MBA Courses 2014/15 Learn today Lead tomorrow
Contents A Word from the Dean 4 Welcome to the Smurfit MBA 5 Why choose an MBA? 6 Why the Smurfit MBA? 7 Our courses: Full-time MBA 9 Executive MBA 15 Careers 22 Student Life 24 Dublin 25 Alumni Network 27 Corporate Connections 29 Admissions and Scholarships 31 Contacts 32 Learn today Lead tomorrow UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School 2
UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School is one of an elite group worldwide to hold triple accreditation from AACSB (US), EQUIS (Europe) and AMBA (UK). We are the only Irish member of the leading business school alliances CEMS and the Global Network for Advanced Management. We re also the only Irish business school whose degrees are consistently ranked in the world s top 100 by the Financial Times and The Economist Intelligence Unit. Accredited by: A member of: 3 UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School www.smurfitschool.ie
I m pleased to welcome you to UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, Ireland s global business school, forming global minds. As one of the world s most open economies, Ireland has a particular perspective, one that s open to new ideas and to the world. A word from the Dean The excellence of the education you will get here is recognised internationally. We re proud to be your international gateway as the only business school in Ireland with the triple crown of international accreditations from EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA: a signal of a quality degree. We are also the only business school in Ireland whose degrees are consistently ranked amongst the top 100 in the world. Ireland faces challenging times as a country. We ve learned much from our recent experience and as a result we have a lot of valuable knowledge to share. The lessons you can learn here, about resilience in business and about individual and organisational values that sustain the future, are globally relevant. Your achievements here will be shaped by us but also to a great extent by you. I wish you success in making the most of the opportunities presented to you here. Beir bua Professor Ciarán Ó hógartaigh Dean Learn today Lead tomorrow UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School 4
Our Leadership Development Programme (the EQ or Emotional Quotient) runs in tandem with the academic curriculum, and is designed to further develop your talent as a leader, mentor, influencer and team player. This includes giving you access to an experienced business coach. Our dedicated MBA Career Service (the RQ or Reputational Quotient) aims to assist you in building long-term career strategies. It gives you career-related skills, and you ll gain the confidence to pursue your post-mba career goals. Welcome to the Smurfit MBA As Director of the MBA Courses I m pleased to introduce you to UCD Smurfit School, an international, innovative and creative learning environment that fosters excellence that will develop your talents and enable you to make a real impact in the world. The mission of our MBA is to focus on delivering the next generation of global minds and of leaders who can make a meaningful contribution to the societies and economies they live and work in something we ve been doing since 1964. You ll find three pillars to your experience here: These elements are brought together with Real World Experiential Learning in an international context. This is achieved through interactions with your classmates, case studies, projects, academics, external experts and MBA Alumni. You will gain direct experience working on projects and with companies through the company project or Capstone Project which rounds off the course. You ll gain first-hand experience of international markets through the Doing Business in Emerging Markets module, which incorporates a field trip. Previous countries visited include the emerging BRIC Countries of Brazil, China and India. Within your MBA class there will be a diverse group of students with different nationalities and backgrounds, each with a professional depth of experience. As a result, your thinking will be challenged and you will learn to integrate completely different perspectives into your approach to business and society. Combine all of the above with our dedicated business campus and world-class teaching staff, and your Smurfit MBA experience is one that will inspire you and continue to enhance your career long after you have moved on. We believe that success is achieved through people. When we lead with the right competencies and skills, we can achieve anything. Come and talk to us about your future. We look forward to meeting you. Our Academic Curriculum (we call it the IQ or Intelligence Quotient) will equip you with the fundamental management skills you need to run a business. Core subjects ensure a solid framework around which real world experience can be applied. Optional subjects enable you to delve deeper into particular areas and provide a basis for future specialisation. Orla Nugent Director, MBA Courses 5 UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School www.smurfitschool.ie
Why choose an MBA? Are you an experienced professional looking to fulfill ambitious career plans and maximise your potential? An MBA doesn t just satisfy your intellectual curiosity. It ll also speed up your current progress and update your managerial toolkit. Participants span the career spectrum, from engineering to financial services, medicine, manufacturing, veterinary, marketing, communications, law and the arts. An MBA gives you a valuable competitive advantage in the job market by developing your management skills. In essence, whether full-time or part-time, an MBA is a positive, transformative experience. It enhances your knowledge and skills set in areas including finance, strategy, marketing, accounting, human resources, leadership, communications and information technology. The benefits it brings are wide-ranging, and include: Business acumen Career development Career independence Personal and leadership development Real world insights Lifelong skills and learning The MBA is structured to take advantage of the experience of its participants. In the academic year 2012/13, the average age was 30 on the Full-time MBA, with approximately 8 years professional experience. On the Executive MBA average age was 35 years, with an average of at least 11 years professional experience. Our Full-time and Executive MBA courses reflect the international nature of business today, and the global arena in which our graduates succeed. The Smurfit MBA is highly regarded by corporate leaders, recruiters and business publications around the world. If you want to control your own career direction, we can guide you. Learn today Lead tomorrow UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School 6
Why the Smurfit MBA? At Smurfit we have the best mix of people, both students and teaching staff, to support your imagination and stimulate your creativity in the best possible way. Professor Damien McLoughlin Anthony C. Cunningham Professor of Marketing Associate Dean, International Globally accredited your guarantee of quality One of an elite group of schools worldwide to achieve the triple crown of accreditation from EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA. Accreditations are your guarantee that you will receive a world-class MBA. They are international recognition of UCD Smurfit School s reputation and expertise, and position you in the minds of the international business community. Globally ranked The only MBA in Ireland to be consistently ranked amongst the global top 100 by the Financial Times and the Economist Intelligence Unit. Academic leadership We have a 100-strong team with one mission: to create the future leaders in business. One of the keystones of our reputation as a world-leading business school is the quality and expertise of our faculty. We recruit highly respected academics with experience from other leading universities globally. This, together with the faculty s business experience, enables us to create a stimulating environment both in teaching and research. International diversity This is an international course delivered by a school with 50 years experience of the MBA. Approximately 60% of the students and nearly 40% of the faculty are from beyond Ireland. Part of the MBA includes the option to take part in an international field trip to widen horizons, experience new cultures, meet key business leaders and decision makers, and visit their companies. Past destinations have included China, Brazil and India. UCD Smurfit School MBA Careers Service Our dedicated MBA Careers Service will help you to build long-term career strategies. You ll gain the necessary skills, know-how and confidence to pursue your post-mba goals, as our Careers Manager works with you to identify opportunities and provide support, partnership and professional trust. 7 UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School www.smurfitschool.ie
Alumni network UCD Business Alumni has a global network of over 60,000 graduates in over 100 countries. Our alumni are leaders not just in business but in all walks of society, and are actively involved in the development of the business school. Our MBA alumni join the UCD Smurfit School MBA Alumni Association, which runs events and activities exclusively for MBA graduates. Practical We concentrate on the practical side of management, constantly reviewing its focus with our business partners. Why? Because it delivers the highest degree of corporate relevance, with a strong focus on creativity and entrepreneurship. Both the Full-time and Executive MBA courses use case studies and company consultancy projects, concentrating on the strategic and entrepreneurial aspects of managing organisations. Teamwork and Leadership The culture here is firmly collaborative, so group work is an important element of our MBA. The ability to work with and lead others is what makes for better and more imaginative solutions. Flexibility Choose your options and bring your own company challenges to the Capstone Project, which rounds off the course. Our small class sizes allow your ideas to come to the fore, and our interactive approach gives room for your insights to be integrated into the course. Innovation Our curriculum reflects your world as it changes. More industry interaction, core subjects in decision making and a focus on developing entrepreneurial, strategic and critical thinking abilities are some of the points that make the Smurfit MBA different. The MBA faculty is drawn from a group of academics who have extensive experience of course delivery internationally. Moreover, the majority of faculty members have received training at leading business schools in the UK and North America, and are active contributors to the development of knowledge and intellectual leadership in their fields through extensive involvement in delivering papers at conferences and publishing in leading journals. Professor Patrick Gibbons, Jefferson Smurfit Professor of Strategic Management, UCD Smurfit School Value The UCD Smurfit School is consistently ranked among the world s top 100 global business schools by the Financial Times, and we re currently ranked 16th globally as representing outstanding value for money. The bottom line? The Smurfit MBA is the smarter choice. The Smurfit MBA: 1 Offers leadership development of a transformational nature. 2 Enables you to reposition yourself within management at a top level through personalised career management. 3 Provides you with an average expected salary increase of 69% three years after graduating (Financial Times Full-time MBA rankings, 2013), along with much higher levels of job satisfaction. 4 Is intellectually challenging and diverse, provides practical real world experience and has an interactive and dynamic curriculum at the level of best international practice. 5 Provides you with membership of a very active alumni network of over 3,000 MBA graduates. 6 Gives you the confidence and skills to operate effectively at all levels of business. 7 Consistently highly ranked in terms of value for money. Learn today Lead tomorrow UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School 8
Full-time MBA (one year) Master of Business Administration Taking time out from your career can help you get where you want to be, faster. At UCD Smurfit School you can do more in just one year than your contemporaries can do in two. It s an intense course - but its pacing gives you the time you need to focus on where you re going in your professional life. While our MBA participants work hard, the intimate size of our classes means we can offer a unique support service. When the going gets tough, our dedicated MBA team is there to help you through. In fact we re there to make sure you have the best learning experience you can have, with a minimum of distractions. Exchange Programme Full-time MBA participants have the option of completing an exchange period at one of our partner universities in Europe, Asia, India, South Africa, North America or South America, subject to availability. MBA Careers Service The MBA Careers Service is designed to support you on your MBA journey, through a programme of workshops and one-to-one sessions with our Careers Manager, sharpening your skills to make a future impact in your chosen industry and function. You ll find more detail on page 22. It s all in the network Free from the daily routine of the regular job, you ll make new friends and colleagues and bond closely with lecturers in a way rarely achieved anywhere else. The class make up is diverse. More than half our students are from beyond Ireland, which in itself creates a unique educational experience. You ll also learn to utilise the unique networking potential available through our corporate partners, teaching body, boards and extensive alumni network. National, yet International International business is a core element of every course. A global outlook is at the heart of who we are. Our Doing Business in Emerging Markets module includes a field trip to a dynamic market to learn about how best to conduct business in these environments. Previous trips have included the emerging BRIC countries of China, Brazil and India. Leadership Development Programme This programme, covered in greater detail on page 22 builds team and leadership skills, and gives you invaluable tools for continued personal and professional development. 9 UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School www.smurfitschool.ie
Full-time MBA Overview Your full-time MBA consists of three parts - an Academic Curriculum, a Leadership Development Programme and a Careers Service. These come together with real-world experience through the International Study Trip and concluding Capstone Project. The course reflects the international nature of business today, and the global arena in which our graduates succeed. Assessment on the MBA varies by module and includes individual and group assignments, projects and presentations, class participation and examinations which all combine into a final grade. Foundation Week This commences the week before the academic course. It is an intense week, designed to assist you return to formal study and to build confidence prior to the start of the MBA proper. Subjects covered include Communication Skills; Team Building; Study Skills Sessions; Teaching and Learning Sessions; IT & Library Introductions; Networking Sessions; Productivity Management. Academic Semester 1 Semester 2 Summer Term Course Core Modules* Core Modules* + Option Modules** Global and Corporate Strategy Leading the Innovative Enterprise Capstone Project Doing Business in Emerging Markets - International Study Trip LDP - Leadership Study Skills / Self-Analysis Implementation of Personal LDP Plan Putting Theory into Practice Development Programme Team & Team Performance / Networking Coaching / Leadership Styles Careers Self and Market Awareness Approaching the Market Making an Impact Careers Skills Seminars Targeted Search CV Book Extracurricular MBA Blog / MBA Clubs / International MBA Sporting Competitions / Intervarsity MBA Strategy Competitions / Activities Networking Events / Social Events Core Modules* Performance-Driven Marketing / Doing Business in Emerging Markets / Investment Management / Competitive Strategy / Organisational Behaviour and Decision Making / Financial Reporting / Operations and Supply Chain Management / Corporate Finance / Business and Society Management Accounting / Strategies for Human Resources / Strategies for Information Systems Option Modules** Strategic Marketing / Project Management / Strategic Finance / Entrepreneurship / Managing Sales Relations / Financing New Ventures / Managing the Negotiations Process / Design and Artist-like Thinking in Business / Financial Statement Analysis / Managing Sustainable Business. *Subject to review and change. Please check www.smurfitschool.ie/mba Learn today Lead tomorrow UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School 10
Full-time MBA Class Statistics The wide world of human life is reflected in the career DNA of our classes, with MBA participants coming to Dublin from all types of academic disciplines and professional backgrounds. You ll rub shoulders with accountants, lawyers, sales and marketing professionals, software developers, pharmaceuticals specialists, engineers and more. Our Full-time MBA attracts over half of its participants from overseas, including the USA, South America, South Africa, Asia, and Europe. 75% have spent part of their career overseas, and approximately 34% are women. It s important to note that we expect our participants to contribute actively to the learning experience, and therefore we only accept experienced professionals to the MBA. The average age on the Full-time MBA is 30 years, and participants have an average of 8 years professional experience. The range of age and experience within those parameters is extensive, of course, which helps to add to the rich diversity of the class. Investment Cost a rough guide Calculated for 12 months On-campus Off-campus Accommodation 6,600 7,200 Food, utilities 4,800 4,800 Textbooks 1,200 1,200 Travel/Entertainment 4,200 4,200 Laptop Computer 800 800 School fees (2013/2014) 29,500 29,500 Total 47,100 47,700 Please be advised that these costs are indicative only In 2013 the Financial Times calculated that our MBA graduates earnings grew by 69% in the three years after graduation when compared to their earnings before qualification. Average annual income approximately 82,600 ($USD 110,099). This indicates a period of between one-and-a-half and two years for return on investment. 11 countries represented in 2012/2013 Brazil Canada India Ireland Malaysia Russia South Africa Spain Ukraine USA Vietnam Full-time MBA participant profile 2012/2013 Average age 30 Average work experience 8 years Women 34% International 62% Average GMAT 600 Experience by function Previous Education Engineering/construction: 11% Engineering: 23% Financial Services/Accounting: 26% Arts: 20% Sales/Marketing: 14% Business/Accounting/Finance: 17% Pharma/Biotech: 3% IT/Software: 3% Food: 3% Science: 9% IT: 6% Economics: 14% Telecommunications: 3% Technology: 3% Management Consulting: 3% Other: 11% Entrepreneur: 3% Energy: 9% Human Resources: 6% Other: 13% 11 UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School www.smurfitschool.ie
The MBA gave me the opportunity to study a number of areas of business that I may not have had the chance to discover in the workplace. I chose strategy-related electives that enabled me to combine my practical experience with the breadth of business knowledge gained in UCD Smurfit School to take my career to the next level. Elizabeth Nolan, Ireland, MBA 2005 Director, KPMG Ireland Learn today Lead tomorrow UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School 12
My full-time MBA The Smurfit MBA not only changed my perspectives on business, but also on myself as a person. Through the classroom interactions and Leadership Development Programme, I learned about team and group dynamics and the personality types that drive people to interact the way they do. Valerie Price, USA, MBA 2012 I decided to undertake the Smurfit MBA, not only to accelerate my career, but also to transform myself and step out of my comfort zone. Shinji Nakakoba, Japan, MBA 2012 My MBA experience was indeed a life changing experience. Coming from a variety of industry and cultural backgrounds, I consider myself lucky to have found a school that embraces such diversity. Christine Liu, China, MBA 2012 I can proudly say that my MBA stint at UCD Smurfit School has been a truly learning and enriching experience. Be it fierce case discussions with my classmates or never-ending assignments and presentations, I found every aspect of the course very effective in grooming students to confidently tackle future business challenges. Manish Shrivastava, India, MBA 2010 Group Programme Manager, Paragon Group Limited I ve always been a fan of facing a challenge head-on as the outcome is usually rewarding and the MBA experience provided the same result. It s those tough times and great sense of accomplishment that make me cherish my time on this course as well as the friends I ve made and the support that was always available. Christina Carey Shaw, USA, MBA 2010 Marketing and Brand Consultant, CCD Consultancy A life-changing experience, the Smurfit MBA challenged my approach to business with unique perspectives from students with broad business experience. Being an international student in a highly paced course I could only make it with the support of my peers, who now I can call my friends. I truly believe that this unique blend of study and fun is the perfect environment for business to come alive! Gabriel Pataro, Argentina, MBA 2010 Sales Developer EMEA at LinkedIn 13 UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School www.smurfitschool.ie
At the end of my MBA year, I felt I had developed a much deeper self awareness about my own core strengths and development areas, which will stand me in good stead when making my future choices. Simon Holmes, Ireland, MBA 2005 Executive VP, Investor Relations and Corporate Development, ICON plc Learn today Lead tomorrow UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School 14
Executive MBA (two years part-time) Master of Business Administration Looking for an MBA that suits your work and personal life? Look no further, because the Executive MBA at UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School is designed for you. Over the next few pages you ll see how UCD Smurfit School can help you fast track a career to success. To suit your schedule, we offer a choice of two options, Midweek and Weekend. Option Location Day and time EMBA Blackrock Two evenings midweek (Midweek) (currently Monday and Thursday) 5.30pm - 9.45pm EMBA Blackrock Friday 2.00pm - 6.30pm (Weekend) (in some semesters 9.30pm) Saturday 9.00am - 1.30pm Block release for one week in August in Year 1, for Foundation Module. Possible block release in Year 2. Option modules taught in Year 2 may be scheduled in the evenings and/or Saturdays. The value of an Executive MBA to your career and your company is built on the quality of our courses and the global reputation of UCD Smurfit School. The faculty teaches through a lens of continuous innovation, placing our Executive MBA consistently ahead of the global trends. Return on Investment In 2012 the Financial Times calculated that our Executive MBA graduates' earnings grew on average by 53% in the three years after graduation, compared to their earnings before the MBA. This took their average annual income to approximately 88,500 ($115,445USD). In other words, payback on the investment takes approximately one-and-a-half to two years. Leadership Development Programme and MBA Careers Service You ll also benefit from Leadership Development Programme and MBA Careers Service (two of the three pillars of the UCD Smurfit Business School MBA programme alongside the Academic Curriculum), as outlined in more detail on page 22. Executive MBA Class Statistics 6 countries represented in 2012/2013 Ireland Poland Romania Spain UK USA Executive MBA participant profile 2012/2013 Average age 34 Average work experience 11 years Women 28% International 5% Average GMAT 555 Experience by function Engineering/construction: 16% Project Management: 12% Financial Services: 21% Sales/Marketing: 8% Pharma/Biotechnology: 5% IT: 17% Insurance: 2% Law: 2% Energy Management: 3% Education: 6% Science: 5% Other: 8% Previous Education Engineering: 18% Arts: 12% Business/Accounting: 27% IT/Software: 17% Science: 12% Architecture: 4% Medical/Pharmacy: 5% Other: 5% 15 UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School www.smurfitschool.ie
Executive MBA Overview The Executive MBA is structured exactly as the full-time course. There are three parts - an Academic Curriculum, a Leadership Development Programme and a Careers Service, brought together with real-world experience through the International Study Trip and Capstone Project. The course reflects the international nature of business today, and the global arena in which our graduates succeed. Assessment on the MBA varies by module and includes individual and group assignments, projects and presentations, class participation and examinations which all combine into a final grade. Foundation Week This commences the week before the academic course. It is an intense week, designed to assist you return to formal study and to build confidence prior to the start of the MBA proper. Subjects covered include Communication Skills; Team Building; Study Skills Sessions; Teaching and Learning Sessions; IT & Library Introductions; Networking Sessions; Productivity Management. Academic Year 1, Semester 1 Year 1, Semester 2 Year 1, Summer Term Course Core Modules* Core Modules* N/A Year 2, Semester 1 Year 2, Semester 2 Year 2, Summer Term Core Modules* Core Modules* + Option Modules** Option Modules** + Capstone Project Doing Business in Emerging Markets - International Study Trip (Option Module) LDP - Leadership Study Skills / Self-Analysis Implementation of Personal LDP Plan Putting Theory into Practice Development Programme Team & Team Performance / Networking Coaching / Leadership Styles Careers Self and Market Awareness Approaching the Market Making an Impact / CV Book Careers Skills Seminars Targeted Search Extracurricular Activities MBA Blog / MBA Clubs / International MBA Sporting Competitions / Intervarsity MBA Strategy Competitions Networking Events / Social Events Core Modules* Performance-Driven Marketing / Doing Business in Emerging Markets / Investment Management / Competitive Strategy / Organisational Behaviour and Decision Making / Financial Reporting / Operations and Supply Chain Management / Corporate Finance / Business and Society Management Accounting / Strategies for Human Resources / Strategies for Information Systems Option Modules** Strategic Marketing / Project Management / Strategic Finance / Entrepreneurship / Managing Sales Relations / Financing New Ventures / Managing the Negotiations Process / Design and Artist-like Thinking in Business / Financial Statement Analysis / Managing Sustainable Business. *Subject to review and change. Please check www.smurfitschool.ie/mba Learn today Lead tomorrow UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School 16
The Executive MBA at work for you The Executive MBA actively encourages you to apply your newfound knowledge in real time, in your place of work. By improving your skills base you ll identify new opportunities within your business and help develop new strategic focus. You ll start to see how each component works in your company, and enhance your ability for informed decision making. This is where greater understanding comes into practical play, through action learning. It s a core component of your Executive MBA. That s just one reason why it attracts high-quality professionals from different backgrounds, many of whom come from beyond Ireland s borders and all of whom bring diverse professional backgrounds. Your fellow participants have an average of eleven years work experience and an average age of 35. As you can imagine, this depth of experience and diversity enriches the learning experience for everyone involved, and creates a realistic reflection of today s workplace. A Challenge too We fully understand the challenge that the Executive MBA presents. There s an ongoing pull between your work, home and course commitments. This can also be a motivating factor for participants, and to help you make the most of the challenge, we also focus on personal development through the Leadership Development Programme, which includes a range of workshops and seminars throughout the course of your MBA. Doing Business in Emerging Markets - The International Study Trip option In the second year of the MBA you can opt to participate in a week-long international study trip, which takes place in March. Locations are chosen to broaden international perspectives, and past destinations have included the emerging markets of Brazil, China and India. The international study trip enhances your global perspective and increases your understanding of global markets. Please note that the cost of the trip is not included in the overall cost of the Executive MBA. You don t realise how much you re learning. It seeps into your working life in a slow process of diffusion. People on the team have different perspectives - you learn a lot by bouncing ideas off each other, brainstorming. I m more aware of personality types - and I ve learned that I m not always right. Vincent Reilly, Ireland, MBA 2002 Partner, KPMG 17 UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School www.smurfitschool.ie
Learn today Lead tomorrow UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School 18
My Executive MBA At the start you learn many different subjects, then later you see how they link in to each other, how one strategy will impact another and how vital it is that they all act together. It s definitely making a difference in my current role. It s all applicable knowledge - it s great to be able to look inside your company and apply what you re learning. Ruth Farrell, MBA 2002 Corporate Marketing Communications and Brand Leader at DuPont Having been in the workplace for approximately 15 years, the Smurfit Executive MBA offered me the opportunity to fast-track my career to a senior level while also giving me the latest thinking across a broad range of business subjects. The MBA delivered successfully on both fronts. Choosing to do an MBA is a serious commitment, but completing it on a part-time basis, balancing a busy work schedule and home life, while challenging, leads to a unique opportunity to develop some less documented skills. Gillian Harford, MBA 2005 EU Programme Support Manager at UCD Eamonn Twomey, MBA 2001 Owner at StepChange Limited 19 UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School www.smurfitschool.ie