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Students Laud College Study

Posted on: Tuesday, 29 November 2005, 15:00 CST

The University of Canterbury College of Business and Economics' best marketing tools are its students.

Shirley Wilson says she chose the Canterbury MBA because it was relevant to the region and she could study on-site.

The Faculty of Humanities Dean at the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT), Wilson says she values the peer, class and lecturer interaction, as well as the discussion and group work.

"I study part-time while working full-time. The capacity to relate many assignments to my current work and to apply my learning to my work make this reasonable.

"I've also found the courses are increasing my capabilities as a manager."

Melbourne-based Mark Whalley says he sees the Canterbury MBA as a door-opener.

"Recruiters sit and listen when you say MBA -- it has street credibility. During my studies I discovered my `inner self', as my original motivation for an MBA was to get the piece of paper and move on.

"I subsequently discovered a number of very relevant areas of knowledge and developed real-world commercial skills."

Kay Poulsen says she shopped around for almost 10 years before deciding on the Canterbury MBA.

"The final decision in favour of Canterbury was that it was residential -- it forced me to get to lectures and be disciplined in my time management -- and it was local.

"It is a practical, well-run course appropriate to post-graduate study.

"There is a good mix of practical and academic study and a resilient, collegial, supportive dynamic amongst students and staff.

"There is also good interaction with local enterprise through guest lecturers and regular seminar slots."

A project manager for the Canterbury District Health Board, she says she has applied many of the lessons and case scenarios to her work environment.

"Of particular value has been the learning for life approach applicable for the future roles of MBA graduates."

University of Canterbury management accountant Jason Hopper says the MBA has given him a strong appreciation for the entire business environment, well beyond the domain of accounting.

"Being a part-time student has also given me the chance to apply the skills in my job immediately.

"I am able to bring real, live issues to class and apply the theory and wide skill base of the classes to solve many issues that could otherwise remain unsolved."

Allied Telesyn Research manager Sharon Brophy is currently studying for the Graduate Diploma in Management.

She says she was inspired by her partner who attended the course and raved about it, telling her how much he was learning due to the different teaching methods on offer.

"My first degree (civil engineering) was very much theory-based which made learning difficult.

"I wasn't going to undertake management studies that just meant attending and reading lecture notes, but with this course you learn a lot from the other students sharing their experiences.

"The courses also have a mix of teaching methods, and the practical sessions are really good exercises for learning first- hand what the lecturer is trying to teach. You experience real `light-bulb' moments."

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Source: Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand

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