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Anthony Woo

Australian graduate school offers a convenient alternative

As greater numbers of professionals juggle the demands of career and family, a popular option for continuous learning is postgraduate study offered by overseas institutions. This route is also usually more cost-effective than going overseas.

Overseas educational institutions have been quick to see the need and have set up programmes in Hong Kong, with their academics flying over to give intensive courses.

This is not the same as studying a programme online.

The Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) offers an MBA  programme in Hong Kong with intensive sessions taught by academics from Sydney who fly in for 10-day stints.

Established in 1999, AGSM is the result of a merger between the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney. It is the largest business school in Australia.

Both institutions are strong in research and AGSM is consistently recognised among the top 10 business schools in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the school's associate director, Hong Kong, Liddy Korner.

AGSM's Hong Kong office was established in 2000.

The MBA programme begins with eight core courses, including marketing, finance, law and economics. These can be finished in a minimum of 12 months.

Students can then leave the programme with a Graduate Diploma in Management or they can tackle stage two - a further eight elective courses including international finance, competitive strategy and international business environment.

Students must achieve a minimum of 65 per cent in the core courses before being allowed to progress. They may finish the elective courses in a minimum of 12 months.

They are then awarded an MBA, jointly conferred by the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney.

While other programmes emphasise case studies, the AGSM programme uses case studies and other teaching methods and materials in what the organisers refer to as a 'blended approach'.

Ms Korner says the programme is intensive and students can expect to devote 10 hours a week to study outside class.

Participants have one chance to repeat courses.

Ms Korner says the beauty of the AGSM programme is its flexibility; courses are offered in modules and students can take a break if they need to.

While there is no required Australian component,  students can transfer to Sydney to complete the  programme full time.

Students are allowed a minimum of two years and a maximum of seven to complete the programme, which costs  $232,000.

There are about 300 students enrolled in the programme in Hong Kong. Entry requires an undergraduate degree plus two years' management experience; or six years' work experience and references if the applicant has no undergraduate degree.

Ms Korner says students in the programme tend to opt for service management or international financial markets.

While there is no specific China business component, the study of mainland business practices is integrated into the entire programme and relevant to the region, she says.

'Perhaps the most important thing about AGSM is the flexibility of the programme and that it is  offered by two of Australia's best universities,' Ms Korner says. 'The programme is also very useful for networking with the faculty, which is world-class. They regularly bring in professionals for experience sharing.'

The AGSM is internationally accredited and was the first business school in Australia to receive this recognition from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Ms Korner says slightly more men than women take the programme but she is pleased to see that more women are taking the step into postgraduate education.

Many of the students come from accounting and finance backgrounds.

All classes are delivered at the Central Conference Centre.



Overseas learning right on the doorstep