Why a modular MBA
Also explore the FeedbackRocket Rhodes Business School Competitive Intelligence Report 2011 (3mb in size) and the Rhodes Business School Marketing Report (1.5mb in size) to see what the students and Alumni say about the Rhodes Modular MBA.
In today’s complex and competitive business environment, flexibility has become a key requirement for organisations and individuals. Business education has to take account of new pressures and demands placed on managers and employees in the environments in which they operate. On the one hand, a full-time MBA programme is not viable for many companies and individuals when it comes to combining study with managerial responsibilities. On the other hand, an essentially distance learning-based MBA programme, deprives students of the “business school” experience where they interact with their peers and instructors in an intensive and participative learning process in the classroom. The Rhodes MBA captures the best of both through a mixed-mode structure. Employees and managers can “learn while they earn” while at the same time enjoying the “business school classroom” experience at Rhodes University in Grahamstown during three two-week teaching blocks of two weeks each year.
Expectations for students
Many people enrol for an MBA degree without fully appreciating or understanding the nature of the MBA process and what is expected of them. An MBA degree and the MBA process is not for everybody and applicants need to have a clear idea of what they are letting themselves in for.
The Rhodes MBA requires an enormous amount of commitment, energy and effort not only to cope with the workload, but also to balance the demands of academic studies, home life, social life and work life. The programme should not be entered into lightly. The rewards, however, are significant in terms of personal development, creative and analytical thinking and opening up new career opportunities. Before applying, the following points need to be carefully noted:
- The Rhodes MBA degree is a Masters level degree. While the space available precludes our going into significant depth in each of the 18 courses which comprise the degree, the quality of what is produced by students is expected to be at a Master degree level in terms of a critical and analytical approach.
- The slogan of the Rhodes Business School is "Intensive, Interactive and Innovative".
- During the two week teaching blocks, the work is intensive. Students must expect to be engaged academically from 08:00 to 23:00 either in class, preparing work individually or working in syndicate groups
- In the Rhodes MBA, emphasis is placed on the Socratic and interactive teaching process. Students are expected to prepare work beforehand and interact with their fellow students in the classroom, to readily give their points of view, as well as to defend their points of view. In most modules, there will not be standard lecturing as usually experienced at an undergraduate level. A Rhodes MBA student is expected to learn a significant amount from their classmates and in the process, be prepared to readily share their company experience, knowledge and insights, as well as to take responsibility for their own learning
- Students are expected to be innovative in their solution of business problems
- Computer literacy is a requirement for entry to the programme.
- Computer literacy refers to proficiency in MS Word (word processing), MS Excel (spread sheets) and MS PowerPoint (presentations). Rhodes Business School communicates with the MBA class via e-mail and electronic learning systems. Between teaching blocks, it is expected that students will stay in contact with one another, and the School with students, via e-mail
- All students should have ready access to computer facilities and the Internet at home and/or at work(d) Superior time management skills are needed to be able to balance work, social and MBA commitments. Normally, extensions are not given for assignments, and late assignments are heavily penalised.
- Superior time management skills are needed to be able to balance work, social and MBA commitments. Normally, extensions are not given for assignments, and late assignments are heavily penalised.
