to:

• Reflect on their ability to work in and lead teams.
• Confidently transfer knowledge from one domain to another.

Programme outcomes: Technical/practical skills

These skills are covered under the headings above.

Programme structure and features

Degree Criteria

MBA full-time (12 months). It consists of 180 SQCF credit points which constitutes the full taught programme.

Degree Programme Table and Modes of Study:

The Degree Programme Table can be viewed at:

http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/22-23/dpt/ptmbabusad5f.htm

Progression and Exit Awards

The programme conforms to the University???s taught Assessment Regulations.

https://www.ed.ac.uk/academic-services/policies-regulations/regulations/assessment

Teaching and learning methods and strategies

The Business School's strategy in learning and teaching is to deliver a dynamic, engaged, classroom experience that exposes our students to both practical and theoretical perspectives on business issues in ways that stretch and challenge them.

The learning outcomes of the programme are achieved through a mixture of formal lectures, tutorials, student presentations, guest speakers, research assignments and consultancy projects. At MBA level, a substantial amount of independent study and pre-reading for lectures is required. From the outset, students must cultivate the study skills required for scholarship at an advanced level ??? using library and other online sources, effective note-taking, critical analysis and writing. The University provides some tuition in these areas and teaching staff provide feedback on assessed work.

Students are expected to read extensively and deeply in preparation for all seminars, and to participate fully in group discussions. This means being familiar with, and having an informed opinion on, the relevant reading material before the lectures and seminars start. It also means being prepared to listen as well as to contribute in the seminars.

Throughout the programme, discussion with staff and fellow students is a key element for learning. Our students come from a range of cultures and working backgrounds and bring a wide variety of perspectives and experiences, and we encourage students to take advantage of this diversity Indeed, it is the richness of the student body as much as the ability of the teaching staff that determines the value of our MBA.

The Business School will provide an interactive learning environment through the ???Learn??? portal which will enable participants to interact both with each other and the course lecturer.

Professional Development

The Professional Development programme is designed to help full-time MBA participants enhance their leadership capability and professional competence as well as their potential to develop strong employability skills and successfully pitch for senior executive roles in a range of organisations. This course provides an opportunity for students to reflect upon and develop a deeper sense of self-awareness (both intellectually and emotionally) of both personal strengths and development needs. Content is aimed at increasing knowledge, critical thinking skills, confidence and competence across a range of key personal competencies which have been identified as critical for MBA employability. These include effective teamwork, leadership, and the ability to communicate and present with influence and impact. Key features of the Professional Development course offering include the application of leading-edge diagnostic tools and 1:1 feedback to help you identify your future objectives and set goals to realise these and maximise your personal potential.

Assessment methods and strategies

Assessment techniques are designed to align the individual learning strategies of students from diverse backgrounds and heritage educational and business experience, with assessment techniques appropriate to particular disciplinary fields. We encourage assessment techniques associated with active learning pedagogy. All courses specify in the virtual learning environment individual feedback opportunities, providing formative feedback in time to improve prior to summative assessments. Courses employ a range of assessment types, including but not limited to the following:

• Presentations by teams or individuals
• Team and individual projects/case studies and case analysis
• Essays
• In-class participation
• Formal degree examinations
• Individual reflections
• Media Interviews
• Negotiation
• Personal reflections (including reflective diary)

Feedback is available on all components of assessment.

The minimum passing mark is 50 per cent.

Career Development

In addition, optional career development classes designed specifically for these students who are actively targeting a career move post programme and who will be working on developing job search strategies alongside their MBA studies, will be made available. These will include the following:

• Developing an effective job search strategy
• CV and cover letter writing
• LinkedIn (Developing your online brand)
• Preparing for Interviews
• Engaging with recruiters

Career development will also be supported via 1:1 career counselling and a number of employer facing opportunities throughout the academic year in various forms including guest speaker slots, career lounges, the annual MBA Employability Conference and other networking events.

Other items

Additional Learning Opportunities

Visiting Practitioner Speakers
A range of visiting speakers and other networking functions are scheduled across the year. Speakers are chosen for their relevance to the core and elective courses and are therefore a source of useful information that can be used to inform assignments and exams. The speakers can also prove useful as contacts for job searching.

International Exchange
Please note: We hope to make the exchange programme available, however this will depend on travel regulations at the time as a result of COVID-19.

A major feature of the MBA with International Exchange programme is the opportunity to study for an 8-10 week period with one of our international partner Universities. Students are required to complete the equivalent of 30 credits of courses (usually three courses). We cannot guarantee there will be spaces available at each partner. More information about the application process will be made available at a face to face session during Semester 1.

International Study Visits
Please note: We hope to make an international study visit available, however this will depend on travel regulations at the time as a result of COVID-19.

Students not taking the Edinburgh MBA with International Exchange have the opportunity for an international study visit as part of the International Business in Context elective and there will be at least one additional overseas business visit opportunity. Further details will be provided during Welcome Week.

Seminars
The School organises a wide variety of research seminars and public events, often in association with external professional associations and organisations (e.g. ICAS and IoD). These are not a part of the MBA programme but are available and are promoted to enrich the learning experience and increase connections with business. School seminars and other talks which are not part of the MBA programme but which may be of interest to MBA students are advertised on the School???s local student portal.

Business clubs
MBA students can participate in a wide variety of clubs and societies related to business. For example, the Edinburgh Entrepreneurship Club (E-Club) is a consortium of students, alumni, researchers, faculty and staff from across the University and externally who share a common interest in fostering new enterprise, and the Club organises frequent speakers and events which MBA participants are encouraged to join. The MBA students have also founded a Consulting Club, hosting speakers and events to encourage those keen on a career in management consulting.