by Amy K. Lavender
CEO Magazine has ranked the University of West Georgia’s MBA program as a Tier 1 program in their 2016 Global Online MBA Rankings. The online magazine also ranked the Georgia WebMBA program, which is offered at UWG, 12th in the world and fifth in the nation.
UWG MBA students have the benefit of a small faculty to student ratio and unique internship opportunities. CEO Magazine recently recognized the program by ranking it in Tier 1 of its 2016 Global Online MBA rankings.
The 2016 rankings were tallied measuring the learning environment, class sizes, tuition fees, faculty, delivery methods, international diversity, gender make-up, and other factors of more than 100 business schools across North America, Europe, and Australia. According to CEO Magazine, the objective of the rankings is to highlight schools that merge a quality education with great return on investment.
“Our MBA program at the Richards College of Business strives to quickly respond to the trends identified in the regional market place,” said Dr. Doug Turner, UWG MBA program director. “This practice allows us to tailor and modify courses to the betterment of the students. We continually search for new and viable courses and tracks to maximize student success.”
The Richards College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, and students have the advantages of a small faculty to student ratio and unique internship opportunities.
“At UWG, we are in the business of preparing forward-thinking, responsible leaders through education, engagement, and experiences,” said Dr. Faye McIntyre, dean of UWG’s Richards College of Business. “This ranking from CEO Magazine shows we make student success a top priority.”
The Georgia WebMBA also received top marks and shares the ranking list with top business colleges, including SBS Swiss Business School, Pepperdine University, and European University.
“While rankings are not our goal, they are the result of excellence in curriculum, highly qualified and productive faculty, and staff that continue to innovate and improve the program,” said Dr. McIntyre, who is also lead dean of the Georgia WebMBA. “Students and employers look for third-party evaluations such as accreditation and rankings to validate quality. Other indicators of success include a graduation rate of over 90 percent and numerous positive recommendations from those who have gone through the WebMBA.”
The Georgia WebMBA is offered through Columbus State University, Georgia College, Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University, UWG, and Valdosta State University. The six-school consortium gives students in Georgia and around the world access to a premiere MBA degree, with the flexibility to take classes anywhere, anytime.
“The Georgia WebMBA is unique in its consortium format,” Dr. McIntyre said. “All professors teaching in the program have doctoral degrees, and the vast majority have industry experience as well. Faculty members receive special training in online teaching to translate classroom skills to the virtual format. Our students work with the best faculty from all six universities.”
Dr. McIntyre stressed the advantages to students who participate in the innovative program.
“Our virtual classroom reflects real-world working environments perhaps more so than most traditional programs,” Dr. McIntyre said. “The person sitting in the office next to you is probably not going to have the same background or life experiences as you. Engaging with diverse students in the WebMBA program exposes students to diverse cultures, thought processes, and customs that will help broaden their perspective on the world. That is vital in today’s global marketplace.”
The complete CEO Magazine Global MBA Rankings 2016 can be viewed here.
Do you have a comment or opinion about this story's topic? Perspective Online wants to hear from you. Submit a letter to the editor today.
