Are MBAs Really Worth It?
Ever wondered whether it’s worth investing in a MBA? Professor Terry Williams, University of Hull Business School dean, shares his views on the benefits of investing in your next MBA.
Contributed by: Kaplan Singapore
Since 2008, universities in the United States have reported what appears to be a rising trend in the number of graduate students around the country, as more working adults seek further education to boost their employment chances.
Closer to home in Asia, many adult learners choose to do MBAs in an attempt to get ahead in their careers or shift industries. Nowhere is this truer than in Singapore, where both public and private institutions offer the highly sought after postgraduate degree.
Professor Terry Williams, Dean of the University of Hull Business School, was recently in town to meet with officials of Kaplan Singapore, a leading private education institute which offers the University of Hull’s MBA degree. He tells us why an MBA remains valuable in today’s corporate world.
Q: What benefits can a graduate get from an MBA degree? Is it really worth the cost in the long run?
A: Choosing to do an MBA involves a significant investment of time and money. It’s therefore logical that people want to know the benefits of an MBA in terms of potential earnings in order to assess return on this investment. The increase in salary that comes from graduating from an accredited MBA programme is an important factor for many people. Other people study for an MBA to improve job opportunities. Our most recent survey of students found that 79% of them chose to study an MBA for this reason.
Studying for an MBA also provides students with an exceptional platform for networking – and not only with fellow students. Internships and employment placements, working with leading international faculty, and connecting with top business schools' extensive alumni networks are all benefits of studying on an accredited MBA programme.
Q: What can a student learn from an MBA that he/she cannot learn on the job? What makes an MBA so special that it is a requirement for promotion to senior management posts?
A: An MBA can enable a modern manager to identify a range of personal, business, and employment opportunities. Our most recent survey of members found that 70% of them were either board directors or senior managers.
Q: Does the reputation of the school really matter to prospective employers?
A: Connecting with top business schools' extensive alumni networks are all benefits of studying on an accredited MBA programme. Multinationals and governments do recognise the universities that are considered to be high in reputation and will prefer to hire people with a well-recognised and accredited MBA degree.
Q: Now that MBA grads have become dime-a-dozen, how can one graduate differentiate himself from another graduate?
A: Not all MBA degrees are the same. Employers will give preference to those with a good work background that is the requirement of an accredited MBA degree and the reputation and accreditations held by the business school is what sets the applicants apart.
About Hull University Business School
The University of Hull Business School (HUBS) is the first business school in Yorkshire and the 13th in the U.K. to achieve triple crown accreditation status, following accreditation by the three largest business school accreditation associations AMBA, EQUIS, and AACSB. With students from over 100 countries and different companies, HUBS offers potential MBA graduates an excellent environment for networking and developing multicultural business skills at a managerial level.
Notable HUBS graduates include Muhtar Kent, the Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company; Catherine Peng, China Director for Michelin maps and guides; and Sonal Kumar, Relationship Marketing and Innovation Manager for Rolls-Royce.
About Kaplan
Ranked as the number one Preferred Private Education Institution in the 2012 JobsCentral Learning Survey, Kaplan Singapore has established itself as one of the most respected private education institutions in Southeast Asia. It provides top-rated diplomas, undergraduate and post graduate degrees, professional qualifications and English-language programme to students from almost 20 countries. Kaplan Singapore is part of Kaplan Inc, a subsidiary and the largest division of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).
For more information, please visit www.kaplan.com.sg.
Contributed by Kaplan Singapore
