The Quality of Assignment-Based MBAs

John McKelvey, Regional Director of the University of Sunshine Coast (USC).

26th July 2006 Flexibility and convenience are the key considerations among most adults in selecting a suitable Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme. This has led to the popularity of assignment-based MBAs that allow working adults the flexibility of completing their coursework at a time and place convenient to them. Busy executives and managers who are bogged down with projects at work, especially those that take them overseas will find it difficult to fit examination times into their busy schedules. Many also find the thought of sitting for examinations, after leaving university studies for sometime, very daunting. There is, however, a misperception that assignment-based MBAs are of a lower quality than those that incorporate proctored examinations. Critics have even branded assignment-based MBAs to be for candidates who lack confidence and are attempting to take the easy route.

John McKelvey, Director, Graduate Studies at the University of Sunshine Coast (USC), came to the defence of assignment-based MBAs. He also challenged the false assumption that assignment-based MBAs are of lower quality. According to McKelvey, “The USC MBA is a quality MBA that maintains the highest standards, especially in assessment of its assignments, and its timed online final assessment.”

“The confidence we have in the current MBA delivery and assessment process is not only evidenced in Malaysia but is in use oncampus in Australia, online throughout the world as well as with partner institutes in China and Fiji.

To transcend from British-based education system that focuses on examinations rather than assignments require a measure of mindset-change for some people. This system has been the practise for the majority of Malaysians through primary and secondary school stages.

For Malaysians, who have undergone predominantly examination-based assessments at various levels of their educational experience , the opportunity exits to study at a postgraduate level through a hands on assignment and assessment process that reinvigorates learning and allows students to apply theory into practice.

USC has a considerable number of Malaysian students who have graduated with the MBA qualification. They have found the experience richly rewarding.

“Pedagogically speaking, assignment-based programmes offer a potentially superior learning experience. Candidates have to conduct extensive research, analyse journals articles, apply theory, and much more,” said McKelvey.

“The assignment-based learning allows Malaysian students to apply the theory and knowledge acquired into their real-life projects. It makes studying more satisfying and the knowledge can be used immediately to bring forth positive results at work.”

According to McKelvey, working adults tend to excel more in assignment-based programmes. “The assignments submitted by candidates in Malaysia who are full-time working adults are equivalent to those studying on-campus in Australia.”

One of the biggest criticisms of assignment-based MBA programmes is the opportunity for plagiarism by students. Plagiarism is an issue for all universities but steps have been taken by USC to guard against plagiarism and severely limit its occurrence.

The University prides itself in maintaining a low plagiarism rate. USC has invested in sophisticated software, Safe Assignment, to detect occurrences of plagiarism. Safe Assignment is able to spot similarities and signs of plagiarism with previous work submitted by the same candidate, between candidates, and instances where sources are not recognised and referenced.

“There is a policy in place at the university to stringently follow-up on plagiarism. Candidates who offend may eventually be excluded from the programme if they are unable to account for or satisfactorily respond to a USC request for clarification of the suspected plagiarism,” added McKelvey.

The University of the Sunshine Coast is one of the fastest growing of Australia 's 38 public universities. With a current enrolment of around 5,000 students, USC is expected to double in size by 2008-2010. USC is committed to international standards in learning and teaching and in research.

USC's decision to offer assignment-based MBAs reflects the university's responsiveness to market needs & requirements. There is a demand in the workplace for MBA graduates who are able to research into a subject and present well thought out proposals. One simply cannot get through an assignment without doing considerable research and preparation.

USC received national recognition with the 5 star rating for student satisfaction. This ranking is based on the views of students, who are in the best position to judge the quality of learning and teaching at USC. And USC is first among all Queensland universities and fifth among all Australian universities for the proportion of its academic staff with doctoral degrees.

The University has been delivering the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and the Master of Financial Planning (MFP) since August 2002 in Malaysia .

“These innovative online programmes offered by the Faculty of Business at USC incorporate the latest trends in international business education. As part of our commitment to providing high quality, globally-relevant education the Faculty of Business is a member of two international business school networks: the European Foundation for Management Development (efmd) and the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The Faculty is currently undergoing international accreditation with AACSB,” said McKelvey.