It’s hard work staying on top
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Two schools must keep adapting and enhancing joint executive MBA programme to retain standing as best in business
As the Kellogg-HKUST executive MBA marks its 20th anniversary this month, it is a good time to celebrate successes while planning for the future. The programme, which regularly tops the Financial Times international rankings, built its reputation by offering an evolving combination of specialist knowledge and global expertise.
With classes taught by world-class faculty and eminent guest lecturers, students are inspired to think differently about the process and practice of high-level management and to view key business decisions from a more strategic perspective.
This year’s graduates exemplify those benefits. With an average age of 40 and including 19 nationalities, they represent an array of backgrounds and industries. They are now in a far better position to take on broader responsibilities, effect meaningful change, and contend with new challenges that are bound to emerge in an“age of disruption”. However, to ensure that remains the case for each successive intake, the two schools must keep adapting and enhancing the joint programme. Coverage of essentials such as finance, marketing, effective leadership and value investing must be balanced with discussion of newer topics like blockchain, e-commerce and social media, and their implications for businesses around the world. And respect for corporate ethics, risk management and compliance is embedded at the heart of the curriculum.
“Both schools share the same values and, in terms of academic standing, understand the importance of quality teaching and research,” says Professor Tam Kar-yan, dean of the School of Business and Management at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST Business School). “There is continuous dialogue about improvements and, as members of the Kellogg network, our students can now take courses or electives at seven international campuses including Toronto, Tel Aviv, Miami, Beijing, Evanston, Vallendar and Hong Kong.”