Re-designed program will be 18 months with two residencies - making it more consistent with other MBA programs. __________

The Royal Roads University Faculty of Management will offer a revitalized MBA program starting in August, 2010 that is designed to make this successful program more attractive than ever for working professionals.

The program will continue to blend distance learning with two face-to-face, on-campus sessions, and will now be offered in under 18 months – making it more consistent with other MBA programs in Canada.

“These changes are part of our commitment to continuous improvement, however, we are not making them to improve the content of the MBA but rather to improve the program’s accessibility for working professionals – the primary group Royal Roads University was created to serve,” says Pedro Márquez, dean of RRU’s Faculty of Management.

Changes are not to improve the content of the MBA but rather to improve the program’s accessibility for working professionals. __________

“While experience has borne out the success of the original design for current learners and graduates, our research shows that the 24-month length of the program and its requirement of three residencies is a significant barrier to many more potential students.“

The credit load of the current program will be condensed by streamlining the capstone individual project that MBA candidates complete and by reducing the emphasis on specializations. A post-master’s credit program will be introduced for those who wish to explore these specialty subject areas further.

Márquez says the changes come after several years of consultation and design. As a result, he says: “We believe the new MBA will offer the same quality as the original program while the option of the post-master’s credit program will provide an opportunity to delve as deeply into the specializations as we do currently.

“Best of all, we are confident the changes will make it possible for more people than ever before to enjoy the personal and professional benefits of this successful program. “