News

Thursday 3 March 2005

MBA launched in Slovakia

Nottingham Trent University's Nottingham Business School has launched a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in the Slovak Republic.  The two year programme is the first British, strategically focused MBA to be delivered in cooperation with a Slovak university.  It will be taught in both English and Slovak languages at Matej Bel University (MBU) - the third largest university in Slovakia.

The new course has a global focus and covers contemporary business and management issues. The Nottingham Business School will help with the delivery of the programme alongside an experienced local academic team.   In addition it will also monitor all outputs to ensure that the quality and academic standards of the MBA are maintained. 

Induction on to the course has just begun. The initial student intake of 29 - 12 for the English speaking programme and 17 for the Slovakian stream - includes the General Director of a Logistics Company and the Managing Director of a Slovak Utility.

Dr Miloslav Ostrihon, Managing Director of the regional hospital in Dolny Kubin, is particularly looking forward to the new MBA because he wants to implement a western style management approach.

He said: "I am currently involved in discussions dedicated to the new reforms for the Slovak Ministry of Public Healthcare which I hope will be the main focus of my MBA dissertation.  I am keen to learn new ways of critical thinking and assessment procedures to deal with the challenges of health management in my country."

The MBA is the first in a number of joint initiatives to be undertaken between the two institutions, which will eventually include international research and joint curriculum development for other international courses. 

MBU's Rector, Doc. Milan Murgas said: "It has taken a couple of years for the university to agree and implement all the academic quality procedures required by our British partner.   The Nottingham Business School has an excellent international reputation and we are very much looking forward to working with them on this and future projects."

Nottingham Trent University's Senior Lecturer in Central European Business, Dr. Emil Helienek - who was born in Slovakia - added: "The Slovak Higher Education system is different to the UK's so the MBA programme is going to be extra challenging for the students and academic staff. 

"We have worked very closely with our Slovak counterparts to ensure that the MBA delivers what it should.  The initial reaction from the first cohorts has been extremely positive and we will monitor progress carefully to ensure all requirements are met."  

ENDS