Gold standard for Flinders MBA

Flinders MBA graduate Amy Orange is founding Director of Harvest Fair, a social enterprise startup selling ready-to-eat meals that provides employment and skills development for women looking to enter the workforce.

Flinders University is the first South Australian university, and only the third in Australia, to receive accreditation from the prestigious Association of MBAs (AMBA).

This reflects the University’s reinvigorated Master of Business Administration (MBA) offering, placing the program in the upper echelon of business courses internationally, says Professor Phyllis Tharenou, Vice-President and Executive Dean of Flinders University’s College of Business Government and Law.

The AMBA represents the gold standard in global recognition of business programs, she says.

“Flinders University is delighted to be accredited under the prestigious AMBA accreditation process as it is one of the highest standards for MBA programs in the world and confirms the rigour and excellence of the Flinders program,” Professor Tharenou says.

“The Flinders MBA applies cutting edge technology and offers one of the most flexible MBA programs in the country, delivered via online, blended, intensive and face-to-face options.

“We’re true to our word when we say this high standard, industry-driven program is ‘an MBA that’s made for you’.

“Being accredited by AMBA provides prospective students, employers and businesses with confidence of the world-class credentials afforded by the Flinders MBA, and the opportunity for graduates to become part of the esteemed AMBA alumni network,” Professor Tharenou adds.

Dr Ezaz Ahmed, Flinders MBA Program Director, says a hallmark of the Flinders MBA is its high admissions standard, which demands that applicants have minimum working experience, academic qualifications and a mandatory interview with the MBA Director.

“These professionals are not necessarily from traditional business environments; from nurses to engineers, the Flinders MBA assists a new class of aspiring leaders and managers to expand their influence within their organisations and beyond,” Dr Ahmed says.

Professor Ezaz Ahmed, director of the MBA Program at Flinders University.

“Reflecting our commitment to gender equity, Flinders Business actively seeks female candidates for the MBA program and is delighted that nearly 45% of its students are women.

“Our graduates possess an essential range of abilities, from solid foundations in business and management, through to an ethical approach to strategy and expansion.”

Flinders MBA students are equipped to produce “next practice” rather than only delivering “best practice” in managing and leading businesses, organisations and industries.

“The curriculum of the Flinders MBA is influenced by industry and supported by an active advisory group led and managed by industry experts who bring a future focused, industry perspective to course content,” Dr Ahmed says.

“Our instructors are in turn engaged with a number of industry bodies as members, advisors and experts, bringing back valuable industry insights to our MBA program.”

The Flinders MBA further closes the gap between students and industry, with access to more than 200 organisations facilitating student placements.

The University’s New Venture Institute (NVI) at Flinders at Tonsley encourages students to start new businesses, and promotes entrepreneurship with innovative ideas.

Ms Amy Orange, the founder of Harvest Fair and Executive Manager Community Services at CarersSA, says studying an MBA at Flinders University provided her with “a broad range of skills, knowledge, confidence and cultural perspectives that have greatly helped me to become a better manager and an innovative business leader in my community as a founder of a social enterprise”.

“Flexible study options allowed me to successfully balance study with a busy full-time job, and to put my learnings into immediate practice,” she says.

“My MBA has opened doors for me in my career and with my networks, and provided a solid foundation for me to build my own scaleable business as a social entrepreneur.”

Ms Orange says the Flinders MBA allowed her to take her career to the next level and move to an executive management role.

The Association of MBAs (AMBA) is an international impartial authority on postgraduate business education. It is the only professional membership association that connects MBA students and graduates, accredited Business Schools and MBA employers throughout the world.

Applications for midyear entry to Flinders MBA programs are now open. Students are invited to enquire or apply to secure their place in Semester 2 study, commencing 23 July 2018.

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