Erin McGuigan at the Webster Graduate Studies Centre explains how students at this establishment study in an authentically global environment.

"I plan to take away with me a good knowledge of the futures and options markets in relation to agri-business. This is vital for me to expand my family’s business in Uganda, exporting spices and commodities.” Eric Kitaka is pursuing his MA in international Business at Webster University Graduate Centre in London.

Webster University Graduate Centre is one of four universities in the UK, all based in London, offering US regionally accredited degrees. Webster University’s home campus is in St Louis, Missouri, US, Webster opened its campus in London in 1986 and offers the longest running American MBA programme in the UK. Eric Kitaka, like nearly all Webster students, says that the attraction of Webster, to him, lies in the fact it offers an international approach towards teaching in an international environment.
Providers of MBAs and other higher business degrees in Europe have tracked the trend of increased demand for an international approach in terms of both curriculum and in the diversity of students and professors.
They have witnessed a desire from businesses for their managers to reflect globalisation. Webster, with a student body composed of 44 nationalities, offering an American curriculum in a European setting, is ideally placed to cater to such demands from students and business.

According to a survey conducted by AACSB international, 31% of the students in full-time programmes in the US are not American. At Webster, a typical project study group will be far more diverse, composed of, for example a Brit, Colombian, Kenyan, German, American, etc, reflecting, it might be said, a real life global corporation. With each student contributing a unique cultural perspective, classroom discussions are enlightening and invigorating. Webster students learn not only from faculty, but also from each other.
Most of Webster’s faculty too has had the experience of having lived, worked or studied abroad. Many hold degrees from more than one country. That first hand experience of international education makes them particularly aware of the challenges international students face. These professors are loath to pass by an opportunity that explores the diversity of experiences and business practices their students bring.

Moreover, the curriculum is tailored to encourage this exchange. The Webster student will not only cover the core business areas such as finance, marketing, accounting, economics, etc, he or she will be able to apply such knowledge in a variety of cultural contexts. As Corporations no longer operate in a purely local arena, the ability to apply different business practices that are culturally formed is essential for a multi-national company to succeed. Our students learn different solutions to common problems that all businesses face, no matter where they are located. The faculty focus on emerging markets as well as more established ones, and, by so doing, teach skills students will not necessarily master at the average business school, such as negotiating on non-American terms, or learning about trade and labour issues in other countries.

Today, most industries are highly entrepreneurial and move extremely fast. Business models taught in business schools are organic and change according to the current needs of the industry. Dr. Steve Hinson, Associate Professor of Economics states, “The increasing complexity and competitiveness of the marketplace is putting pressure on academe. Perhaps, unlike the past, firms and students recognise business education as an investment that must produce a return. The successful programmes will be those that are recognised by the marketplace as providing solid value-added knowledge to the student, and by extension to his/her organisation." Many US schools are responding to a demand for global experience by offering the opportunity for a semester abroad.
Webster takes this one step further by offering the whole degree abroad. Additionally, students may study for a term or even transfer to one of the other campuses in the global network that Webster has: four campuses in Europe, two in Asia and 100 in the US. Dr Doug O’Bannon, Director of the MBA Programme and Professor of Business Strategy says: “Our school is moving towards taking advantage of our truly global resources and network of campuses and professionals to create a local MBA that will emphasise the elements of hypercompetitive environments as found in multinational competition.”

Rasekh Khan, from Bangledesh, is one student who took advantage of the multi-campus experience. He began his MBA in Computer Resource Management at the Thailand campus before tranferring to London last term to finish his degree. He estimates that “the experience of studying in more than one country will be essential for functioning in a global economy.” Webster recognises that to be an effective, productive manager, professionals have to work across cultures. Webster offers students the opportunity to participate in a rigorous, authentically-global academic experience preparing them to work anywhere.

Programmes offered are MAs in International Business, Finance, Marketing, Management, Human Resource Management and Computer Resource Management. A general MBA and an MBA with emphases in the above is also offered.

For further information, please contact the Centre at:
E-mail: webster@regents.ac.uk
Website: www.webster.ac.uk

Erin McGuigan at the Webster Graduate Studies Centre explains how students at this establishment study in an authentically global environment