For the last six years, Monash Business School has been taking a different approach to its MBA program.
The Monash MBA program emphasises the application of theories, models and frameworks to solve real, practical problems and identify opportunities for organisations. Over the two-year program, students undertake four organisational consulting projects: in strategy, commercialisation of new technologies, using big data for an applied industry analysis, and international business.
The Monash MBA brings business strategy and next-generation problems to the forefront. Traditionally, business strategy is introduced later in an MBA program. But at Monash, it is one of the subjects taught in the first semester of study. The school also brings in professors from other faculties and practitioners from the business world to help MBAs develop a working knowledge of topics such as sustainability, design thinking, governance and ethics. The Monash MBA approach is to integrate teaching and assessment so that students do not see subject areas as isolated silos of knowledge.
It is an on-campus program, with students learning how to work in teams where the members have very diverse backgrounds. A central focus is on leadership skills: being able to motivate and empower a team to pursue a common goal under tight deadlines and constraints. The study schedule enables domestic students to continue working full-time while undertaking the Monash MBA.
What does it take to get into the Monash MBA program? The school is looking for applications from high-performing young managers who have a minimum of three years’ work experience. The average experience of Monash MBA students is seven years. The Monash MBA program comprises a very diverse group, with around one-third of the students coming from other countries.
Monash MBA students increasingly come from the public and for-purpose sectors as well as from engineering, health, professional services, marketing and finance backgrounds. Students are recruited for diversity so that teams undertaking the consulting projects take a multidisciplinary, multi-cultural approach to the recommendations they present to their clients. At the end of the two-year MBA, students can demonstrate a portfolio of consulting projects they’ve worked on.
The MBA Career Advancement Program is fully integrated with the taught program and works with students to leverage their work experience. Monash coaches students and alumni to enable them to meet their career goals, utilising professional recruiters, consulting firms and career development workshops.
The Monash MBA program welcomes enquiries and applications from qualified candidates. Interested candidates are encouraged to attend an information session or webinar. Visit the Monash website to register for the next event.
