MBA
Hopkins Training and Education Group

The MBA programme offered by Hopkins Training and Education Group, in collaboration with the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in the US, is an intensive course designed for professionals who possess the discipline necessary to successfully complete a rigorous management-education programme.

“The programme is built upon courses that provide the knowledge and skills business professionals need to be successful,” says Bonnie Cheuk, admissions director at Hopkins Training and Education Group.

“Students complete 10 graduate-level courses, each consisting of 34 contact hours. The wide range of subjects is designed to equip students with the skills that are useful in today’s rapidly changing business environment. As a final challenge, the Business Capstone Experience integrates the knowledge and skills gained from these courses.”

The Business Capstone Experience usually takes about three months to complete and gets students to apply the principles and analytical methods they have gained to solve actual business problems. It sees students form teams of three or four and act as executive managers of a virtual business. Teams compete against each other to implement business strategies, position their company within the business environment, and formulate sustainable, profitable strategies to shape their company’s future.

“Each team will be assigned a supervisor for the project. Students present their business plan to a panel from UNI via video-conferencing. Through the experience, they are able to gain practical, hands-on experience in running a business, which increases their value to employers,” Cheuk says.

Courses are taught by UNI faculty members and the programme offered in Hong Kong is exactly the same as the one offered in the US. Students usually take around 14 to 18 months to graduate.

“The programme takes a practical approach towards educating students. They learn about leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, decision-making and communication skills. The teaching faculty includes high-profile corporate consultants that are able to inspire students to think of business problems from different angles and apply what they have learned in the classroom to their work,” Cheuk says.

The UNI MBA alumni association offers many networking activities for students and alumni to interact with one another. Seminars, wine-tasting sessions and sports events help students develop their professional networks and advance their careers.

“Many of our students are well-established business managers. On average they have 15 years of work experience and come from a wide range of industries. The alumni association offers great opportunities for them to learn from one another and enhance their professional networks,” Cheuk says.

Classes are held during evenings and weekends in Tsim Sha Tsui East to accommodate students who are busy executives. Students are welcome to transfer to the UNI campus in the US if they wish to do so during any point of their study.

Applicants are required to have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university and at least two years of work experience. Submission of GMAT scores is also required.

The programme is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Amy Yeung, regional chief marketing officer of ACE Life and a graduate of the programme, thinks that by studying an MBA she is able to pursue more advanced careers in the corporate world.

After looking at various part-time MBA programmes, she decided to sign up for the UNI MBA because of its teaching faculty. “UNI MBA is taught by world-famous professors flown in from UNI. They taught me how to make my learning come alive. I think earning a prestigious American business degree and a solid business and management education is an important step for me to advance my career,” she says.

She believes that everything she learned on the programme will be useful for her work and personal development. “With my UNI MBA degree, I am more prepared to meet the challenges of global business leadership in the 21st century,” she says.

“I was impressed with everything – the quality of teaching, the courses, the manageable class schedule, the friendships with my classmates. Joining the MBA was definitely one of my best life experiences. I feel completely enriched on every level. The tools that I have learned will certainly be part of a very strong foundation that I will continue to build upon for the rest of my life.”