“With a growing appetite for hybrid or fully online learning, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School created new, flexible learning options which allow students to complete their degree from one of the world’s leading business schools while continuing to work and manage caring responsibilities,” said Orna O’Brien, director of global campus at UCD College of Business.
“We completely redesigned three key programmes to ensure flexibility and accessibility with students at the heart of every decision. This includes complete access to UCD Smurfit School’s world-class faculty, student support teams, platforms and facilities, and the UCD campus experience, if desired, and on a student’s time,” continued Dr O’Brien.
UCD Smurfit School’s Executive MBA programme, Master’s in Management Online and Master’s in Project Management Online programmes offer comprehensive business, leadership and management education without requiring participants to put their careers on hold because of the highly flexible delivery modes and innovative curriculum and materials.
Upon graduation, students join the UCD Business Alumni network which has more than 90,000 individuals in 143 countries who can offer a wealth of experience, resources and networking opportunities. Students also have access to the UCD Smurfit careers team which is consistently placed among the best in the world by Financial Times global rankings.
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Executive MBA
UCD Smurfit School’s Executive MBA programme is ranked 64th in the prestigious Financial Times global rankings and provides an opportunity for students to unlock and develop their leadership potential, accelerate their careers and build their international network while applying what they learn in real-time in the workplace.
One of the main advantages of the UCD Smurfit EMBA is that the flexible delivery allows for participants to come from further afield. Typically students will be on campus once a month (Friday and Saturday), an additional Saturday morning monthly online session and will also undertake some weeklong modules throughout the two-year programme.
Another feature is the freedom it gives to participants to plan ahead. Dates are locked in and modules are typically spread out evenly throughout the programme, which allows participants to make fixed arrangements with colleagues, employers and caregivers before the start of the programme.
In describing individuals who take on the Executive MBA, Elaine Aherne, head of student recruitment for UCD College of Business explains that candidates may be very happy with their current employers but may wish to improve their eligibility for a promotion. “An Executive MBA can improve a candidate’s chances of securing a more senior role. They want to demonstrate their ambition, hone their leadership skills and deepen their business knowledge. They may not be considering moving to another employer, but they want to leap forward with their current employer. They want to be ready when a new role comes up in the organisation.”
Some students want to understand more about their current roles. “They may have been promoted recently and want to learn about things like financial accounts, strategy and leadership. We have had several medical consultants with more than 25 years’ of experience join the programme. They might be on the board of the hospital and want to understand the broader business and organisational aspects of that role.”
Learn more about UCD’s Executive MBA here
MSc in Online Management
“This two-year programme offers students all the benefits of a comprehensive management education without putting their career on hold thanks to its highly flexible online delivery mode and innovative curriculum and materials,” said O’Brien.
There are generally between three and five hours of live sessions for each module across the trimester, in addition to bespoke online module content which students can navigate on their own time. All live sessions are recorded for those unable to join live.
Most students are working professionals and have become experts in their current role or have developed niche knowledge in specific areas such as tech, engineering, or healthcare professions like nursing or radiography. However, to advance professionally, they need to gain general management skills and an understanding of how the different aspects of the organisation operate.
“The programme is particularly suited to professionals in demanding careers and those with caring responsibilities for whom time-flexibility is important, as well as for those based anywhere in or outside of Ireland looking to study at UCD,” continued O’Brien.
The current class cohort has students living around Ireland, Europe, Australia, the US and the UK.
“We have students joining from Brisbane to Blackrock who can build relationships around the globe in real time. This not only assists their learning and expands their professional networks, but also offers an online social support group that understands the various challenges faced by students who manage different responsibilities which range from full-time jobs, caring responsibilities for children or loved ones, and other life responsibilities,” concluded Dr O’Brien.
The teaching expertise, curriculum and degree award is the same as what is taught in person. Students get the same premium positioning and access to the rich alumni community of UCD Smurfit School as one of the world’s best business schools in name, reputation and rankings from anywhere in the world. Students are able to study flexibly without compromising quality.
Learn more about UCD’s MSc in Management Online here
MSc Project Management Online
The MSc in Project Management Online is a challenging course targeted at busy professionals and devised to hone the planning, organisational, control and leadership skills required to pursue or continue a high-level project management career. It equips participants with a broad perspective of project and programme management as well as key business and interpersonal skills.
Structured as a fully online programme, the MSc in Project Management is delivered over two years. Classes are held online on Monday and Wednesday 6-9pm in year one, and Tuesday and Thursday 6-9pm in year two. Online classes are synchronous, meaning students are required to join live online.
“Busy professionals don’t want to travel to college lectures after a long day at work,” says Joe Houghton, director of project management and lecturer at the school. “This mode of delivery facilitates remote learning and enables students based anywhere in Ireland or in appropriate time zones overseas to join our programme and build their professional networks.”
The programme is academic-led and supported by expert practitioners and involves applied learning through real-world company projects. This delivery mode solves a problem for busy professionals who are time-poor, would like to study part-time and are attracted to a UCD qualification where they do not have to physically travel to class every week.
Graduates of this programme have flourished in roles such as project manager, programme planner, project engineer development manager or management consultant.
Read more about the programme here
It’s not too late to apply for the UCD Smurfit School MBA, MSc in Management Online and MSc in Project Management Online. Learn more about by speaking to an admissions representative today