The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) has announced it will for the first time utilise machine learning to match prospective MBA students with the right school as part of a digitisation of its annual The MBA Tour.
GMAC, the global association of leading graduate business schools, acquired The MBA Tour last year and will revamp the events for 2020 to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions while leveraging GMAC’s data and digital assets.
The MBA Tour is scheduled for September 5 in Sydney and September 6 in Melbourne.
A core component of this year’s The MBA Tour will be small group MeetUps driven by a unique algorithm and machine learning that will create more data-driven interactions between business schools and prospective candidates at a time when global travel is greatly restricted.
“Integrating The MBA Tour model with GMAC’s data science platform enables us to develop smarter, more innovative ways to help business schools grow their candidate pipeline while also providing programs with more intuitive, data-driven solutions to meet their recruiting needs,” said Petia Whitmore, Managing Director of The MBA Tour.
“That mission doesn’t stop in a COVID-19 environment as the need to build a robust and diverse pipeline remains a critical issue facing business schools around the world, while candidates still have a need to connect and learn about the schools they’re considering; GMAC recognises the critical role we play in that process.”
The MBA Tour virtual events will utilise an advanced matching algorithm and GMAC-proprietary data compiled through decades of candidate engagement and research.
The data is overlaid with specific needs of business schools and when integrated with school preferences, behavioural insights, demographics, and psychographics will create smarter, and more effective discussions between business schools and candidates.
This new matching technology will be launched beginning July 7, expanding a candidate’s view into the schools they’re exploring and increasing the number and variety of schools they speak with at these events.
The MBA Tour 2020 Format
Beginning in July and running through October, The MBA Tour virtual events will be offered on a robust digital platform, delivering the personal engagement that business schools and candidates require in an environment where in-person meetings are greatly limited.
Attendees gain access to individualised MeetUps, opportunities to engage with schools, and exposure to MBA Talks and sponsor sessions developed to educate and inform.
Starting July 7, virtual tours will be held in 48 cities across the United States, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe Middle East and Africa. GMAC continues to monitor the impacts associated with COVID-19 and will make future event determinations based on health, safety, and travel considerations.
Registration is now open for schools and attendees that wish to participate.
Candidates and schools can visit thembatour.com/virtual to learn more about The MBA Tour virtual events.
