Women at Exeter Business School: Q&A

According to our survey of this year’s MBA female participants, it seems that a desire to make a difference to business and to stand out from the crowd are the two main factors motivating women to opt to study our MBA program. Over half of those questioned expressed a desire to use the qualification to implement more sustainable business methods in their own companies and countries or to move into the development of social enterprise. Nearly a third stated that they believed the program’s focus on sustainability would ‘broaden their business vision’ and also make them more marketable. When asked why they believed the course had a comparatively high percentage of women, several students commented that, when it comes to business, women might be more inclined to risk, drawn to innovation, and open to experimenting by taking a more unorthodox program. A number of MBA students also commented on the attractiveness of the environment, the quality of our MBA facilities and the flexibility we offer at Exeter Business School.

We do not explicitly target female students to increase representation. However, I do think Exeter Business School offers the environment, facilities and the flexibility that attracts a more diverse student population. In relation to the MBA specifically, for example, where we are recruiting more mature students, it is likely that female applicants will have existing family commitments. We can provide MBA students with family accommodation, help with the schooling of children and we can provide a very safe campus environment. We have also changed the structure and timing of our MBA program which enables students to potentially return home at Christmas and Easter, and even work back in their home countries during the summer on their final projects. We have introduced some balance and flexibility into our programs, which we feel does appeal to mature female applicants.

The University has a Gender Equality Society and a dedicated officer as part of the Student Guild. They are very active, with regular discussion groups and events. Within our work and advice on employability we provide resources, contacts and advice on business opportunities for women.  On our MBA specifically, we launched an initiative called WISE (Women in Sustainable Enterprise) to showcase examples of successful women in business and hosted a group of senior female managers from Lloyds Bank who presented on the opportunities for women in financial services. We also consciously bring in successful female managers and entrepreneurs to contribute to MBA teaching, from companies such as Proctor & Gamble, 3M, Interface and the Cooperative Group. Our students undertake consulting projects for companies, and these recently included a successful project for the Cooperative Group advising on how the gender balance could be improved in their organization.