AUCA’s MBA program – a way to top management and successful business

April 4, 2016

The MBA (Master of Business Administration) is the only professional qualified internationally recognized degree in business administration.

The head of the AUCA Division of Economics and Business, Gregory Dunn, said, starting next academic year, postgraduate students will be able to study in AUCA’s MBA program—one year at AUCA and one year abroad, known as the “1+1” program.

AUCA has established two partnership agreements with foreign univerisities: the International University of Japan and the University of Trento (Italy). As a result, students will have the opportunity to study abroad after studying a year in Kyrgyzstan. Moreover, MBA graduates will receive two diplomas, one from AUCA and one from the partner university.

Moreover, the MBA program has established a student exchange program with Soldbridge University wherein students can spend a semester or an academic year in South Korea.

The MBA program itself offers in-depth knowledge of business management, consulting and professional development. MBA graduates are qualified to take on the responsibilities of middle and top management positions.

According to a survey of MBA graduates, our alumni find careers at both large local companies and international companies. A portion of them even decide to start their own businesses.  

 

Who is an MBA for?

The MBA program is a part of the Division of Business Administration and Economics. We constructed our program with working people in mind. Our goal is to contribute to their professional development and career growth.

Our MBA program is taught entirely in English by faculty members, local and international, who have extensive work experience in large international companies.

We understand our students often work full-time, so we structured our intensive training program around their workday—holding classes daily from 18:00 to 21:00.

We admit, it is not an easy schedule: six times a week not going home to your family and your children, instead going to school—to study, analyze, compare and discuss challenging problems of the business world every day. You rack your brain finding creative and innovative solutions.

But MBA students have the strongest and most effective motivation: they want it THEMSELVES. And their motivation is not just material (they pay their own tuition fees), but professional as well (to rise up the corporate ladder, to earn a better salary, to work overseas, to create their own businesses).

The two-year program pays off: AUCA’s MBA graduates are well-trained and highly educated managers. Many graduates feel more confident and ready to open their own business.

“Naturally, so far as they are already working, candidates for the MBA program are very different than high school students,” commented Nurgul Toktogulova, a member of the MBA faculty. “They already have practical expertise. There are a lot of businessmen. Because of this, they come to class with concrete practical questions and issues they face at work, and they have a concrete desire to solve them. The professors are also versed in business, having worked in private and public companies. As a result, class is an exchange of opinions and real experiences. Students and professors both know that theory says one thing, but in practice says otherwise.”

 

What do MBA students study?

“MBA students study operational management and logistics management, that is, how to realize the most effective and appropriate organization of manufacturing and logistics. They study fiscal and management accounts and learn how to estimate the cost of goods. They study marketing, conduct market research, and management consulting. They learn to communicate with individuals, and to present their goods and services.

We teach our students with the case study method. In class, students examine real examples, real economic and business situations. The capstone of the program is the Master’s thesis. Students study a specific problem of a company or enterprise and present their recommendations to solve the problem, generally improve production, and cut waste at the company,” said Nurgul Toktogulova.

 

How does AUCA help MBA graduates on their career path?

Several companies need qualified MBA students, and they frequently contact us. MBA students know how business works and have specialized experience and skills. Some companies send their workers to our MBA program to get an in-depth study of management and understand the fundamentals of the business process. They see the MBA as a fresh start to their business careers, bringing a significant change to their outlook on business,” said Nurgul Toktogulova.

 

How do you apply to the MBA program?

This year, the MBA administration has made a few changes to the admission requirements.

Starting this year, in addition to filing an admissions application, prospective students have to complete a set of entrance examinations and an interview. We have a mathematics exam and an English proficiency exam; this year we have added an essay on business. Candidates selected on the basis of the 1^st qualifying round are submitted to an interview. The selection committee picks students based on their performance in these two rounds,” said Saykal Anvar kyzy, the head of the MBA program.

 

What does the selection committee ask candidates during the interview?

Our questions cover a wide range of topics: Why did you decide to apply to an MBA program? Why AUCA’s program? What are your goals in life? Why do you need an MBA? What do you see in your future career?

As our program is quite intensive, we pay attention first and foremost for highly motivated, purposeful people. Otherwise, it will be difficult for them to work and study in our program.

<< go to news list