News > MBA to Strengthen Bahamas' Competitive Advantage
COB MBA Aims to Strengthen Bahamas' Competitive Advantage Master of Business Administration [MBA] holders across the Caribbean devoted an entire conference to the issue last year. In The Bahamas, business leaders across a broad range of disciplines and economic sectors have identified it as a grave organizational demand. MBA graduates with a specialty in entrepreneurship have the potential to drive the kinds of changes that would help give The Bahamas a competitive advantage. Those with backgrounds in either entrepreneurship & innovation; leadership; or financial decision-making can open doors of opportunity for increased wealth generation. These particular areas will be specialties for future graduates of the impending MBA programme at The College of The Bahamas. The programme is aimed at educating men and women capable of adapting to constantly changing global experiences with the potential to drive some of the world's most innovative changes. "If one is serious about pursuing excellence in business, I believe a degree at the masters level is critical; a first degree is not enough," says Franklyn Wilson, Chairman of Sunshine Holdings and former College Council Chairman. "There are some aspects about business in The Bahamas that can be addressed better at The College of The Bahamas than anywhere else in the world. The College is committed to an MBA degree which will maintain high educational standards and will be respected globally." Businesses, leaders of industry and executives crave that excellence, especially as The Bahamas and the world are still attempting to recover from a global economic slowdown and are eager to capitalise on niche areas to improve their resiliency. A timely, research-based review of graduate business education published by the Harvard Business Press called Rethinking the MBA reveals that globally, managers and recruiters are beginning to question traditional business education in favour of one which emphasizes heightened cultural awareness, global perspectives, leadership skills and creative and critical thinking. This September, The College hopes to enroll the first cohort of MBA students in programme uniquely crafted to meet the prevailing needs of the Bahamian economic environment. Offering this degree on home soil and tailoring it for working professionals, with classes being held on alternate Tuesdays and Saturdays means a competitive cost for the programme and stabalising staff levels for local businesses.  The COB MBA combines practical course work, research, experiential and team-based learning into a 19 month programme that also includes an off-island intensive where students will study at a host institution abroad. The core study areas include international business and management in a cross cultural environment with an emphasis on the Bahamian economy. According to Dr. Wisdom, the programme's home court advantage is also a worthwhile benefit for employers. "Often, persons would like to further their education. But if they need to go away to school they are not sure if their job will be waiting for them when they return. And in this economic climate there is no guarantee. So this programme provides an opportunity for persons to further their education while guaranteeing employers that their employees will be better skilled and prepared to make good decisions that will enhance the performance of the company or organisation. In many ways this is a wonderful opportunity for persons personally and professionally," she says. Vaughn Roberts, AA '91, Managing Director, Downtown Nassau Partnership [DNP] is convinced of the strength of The College's academic programmes and by extension the vast potential of its newest academic offering – the MBA. "The MBA degree challenges you in areas of critical thinking, analysis, leadership and business ethics," he says. "Given the strength of The College's business education programmes, I am certain that students will develop all the tools necessary for success."  "The COB MBA programme is unique because it is crafted specifically for the needs of industry in our country and as you look across the global landscape, leadership; entrepreneurship & innovation and financial decision-making are especially important," notes Mrs. Remelda Moxey, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Business at The College of The Bahamas. "If you can't lead, you will not go to the next level. If you are not strategic in terms of management, then you will not move up within the organization. These skills will also assist in mastering areas of finance, operations, management and marketing. You will become a valuable asset." With The College's mission of supporting national development in all its forms and a commitment to driving ingenuity through a pool of highly skilled human capital, the possibilities are endless. The cost of the 19-month programme is $32,400 for Bahamians and $37,800 for non-citizens. For more information: log onto http://www.cob.edu.bs/Academics/MBA.php or contact: Dr. Sonya Wisdom, Director, Graduate Programmes, (242)397-2601/2; or email:swisdom@cob.edu.bs.
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