American Case Study MBA programme for Malaysians
 (L-R) Edward Cheah and Professor Trish Eisele exchanging the Memorandum of Understanding. |
26th August 2005 Signing the memorandum of understanding is Edward Cheah – Head of Operations of SMRC and Professor Trish Eisele - MBA Director of International Operations of Ottawa University, USA. “The signing of the MOU with SMRC will be a long-term partnership that promises to yield great benefits to both parties in terms of academic and research collaboration,” said Professor Eisele. For SMRC, this partnership also represents a significant milestone in their effort to bring internationally recognised programmes in to Malaysia.
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Ottawa University has been running programmes in Malaysia for the past 16 to 17 years. Their years of engaging Malaysians in their programmes have formed a connection that is strong and practical in giving distance learning education a local feel.
“We understand the strong desire for Malaysians to receive the best quality of education and we are prepared to meet their expectations of quality American education in Malaysia ,” added Professor Eisele.
There are two wins for Malaysian students in the MBA programme. Students would be wholly academically supported by Ottawa University and the programme is wholly coursework based. SMRC will be the recruitment and placement office for the MBA programme giving administration support.
“ Ottawa professors will be flying in to give intensive workshops over weekends. This is followed by four days of optional one-on-one counselling sessions with the professor to ensure your understanding of the requirements on the 12-week interactive coursework that follows,” said Professor Eisele.
During this time, learners are encouraged in team building and other activity sessions.
“This method of learning is proven successful as Ottawa have run a bachelor of business programme in Malaysia using the similar method. We are confident that working adults undertaking our MBA programme would be comfortable and receptive to this method,” said Professor Eisele.
The programme consists of six, two-subject modules, each module lasting twelve weeks. The subjects covered are value systems and professional ethics; social, cultural, legal and political influences on business; human resources planning and administration; organisational leadership and behaviour; management accounting; managerial finance; strategic marketing; international business; management information systems; managerial economics; project management; and graduate seminar: business policies and strategies.
Coursework based programmes are gaining popularity in Malaysia . Working adults find this assessment method favourable to their lifestyle and needs.
“Working adults need a programme that allows them to balance their study with career and family. A coursework based programme gives allow working adults to progress consistently throughout the programme without the worry of a tough final examination at the end of each semester,” explains Professor Eisele.
Learning about business is learning to troubleshoot, knowing how each area of business function and see a business evolve as a whole. That is why the case study method of Harvard Business School is highly popular and highly in demand. Coursework based programmes focuses on case studies to prepare working adults to be future movers and shakers of industries.
“American degree holders are encouraged to apply for the programme,” said Professor Eisele. “Those with degrees from other countries may also apply and admission into the programme is on the University's discretion.”
“After the intensive workshops where the professors return back to America , students and professors can keep in touch regularly through the online learning portal. They (the students) need to log onto the University's virtual classroom that uses Blackboard. This way, they do not feel abandoned when the professors return to Ottawa ,” adds Professor Eisele.
Those interested in the programme can contact Ottawa University 's local recruitment office calling 03-8023 2616 or 03-2078 9866.