industries

MBA

By Ina Bowerbank /

and the educated executive

Whether it’s a two-day refresher course or a two-year degree,

going back to school has never made more sense. Yes, we’ve all

heard about the self-made entrepreneur who learned from the school of hard knocks, but staying on top of your game in today’s global, mobile world means sharing ideas with the best of the best

If you’re considering upping your business cred, gone are the days when your choices were a matchbook correspondence course or a two-year commitment to classrooms and textbooks. Local options today range from two- to three-day executive education courses, to one- and two-year master’s programs delivered full- or part-time, on campus or wherever you’re able to log on.

And if mobile learning is your preference, distance education has finally come of age, with mobile networks breaking down barriers between lecture halls and the world of business.

If it’s been a while since you checked out local MBA and executive education options, you may want to look again: new faces at the head of two of the province’s business schools promise fresh perspectives. Coming to B.C. from Zimbabwe, via Israel, Singapore, South Africa, Boston and Toronto, Saul Klein brings an international perspective to his new role as dean of UVic’s Peter. B. Gustavson School of Business. Newly minted UBC Sauder School of Business dean Robert Helsley traces his roots closer to home; a Princeton graduate, he first came to UBC in 1984 and returned last year to head the business school after spending four years teaching at UC Berkeley.

For those who are thinking of topping up their business credentials but can’t afford to commit to a full one- or two-year degree program, BCBusiness expanded our coverage this year to include executive education programs. These can range from a couple of days in length to several weeks, and can lead to specialized diplomas.

Whatever your preference in executive education and MBA programs, browse these pages for the lowdown on the bounty of local business education in our province.