EMBA: Accreditation and Company Projects

TopMBA.com looks at two important factors to consider when applying for an EMBA: accreditation and the company projects you will do on the course. 

Accreditation

Most MBA programs are accredited at a local and international level. There are three major accreditation bodies – AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS. These have been set up to ensure there is a level of consistency and quality across all graduate business qualifications that are being offered throughout the world. Candidates considering an MBA or EMBA degree are advised to avoid unaccredited MBA programs.

Balancing act

One of the greatest benefits of an Executive MBA degree is that you don’t have to give  up your full time work in order to study – you do it at the same time! But that requires a balancing act. By enrolling in an EMBA, not only do you have to find time for work and family commitments, you now need to find time for your coursework – and an EMBA workload is intense! However, business schools are aware of the time and energy commitment required for an EMBA program and in many instances, run their EMBA in such a way that it won’t interfere with your full-time job. In fact, it will only enhance it. What you do need though is support from your family and your employer. Make sure they are aware of the commitment you are going to have to give your EMBA degree, because without their support, your EMBA just got a whole lot tougher!

Company project

Most Executive MBA programs will include a company assignment or project. This assignment can be linked to your own company and provide you with an excellent opportunity for hands-on practice, or it can be a consulting mission for another company or even an entrepreneurial project.The project will require you – the EMBA participant – to use all the core module skills acquired on the program, and will be an integral part of the assessment leading to your degree. If your company has a project to propose, make it part of your ‘deal’. After all, hiring an external consultancy can be an expensive operation, so why not use that budget to fund part or all of your tuition fees and carry out the mission for your company at the same time? It can be a rewarding experience for all, including the organization, which will benefit from the expertise of ‘consultants’ from different corporate cultures and industries (who just happen to be your EMBA classmates).