Thursday, 5 October 2006
MBA students at Harvard Business School
Mark De Ambrosis, UQ Business School graduate, reports back to his alma mater on his first month as a full-time MBA student at Harvard Business School.
"We've had a busy start to the term, with two and three classes, five days a week. The 900-large student group is divided into class 'sections' with approximately 90 students in each.
"Three things have jumped out as different about Harvard and the HBS experience in our first four weeks.
- The teaching approach is very different to the Australian model. We sit in class with allocated seats and nametags, and almost 50% of our grades are based on participation, that is, making insightful comments during class.
- The learning approach is also very different. The 'case method' of learning means that, rather than using text books, each class is based on the real experiences encountered in a company's management team. For example, our initial marketing class was based on the Snapple business model and how Snapple re-invented itself
- The diversity of the student body is what makes Harvard so unique. Students do not just come from the more mainstream consulting and banking backgrounds. There are also navy seals, doctors from developing regions, ex-NFL super bowl players and supermodels. These diverse backgrounds mean that both inside and outside of the classroom, people have great stories to tell and experiences to share."
Mark is one of three UQ Business School high fliers who have been accepted to join the two-year full-time MBA program at Harvard Business School. Watch out for Scott Griffin and Warren Hogarth, alumni, when they report back over the next few months.
Media enquiries:
Cathy Stacey
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Phone (07) 3365 6179
Mobile 0434 074 372
Fiona Sutton
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Email media@business.uq.edu.au
