The Derby MBA at HRMI: A genuine asset to improve business productivity
Saturday, 25 January 2014 00:00
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MBAs are amongst the most popular degrees in the world. The Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration established the first MBA program in 1908. Since then, many thousand institutions and universities award MBA degrees. Amongst these are unscrupulous institutions which award bogus or fake MBAs.
Google provides a long list of unaccredited institutions of higher education which sells degrees. For some, the MBA is merely a label. For a decisive individual, it is the strategy to acquire the managerial competencies en route to the top of the hierarchy.
When embarking on an MBA, a prospective student must establish without doubt the credentials of the awarding institution and its academic reputation. The esteem and admiration, recognition and respect for a qualification are derived from the awarding institution.
The process of delivering learning and the academic guidance a student receives is the ultimate ‘acid-test’ for effectiveness. Derby – Edexcel – HRMI partnership is a perfect example for recognition and respect, content and quality and delivery and support.
The University of Derby is a modern, innovative education provider which has a strong reputation in UK for professional education being the 9th University in England for ‘student employability’. Derby, recognised by University Grants Commission – Sri Lanka, was also the Winner of the 2011 Times Higher Education awards for Outstanding Employer Engagement and Outstanding Leadership and Management.
These awards reflect Derby strength in professional management education and its standing with employers in UK. The MBA from Derby requires a student to study 12 modules. These cover all aspects of strategic management which makes it the only qualification in Sri Lanka specialising in Strategic Management, the senior management competency that enables the Derby MBA holders’ stand apart from others.
The 12 modules include; Strategic Planning, Strategic Change Management, Strategic Marketing Management, Strategic Human Resource Management, Strategic Supply Chain Management and Logistics, Strategic Quality and Systems Management, Corporate Communication Strategies, Managing Financial Principles & Techniques, Creative and Innovative Management, Developing Strategic Management and Leadership Skills, Professional Development for Strategic Managers, Business Impact Study (Research).
This 18 months program of studies is primarily assessed by way of assignments, projects & case analysis, aimed at sharpening the analytical and decision making skills of high caliber executives who show promise and potential of being the future business leaders.
It is essentially a dual qualification: Segment 1 being The Edexcel BTEC LEVEL 7 – Extended Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership [Post Graduate Qualification in Strategic Management – Pre MBA] which will be followed by Segment 2, the Master of Business Administration Degree (MBA) from University of Derby UK.
Commenting on the Derby MBA, Refhan Razeen, General Manager of Heritance Ahungalla, said: “The HRMI Edexcel Level 7 Strategic Management Pre MBA was most interesting and absolutely good learning. It helped me to be more innovative in my thinking and strategic in my actions. The pre-MBA provides a solid start for the Derby MBA.” He further commented that this sort of a qualification is a must for career development. “Ambitious executives aspiring to become senior managers and CEOs need to go through a comprehensive course of this nature to develop the competencies required at top.”
Nandana Kankarathna, former Head of Learning and Development at Unilever Sri Lanka, commented that this is an ideal career development strategy for those smart executives aspiring to become senior managers and CEOs.
HRMI has designed a ‘purse friendly – interest free’ installment plan that will ease the financial burden of students. This pathway is also open for undergraduates and part qualified professionals. The course is scheduled to commence on 9 February and classes will be held once a week on Sunday mornings. Details could be downloaded from www.hrmi.lk.
