Victoria University has made its tier-one MBA easier to complete with the introduction of an innovative block study teaching model designed to reduce pressure on students, particularly those trying to balance work, life and study commitments.
Following a successful trial with first-year undergraduate students, the block model of study is now available to MBA students.
Victoria University Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Dawkins said the block method was one of the biggest student-centred, staff-led and community-integrated transformation programs ever undertaken in higher education in Australia.
“We are constantly rethinking the University experience through a student lens. This re-imagining of how we deliver tertiary education drives better student outcomes through more active and collaborative learning, in small groups, taught in short, in-depth four-week blocks of study, one subject at a time,” Professor Dawkins said.
It aims to reduce the stress of university study by completing subjects in ‘blocks’ rather than all at once.
While traditional university courses require students to manage the demands and deadlines of multiple units of study all at the same time, VU’s ground-breaking block model enables students to focus on one unit at a time.
As well as improved pass rates, the benefits of the block study model for undergraduate students include the opportunity to accelerate learning and graduate earlier or slow down learning because of other life events.
Innovative online course delivery for postgraduate students
These benefits of block mode teaching have now been extended to VU’s postgraduate students via online courses including VU Online’s Master of Business Administration.
VU Online offers postgraduate students an innovative ‘six-study-period per year’ model. This means you can finish your degree faster by completing units more quickly than many traditional part-time postgraduate courses. At the same time, you can slow your study down at any time you wish to meet the demands of work or family.
VU Online’s intuitive online learning platform, VU Collaborate, makes postgraduate study incredibly accessible. Resources, coursework, assignments and student support are available 24/7 via VU Collaborate. Whether you fit study in around work, children or other priorities, you can still achieve your dream of earning a higher degree with VU Online.
It’s all about a first-rate student experience
As a more focused learning experience, VU students have praised the university’s new block study model.
“If I was to do four subjects at a time, and four assignments at a time, I’d be having a lot of coffee-fuelled nights and coffee-fuelled days trying to get it all done … it’s a lot less stressful doing just one subject at a time rather than four at once,” says education student, Liam Mulcahy.
Sport and exercise science student, Declan O’Brien, also finds not having to manage content and assignments in multiple subjects at once a bonus.
“There’s one class to focus on so you can really commit to that class and you can do your assigned homework or your assignments in a way that suits you,” says Declan.
According to Professor Dawkins, VU’s constant reimagining of course delivery is driven by an overarching commitment to driving better student outcomes.
“We are constantly rethinking the University experience through a student lens,” Professor Dawkins says.
For more information on the Victoria University Online MBA please click here.
