certain fields and/or jobs. Therefore, when
considering Roi, should applicants be try-
ing to identify business schools that are
more keenly priced? I think that students
come to Durham because of our reputation and
influence and relevance, and would still come
regardless of cost. Doing an MBA at any time
nowadays is expensive. Ultimately, I think stu-
dents want to know that they are getting value
for money.
in terms of pricing, your mBA programmes
are very competitive. how you do maintain
quality, in terms of faculty, delivery methods
etc. given that your tuition fees are consid-
erably lower when compared to other busi-
ness schools, both domestically and inter-
nationally? We aim to recruit the best faculty
and regularly monitor the quality of the teach-
ing on the MBA programme. We also review it
Fact or Fiction Although applications are fuelled, to some to ensure it is innovative and provides relevance
extent, by a recessionary economy - a counter- and impact. Our fees are geared towards pro-
Given the growing number of graduate cyclical paradox - I believe that there are other viding value for money, quality attracts quality.
business programmes that are conferring dominant factors at play as well. As mentioned
mBA degrees, some say that the qualifica- above, having three accreditations has helped: The road Ahead
tion has lost its appeal. Do you concur with reputation and the word-of-mouth of students
this? Some may say that but we cannot. As far are also very important. With the plethora moving forward, what can new and exist-
as we are concerned the qualification has lost of social networking sites out there, students ing students expect from DBS over the next
none of its appeal. On the contrary, our ap- are able to talk across the globe about their 12-18 months, in terms of programme in-
plications this year have shown consequential experiences on business courses. novation? Moving forward, we plan to expand
increases. Feedback from employers suggests the internationalism of our programme and our
that they still want to recruit MBAs; in fact, As a business school are you more interest- partnerships with business. As I mentioned ear-
interestingly enough, this year’s cohort are al- ed in applicant quality or quantity? At DBS, lier, we give students the opportunity to study
ready beginning to get interviews with differ- it’s the quality aspect that interests us. When at one of our partner institutions for a week; so
ent companies and being offered jobs. But, I we recruit quality students we see the impact far we have offered places in China and South
think what’s key, in terms of the MBA, is what that they have on the programme and how they Africa. We would like to include North Amer-
students are learning and how they apply it in benefit from it as well. It’s not a degree mill we ica and/or somewhere else in Europe, thus ex-
the real world. have here at Durham. It’s about having appli- panding our overseas partnerships.
cants who are going to add to the programme
Although a specialized mBA may take lon- and in turn get the best out of it. This year we We have also offered students the opportunity
ger to complete, does it make you more were obliged to close our applications because to visit Sri Lanka this year, the idea being to
marketable? From our point of view, employ- we had such an increase, not only in terms of take part in a community project. Students get
ers recruiting MBA students are looking for numbers but in quality as well. to apply what they have learnt in a community
MBAs from a reputable, accredited business environment and, at the same time, give
school. We are accredited by the three principal return on Investment something back. Moving forward we aim to
accrediting bodies, the AACSB, EQUIS and enhance what we have by continuing to ensure
AMBA. Employers know that our curriculum Does the amount one spends on an mBA we provide an innovative programme which is
is focused on excellent academic teaching, up- determine the quality of the qualification? relevant and has impact. ■
to-date research and that the learned precepts At Durham we aim to create a quality MBA,
are also applicable in different businesses. whatever that might cost. We charge a fee that
reflects the quality we provide through teaching
Biography
When the economy is in decline, applica- and research, student support and high quality
Dr Julie Hodges is the Director of the full-
tion volumes tend to increase. With this partnerships, all of which are absolutely vital.
time MBA programme and a senior teaching
in mind, have admission standards risen? fellow in Organisation Behaviour at Durham
Certainly our applications have risen, but it is Given the current state of the global job Business School. Julie is also an Honorary
interesting to note that the quality of applicants market, graduates are finding it increas-
Fellow at Glasgow University.
we are getting has risen as well. ingly more difficult to simply walk into
36 | CEO
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