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MBA – Does it matter?

These days, those who pursue an MBA are considered to have a marked degree of ambition and unparalleled willingness to succeed. Like many aspects of one’s life, wanting to pursue an MBA requires a considerable thought process. That is, the benefits of pursing an MBA should be balanced against the downside of taking on what can be considered a gigantic step in ones education and career development. It is important that there are no illusions as to what can realistically be achieved from acquiring such a qualification. MBA is not a panacea to ones stagnation at the work place, since much more than just a qualification is required to convince your manager that one is deserving of a chance to manage and lead.

Having said that, those who pursue an MBA invest in time and money and for these reasons they need to be assured that there are significant benefits that await them after completion. Typically, those who consider pursuing an MBA may have already excelled in some field, but have not yet been acknowledged or attain a leadership position in that field. Pursuing an MBA may remove any fears harbored by your current or potential employers, that you lack the appropriate qualifications at managerial level. Infact, rightly or wrongly so, it is becoming the norm that having an MBA qualifies one to become a manager/leader and to be at the top of the corporate ladder.

There is a school of thought that leaders are bred. Even though there is an equally valid but contrasting view to this assertion which suggest that leaders are born, it is still clear that one can be trained to acquire the skills to be an effective leader. The fact is, leadership is a complex phenomenon that can be enhanced through learning. Leadership is not simply a matter of style, or following some recipes or guidelines. Leadership typically results from ‘sharpened’ managerial skills. Pursuing and acquiring an MBA may and can help a hard-working employee to obtain a leadership position in an organization as the MBA programme can help to hone your managerial, technical and leadership skills and find your place in the ‘leadership world’.

If you have work experience but lack managerial skills, then the MBA can be a move in the right direction to achieve a managerial position either with your current or potential employers. Increasingly, it is becoming obvious that one needs both experience and an MBA degree to qualify to become a manager/leader. An MBA can make one to make a radical change i.e. from one sector to another, with credibility. It changes one’s thought process, provides empowerment to challenge the status quo and opens one’s eyes to the business world.

An MBA degree will also show your current employer that you have the drive to go all the way rather than dithering and stopping at the first hurdle that you encounter. More than this, it can provide you with the flexible skills and business expertise that open new career opportunities to you. It will help you move into more desirable or higher paying job. In addition to helping to interact with other successful, career-driven peers, the MBA offers a great deal of personal satisfaction after completion.

If you have asked yourself the above question (MBA – Does it matter) and would like to follow up, then Regent-Maastricht MBA may be the answer. It offers participants the chance to be where they have always wanted to be because of the content and relevance to the real world.

The Unique Position of MSM in the World of Business and Education

The Regent-Maastricht MBA is a joint AMBA accredited programme between Regent University College of Science and Technology and Maastricht School of Management (MSM), the Netherlands. Mr. Rene Van der Linden, who is the immediate past President of the Council of Europe, is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of MSM. He is currently a Senator of the First Chamber (Senate) of the States-General of the Netherlands. He is also the current President of the Committee for European cooperation of the First Chamber of the States-General.

René van der LINDEN
Immediate past President of the Council of Europe.

Maastricht School of Management, which is responsible for conferring the MBA degrees, (accredited by Association of MBA’s) after the completion of the programme, has a great reputation in the global education field. Further, it is involved in world-wide management, research and development and other international projects. MSM combines education, technical assistance and research in its professional services. Infact, every year more than 2000 students graduate at campuses in more than 20 countries, and it is the largest and most international business school in the Netherlands.

It is truly the case that MSM is an international management school! Distinguished Associate Professors and Professors of different fields (Strategic Management, Marketing, International Business, Organizational Behaviour, Entrepreneurship, Accounting and Business Finance, of Maastricht School of Management) are also visiting Professors of Regent-Maastricht MBA. This means that, this course offers you the chance to receive real-world knowledge from distinguished professors and other professionals. This puts Regent-Maastricht MBA in a very unique position!

The programme provides insights into local and global leadership challenges. It provides the necessary critical tools needed for one to function as a transformational leader, as Africa works towards an authentic identity in the global community.

The Regent-Maastricht MBA programme consists of three segments: Foundation, Core and Performance Segments. The Foundation segment which include Information Technology Tools and Application for Managers/Executives, Research  Methods and Business Statistics, Financial Accounting  and Management Accounting, prepares and develops students’ level of appreciation for different areas of business. The Core Segment lays particular emphasis on international marketing, innovation, change management, global corporate strategy and the traditional banking and finance.  For instance, in its coverage, the finance in international market module will include international business finance as well as long-term financing and International Capital Markets.     

The flexible nature of the Regent-Maastricht MBA allows students to have the opportunity to specialize in specific areas of their choice, including oil and gas management, and corporate strategy and economic policy. The Performance Segment gives students the chance to develop their own independent thinking and research (Thesis), and as part of this, students will travel to Maastricht, Netherlands, on a writing workshop. During the visit, programme participants will have a thesis seminar and also take a module there. Students will also visit giant corporations and interact with their Senior Management. The trip provides students with that needed distinctiveness which will expose them to international business opportunities.
With this MBA programme, the endeavor is to always supplement the current learning methodology using technology and simplifying the learning process for the student. The facilities are modern, and teaching practices reflect the best educational practice. Students are taught by lecturers, distinguished visiting Professors and professionals who are experts in their field. There is also the added advantage of students attending regular seminars by world changers and distinguished entrepreneurs. It is an opportune period not to be missed and to be part of the Regent vision of raising transformational leaders. It is also a chance to be part of enterprising leaders!
The Regent-Maastricht MBA is a two year programme that offers you the flexibility that you would need, notwithstanding that most MBA students tend to be in employment. It is tailored to the needs of participants who will attend lectures in the evenings and weekends and still continue to go about your normal business.
One should not settle for just any MBA! It is one’s right to settle for more than just an MBA because having a recognized MBA can be life as well as career-defining. Regent-Maastricht MBA has relevance to the outside world. It gives Managers/Executives much more grounding in the theories and intricacies of management, and it has a global recognition!