Edinburgh Business School launches new MBA with focus on entrepreneurship

Edinburgh Business School, the Graduate School of Business of Heriot-Watt University, is launching a full-time one-year MBA programme with a focus on entrepreneurship.

This programme, which will run from September 2017, offers a host of exciting initiatives including an intensive, six-week study seminar in Dubai, company visits, guest speakers, and a final elective where students develop an investor-ready business plan. Students will also benefit from one-to-one business mentoring while developing their plan.

Edinburgh Business School pioneered the distance-learning MBA worldwide, enabling thousands of MBA students to complete their studies in their own time and at their own pace.

The new full-time MBA is an exciting addition to the school’s existing portfolio of Masters level programmes, and also benefits from one fully-funded scholarship for an exceptional female applicant.

The introduction of the course follows recent research conducted by Carrington Crisp (May 2017) which showed that within five years of graduating 63 per cent of students start their own businesses.

The research also concluded that during their studies, or within six months of graduation, 65 per cent of Edinburgh Business School graduates increase their salary, 52 per cent gain a promotion and 55 per cent change roles within their company.

The new programme will attract entrepreneurs keen to launch their own businesses, and those who want to be more creative and adventurous within their organisations, offering specialist electives in ‘Entrepreneurship and Creativity’ and ‘Entrepreneurial Venturing’.

Professor Heather McGregor, executive Dean of Edinburgh Business School, who headed her own international executive search company for 15 years before joining Edinburgh Business School last September, has developed a series of masterclasses focusing on personal skills development exclusively for the programme: “The full-time MBA will not only stimulate creativity and entrepreneurialism, but will also encourage and support students as they increase their global network of contacts, helping to give their businesses a competitive advantage.

“Our students will be visiting companies both in the UK and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), giving them a valuable insight into business issues from the vantage point of two different cultures,” she said.

“The Edinburgh Business School network boasts more than 11,000 students and over 20,000 graduates so students will also have the opportunity to create their own ‘social capital’ across diverse and dynamic industries, people and cultures.”

Professor McGregor was a co-founder of the 30% Club which campaigns to increase the number of women on company boards, and founded the award-winning Taylor Bennett Foundation programme, helping to promote the employment of ethnic minority graduates in the workplace.

In recognition of the shortage of top women business leaders worldwide, Edinburgh Business School is offering one female applicant a fully-funded place on the new full-time MBA programme.

The scholarship is being offered in conjunction with the 30% Club, and full details and application details can be found here.

Iain Sinclair, Director of Business Development at the Liberty Steel Group, studied for the Edinburgh Business School MBA part-time on campus in Edinburgh. He says the MBA has had a significant impact on him – both professionally and personally:

“From a career perspective, the course provided greater clarity of thought and a deeper understanding of areas frequently discussed around the board room table. More importantly it’s enabled me to add new thoughts and concepts, challenging existing process and procedure. The academic tools and practical learning at Edinburgh Business School were instrumental in delivering this objective.

“From a personal perspective, it was an amazing experience to engage with other professionals and students throughout the programme. Working alongside others in an academic environment, constantly questioning and challenging thoughts and ideas, was extremely stimulating and often a welcome ‘tonic’ from the day job. The course has given significant credibility to my position within the business and is endorsed by the successful implementation of plans developed as a direct result from the studies.”