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The huge global economic crisis is making corporate social responsibility all the more important in today’s business world. With industries needing to be bailed out by the government, people need to be assured that their tax dollars are being spent properly. Here at UNB, students in the new MBA professional development program are being taught to think about more than just the bottom line.
Thanks to the professional development program, students are learning more than they ever could in regular classroom based lectures. The program allows students to fulfill their needs beyond the regular curriculum by setting up workshops and events in the business community with subject-matter experts.
"The course is designed to complement learning in the MBA curriculum,” said Candace Morgan, the program's coordinator. “It gives the student a foundation for professional acumen upon which they will build for future success. This will be achieved through a good understanding of the principle of formal and informal learning and its application within the workplace.”
There have been several speakers throughout the yearlong course, including some local business legends. Derek Oland, Chairman and CEO, Moosehead Breweries Ltd. gave a speech on succession planning. Other speakers, such as Mike Randall, President of Mike Randall Communications and Darren Sears, Fundy Group Vice-President of Operations, addressed different topics ranging from corporate social responsibility and branding, to disaster management.
Businesses all around the world value employees that have taken some form of professional development because it gives them an edge over those who haven’t. Their increased knowledge and sensibility on certain aspects of business, such as networking, corporate social responsibility, and building organizational morale make them extremely valuable assets to a company.
The professional development program is turning out to be a truly unique and worthwhile addition to the MBA curriculum. Peter Cormier, one of the students in the class, said this about the program:
"This was one of the better courses I have taken in my MBA program. Very professionally organized and operated – a true success. As a part time student, working full-time, this course is a vehicle that allows sharing and communicating past experiences of working professionals. The course enables students to grow and broaden their knowledge, and lessons learned from these sessions can be applied in their current or future work endeavors.”
MBA students have extended the professional development program beyond the UNB campus by inviting local businesses to send some of their employees to sessions that are of interest and relevance. Invitations have also been extended to local alumni. Most events, especially those that have been opened up to alumni and businesses, wrap-up at the end of the day with networking sessions, which enable MBA students to make valuable contacts in the local business community.
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