Master of Management
Macquarie Graduate School of Management
Seven years after finishing his undergraduate studies, Clement Kwok - change delivery manager at a multinational investment bank - decided it's time to enhance his knowledge, social network and career prospects by gunning for a higher level of education. He enrolled in the master of management programme, with a specialisation in financial management, offered by the Macquarie Graduate School of Management (MGSM) in collaboration with the Hong Kong Management Association (HKMA).
"I chose [this programme] because it is designed for busy executives, and MGSM is one of the best postgraduate institutions from Australia," he says, adding that he was able to shift his career from marketing and communications to banking and finance with the help of the knowledge he's gained from the programme.
"I learned [about] accounting, finance, statistics and economics, along with business strategies and risk management," he says. "I also gained business acumen through interaction with classmates and exposure to real world business problems and solutions."
Kwok says people who want to pursue postgraduate education should just go ahead and do it. "Time management is the key to completing a master's degree while working - don't give up, be resilient. If your job takes up less than 18 hours a day, you have time to study and you should definitely do it."
Richard Petty, management professor and associate international dean at MGSM, says the school aims to enable high-potential people to become successful business leaders who bring lasting prosperity to their organisations and communities.
"Organisations today are seeking executives who possess superior knowledge and the ability to lead and manage effectively," he says. "There are even greater expectations in the areas of high level communications and negotiation skills - the need to deliver and achieve positive outcomes, as well as the ability to motivate and inspire others."
Petty says the course attracts managers with an eye on career advancement and improved competitiveness in the workplace.
"Past students tell us that MGSM's position as one of the top business schools globally and a leader within Asia is a plus for them when deciding to study the programme," he adds.
The course takes about 18 months to complete. To accommodate work-laden students, lectures take place via the block method on two consecutive weekends, at 6-10pm on Fridays, 2-10pm on Saturdays and 9-5pm on Sundays. There are 40 hours of face-to-face teaching for each subject.
The entrance requirement is two years managerial or professional experience, plus an undergraduate degree from a recognised university.
To find out more about the programme, a free briefing session on admission requirements will be held on September 6 at the HKMA from 7pm to 8pm.
