Deakin's MBA has been recognised as the very best online MBA in Victoria for three years running. Our recipe for success? There's no one secret ingredient for creating a rewarding course program. But like any good business, we listen carefully to our customers - Deakin's MBA students.
Even more important is the wealth of industry experience our students bring to the course. According to Zivit Inbar, Adjunct Professor for the MBA, it's this diverse experience and the unique perspective each student brings to the classroom that sparks discussions and fuels real learning.
Discussions that drive new ways of thinking
When Professor Inbar arrives at a seminar, she's ready for some fierce debates.
‘The conversations we have are eye-opening for everyone, myself included. What students really get out of the MBA are the discussions, different views and the different ways of thinking about a situation, rather than just reading a textbook,’ she says. ‘MBA students need more than that.’
She may have a career spanning continents and diverse business experience across HR, consultancy, upper management and even startups, but Professor Inbar’s still surprised by the aspiring CEOs and professionals she teaches.
‘I love the interaction with students, the workshopping of ideas and the different experience and perspectives that each student brings to the conversation,’ she says. ‘I learn a lot from the students as well.’
Connect with a network of high-achievers
Deakin MBA students are looking to upskill and enhance their job prospects. Some are looking to make the leap into a new career altogether. In fact, over 90% of our MBA students study part time while they work. Deakin’s strong reputation draws in high-achievers from the full spectrum of sectors, and students relish the opportunity to connect with likeminded leaders from a variety of backgrounds. By starting conversations in the classroom, students can fast-track their goals by leveraging the connections available to them every day.
‘The networking aspect is very important,’ Professor Inbar agrees. In addition to making mutually beneficial connections, she says studying alongside their peers - whether in a classroom or on a keyboard - allows students to practice the ‘soft skills’ that are crucial to management and leadership roles.
I love the interaction with students, the workshopping of ideas and the different experience and perspectives that each student brings to the conversation - I learn a lot from the students as well
Adjunct Professor Zivit Inbar
Faculty of Business and Law
Real-world learning for real-world success
One of the ways Deakin’s MBA prepares students for career success is by delivering a program that’s relevant, practical and takes a holistic view of business.
Much of Professor Inbar’s teaching involves solving real-world business problems. She draws upon her own experience and topical case studies to simulate the cut and thrust of leadership and decision making in an organisation.
‘These are case studies from real life. Not from newspapers, but from my experiences in real organisations,’ she notes.
‘We speak about the industry itself and influencers within an organisation - what is the role of leaders? What should they do? What shouldn’t they do?’
Professor Inbar’s case studies expose students to the ‘bigger picture’ of how an organisation operates. This allows students to see an immediate return on their investment, and apply classroom lessons to their own workplaces.
‘The course is very well-rounded. Because management is multi-faceted, we need to look at how everything is connected. What this means for us as leaders is we can’t just look at elements of a business, like HR or finance, as individual parts. We need to look at how they’re all connected - how can we combine them for success?’
Flexible online study
Most of our MBA students are studying part-time - they’re serious about furthering their careers, but not at the cost of family, work and lifestyle commitments.
The option of online study gives students the flexibility to complete the MBA on their schedule. With Deakin’s Cloud Campus, trains, lunch rooms and couches become classrooms - students can participate in seminars when and where they want, without sacrificing other parts of their lives.
According to Professor Inbar, a typical seminar would see around 25% of students attending on-campus and 75% logging in via Cloud Campus.
‘Classes are live streamed to Cloud Campus. Online students can submit questions to the class or they may choose to speak about their own experiences on a given topic,’ she says.
‘This seamless interaction between on-campus and Cloud Campus students allows for healthy debates during seminars which flow into the online discussion boards once class has ended.’
Classes that can’t be joined as they happen can be streamed later, and everyone - both campus and online students - can continue the conversation on the class website.
Take the plunge
What advice does Professor Inbar have for those considering Deakin’s MBA?
‘Embrace the opportunity. Network with your peers, grow together and learn from each other. Beyond just studying and assignments, the Deakin MBA really is about developing tools for life.’
Ready to futureproof your career in business? Find out more about the number #1 ranked online MBA in Victoria.