How the 12month MBA at Oxford College of Business has helped shape the rapidly changing business landscape of Sri Lanka

There is no denying we are living in very interesting times. With a chaotic global economy, constantly evolving technology and an ever-growing population, today’s business leaders of Sri Lanka face a plethora of challenges. Yet they also have an unequalled opportunity to make an impact, not only on those in their immediate sphere but possibly hundreds, thousands and even millions around the country, thanks to ever-improving communication tools. It is this awesome responsibility that makes it so necessary for today’s leaders to have a solid knowledge of where they have been and where they are going

Oxford College of Business takes the lead

Oxford College of Business the 1st and the oldest 12month MBA provider in the country has been the pioneer business school in stepping up to the task of helping to create leaders of tomorrow who are not only knowledgeable in their immediate positions but who are prepared to learn from other sectors, industries and cultures.

The 12month MBA at OCB offered in affiliation with the Australian Institute of Business (AIB) has been the cornerstone in the shaping and reshaping of today’s business leaders of Sri Lanka. The single word that best defines the 12month MBA of OCB is ‘agility’. The philosophy of 12month MBA at OCB is that business leaders must be nimble and move with speed to succeed in today’s business world. The MBA programme has understood that future economic growth will come from emerging markets, and it is important that business leaders develop firsthand knowledge of how to conduct business abroad and how to approach decisions with a global perspective. Globalism is a cornerstone of the 12month MBA programme at OCB.

An MBA programme that also benefits to the employer

While the benefits of the 12month MBA at OCB on the individual graduate are often talked about, there is another party reaping the rewards of the 12month MBA programme – the employer.

The immediate benefits for employers and colleagues rest not only in the applied hard skills an OCB student acquires throughout the 12month programme, but also in the confidence, attitude and new approach to work a newly graduated employee will likely bring to the organization as a whole.

In addition, the structure of OCB’s12month MBA program mean employees can apply new skills and knowledge into the workplace straight away, thus making an instant impact rather than having to wait until after graduation.

At the forefront of business trends

The 12month MBA at OCB presents students with a range of new experiences and impressions. These can be used to make a positive contribution to the workplace. Yet of greatest value is the exposure MBA students at OCB receive to cutting edge developments and prospects in the local business world. This means they are able to identify new trends and swiftly turn them into opportunities, either for a specific company project or the organization as a whole. Sri Lanka’s business environment is one of high dynamism and frequent change and being embedded in a learning environment, such as that of the MBA classroom at OCB, which gives employees the unparalleled possibility to find out about and react to these latest trends quickly. This, among other aspects of the 12month MBA at OCB, results in graduates from OCB being able to think better, strategically with the organization’s interests in mind.

Shaping strategy

Being able to shape strategies effectively and innovatively is perhaps among the most valuable benefits of the 12month MBA at OCB which students can bestow on his or her company. Thinking through complex business cases and problems within the AIB’s MBA curriculum, inside and outside the classroom, will often result in greater agility in tackling problems that arise within the work context. Additionally, being exposed to new perspectives and creative input from other classmates and students creates a general outlook of innovation and inspiration which is unique to the 12month MBA at OCB.

Developing strong leadership

Employees following the 12month MBA at OCB will often exhibit innovation, tenacity and forward-thinking. This is particularly inspiring for colleagues around them. As a result, graduates of OCB makes stronger team leaders who are equipped with the skills and knowledge to create and motivate better performing teams. The 12month MBA at OCB increasingly focuses on the development of soft skills, such as improved communication, a greater self-awareness and the ability to motivate others more effectively. When students on the 12month MBA directly transfer this knowledge from the classroom into the real world, this can make for a very productive, dynamic and rewarding process. Furthermore, the reactions and responses from work teams and employers can be critically discussed back in the classroom, and potential challenges can be addressed. However, the learning doesn’t stop there. The results of these discussions among the MBA faculty and a student’s classmates at OCB can then be fed back immediately into the work environment.

Spreading the skills

The 12month MBA at OCB doesn’t just equip students with the most up to date knowledge in the business sector; it also arms them with the tools, methodologies and analytical frameworks to work from. This is yet another advantage which OCB’s MBA program brings to the organization. While an employer who has employees following the 12month MBA at OCB can witness firsthand the relevance of their co-worker’ education, perhaps the true benefit is in the frameworks he or she implements and its lasting effect. This combined with a new perspective and different methods of approaching specific problems on a wider, collective basis can only result in a win-win situation for all involved. The objective of the 12month MBA at OCB is to help our participants build a ‘global view of business’. This is done by maximising diversity in the student body and faculty.

The next 5 years

The next five years is going to be very crucial period of time in every senior manager, strategist and entrepreneur in Sri Lanka. Connectivity is transforming our ways of living and interacting. Knowledge has become a commonplace; it is no longer seen as an asset in its own right. The use of new technologies is influencing the social fabric and fostering a new, virtual economy.

This is the new strength that tomorrow’s leaders will understand and master. 700 million people will start using the Internet in Asia in the next 5 years. This is just a portion of an enormous new market opening up for companies the world over, to reach, understand and work with.