Executive MBA

An Executive Master of Business Administration degree is specially designed for the working executive. The type of students who pursue an Executive MBA already possess wealth of business experience from an array of backgrounds— an aspect that is unique to the programme. EMBA helps to enhance the knowledge and develops a broad business sense, with courses focusing on analysis, strategy, and leadership.

EMBA programs come in all shapes and sizes, but with a few common features. First, they take only 12 to 24 months to complete. Second, programs are formatted to accommodate the schedules of professionals who cannot attend classes on a full-time basis. Third, courses are often discussion-oriented, focusing on the student’s professional experiences. Fourth, they are targeted to experienced and successful managers. And, perhaps most importantly, they are often more expensive than conventional, full-time MBA programs starting from anything over $50,000.

Not surprisingly, the schools have reasons to defend the price differential. According to the dean of Melbourne Business School in Australia, one of the key reasons is the profile of the students. Executive MBA participants tend to be ten or twenty years older than their counterparts on conventional programs and have significantly more experience. Their expectations are correspondingly higher in everything from accommodation and catering to class size and style of teaching. Meeting those expectations costs money.

Indeed one of the biggest challenges facing executive-MBA providers is finding faculty that can hold the attention of such a demanding audience. Most EMBA participants have already learned the basic lessons of business and are on their chosen program because they want better insight into the way they are operating within their present company, rather than for personal development or a career change. Such lessons are both difficult and expensive to teach.

The answer to whether this price differential is worth it or not lies not in the quality of teaching or faculty or even in the standard of accommodation, food and wine. Instead, the premium comes down to the doors that an EMBA opens.Three quarters of students who took part in the Executive MBA Council 2009 Student Exit Benchmarking Survey said EMBA education have increased their value to their organization. An astounding 97 % of EMBA graduates were satisfied or more than satisfied with the career impact of their degree programmes. Indeed, almost a third of survey respondents (32 per cent) were promoted and 44 % received additional job responsibilities during the course of their programmes. They also see a great return on investment as students reported a 23 % salary increase after graduation. (Source: Executive MBA Council, California)

So, for moving into the executive management ranks, EMBA is worth looking into. This advanced degree is a great investment as it increases the knowledge base, enhances the skill set, opens new possibilities, and broadens the professional network. Moreover, like a solid mutual fund, an EMBA will continue to pay dividends for years to come.