GET YOUR MBA ONLINE
The University of Fredericton offers convenient options
As the University of Fredericton (UFred) prepares for its 10-year anniversary in 2017, which will be marked with events across Canada, its associate dean says it is an ideal time to celebrate the growth of the fully online institution and its place in the country’s educational landscape.
“I actually did my executive master of business administration (EMBA) here in 2008,” says Sheri McKillop. “There were about six students in a class and now we have classes that average 25. I have personally seen the growth UFred has had in so many areas, from both the student and administration perspectives.”
In fact, UFred’s EMBA and master of business administration (MBA) options are an area where the school has had a significant amount expansion and evolution. When, for example, UFred was founded, it offered one specialty stream to its MBA and EMBA students. Today, it facilitates seven, while continuously developing new streams that meet industry demand.
“Because of the way we are structured, it allows us to react quickly to industry needs and add new specialty streams in a timely manner,” says McKillop. “We stay in touch with industry through our professional advisory committees and industry partners so we can ensure we are offering the right education.”
EMBA and MBA students complete 10 foundation courses, three specialization course and one capstone integration project. To maximize the global learning experience, throughout the program students participate in “live” seminars and/ or conferences with experienced leaders from global organizations. During their time at UFred, students are also supported by a dedicated student services team, instructors who are available for office hours and tech support.
It is a combination that, McKillop says, has attracted students from across Canada and beyond.
“When I see the applications coming in from VPs of oil and gas companies or from the f inancial sector, it really shows me that there has been development in the acceptance of online education and that it is becoming mainstream,” she says. “We hear time and time again that if it wasn’t for the convenience of UFred’s online structure students wouldn’t have been able to complete their EMBA or MBA.”