Article by James Yellowlees Ph.D., President, Global Daigaku.com
www.globaldaigaku.com
In an increasingly exciting yet complex and competitive job market, it is necessary to have as many visible and substantial qualifications as possible
Until recently, Masters of Business Administration (MBA) programs were one-dimensional and required heavy financial outlays and commitments of time away from work. In the past few years the range of MBA programs and the formats in which they are delivered have expanded exponentially across the globe.
For prospective students in Japan, the new array of options is welcome but significant time is required to sort through them to select the most appropriate course.
In Tokyo, McGill University offers its Executive MBA program on the conveniently located Sophia University campus in Yotsuya. Executive MBAs are for mature students and allow participants to continue working in their full time jobs while attending classes on weekends, over a two-year period. This creates a very busy two-year stretch in which social activities must be curtailed but proves to be a good alternative for employers, as they are able to maintain the services of valuable employees during this period.
Other alternatives in Japan include the very international and respected MBA program at the International University of Japan in Niigata.
A wide range of overseas programs includes world-class programs in the United States, Canada, Australia, the U.K., and various EU countries and within Asia.
A newer program that is easily accessible to Japan residents is the University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School MBA program that is based in Shanghai. Participants go to the Shanghai campus for a few days every six weeks for intensive study and are able to complete the program in two years. This can be ideal for companies and individuals that are focused on current or future business in China.
The Marshall School has several world-leading education opportunities, including the IBEAR program, a unique, one-year intensive MBA program in Los Angeles. The Michigan Global MBA Program is a high-quality MBA program for experienced corporate managers and professionals.
In the U.K., Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) is a six-star school (the highest rating in the UK with only one other school holding this honor) for research. The School is accredited by both EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) and AMBA (Association of MBAs).
At Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, the flexibility of the MBA degree enables participants to tailor the program to suit their individual needs. In Canada, the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto (formerly the Faculty of Administrative Studies) is focused on global business education at a reasonable cost.
The MBA program at the University of Sunderland is delivered in an e-learning format and allows participants great flexibility in terms of when and where they are able to study.
For short-term executive and management programs, Doug Macnamara, who led and built up The Banff Centre for Management for over seven years, established Banff Executive Leadership Inc. in 2001. This group. specializes in the development of learning experiences and solutions for senior leaders such as board directors, vice-presidents, general managers, and heads of organizations.
JAIMS has the distinction of being the first nonprofit educational institution established in the United States by a Japanese corporation. Established in 1972 by Fujitsu Limited, JAIMS has become world-renowned for its solid short-term business and cross-cultural programs in Hawaii. Its internship programs are highly ranked.
For those who are considering MBA and Graduate School programs, the Marshall Global Executive MBA in Shanghai will hold an information session at the Tokyo Hilton Hotel on Thursday December 16th, 2004. This information session is free to attend. Please come and meet John Van Fleet, Program Director, to learn more about great options for your future.
Please contact the University of Southern California International Office-Tokyo for details:
Tel: 03-5425-2250
Fax: 03-5425-2251
E-mail: usctokyo@usc.edu
Website : www.marshall.usc.edu/gemba, www.usc.edu/tokyo
