HKU Business School is hosting two Full-time Program Information Sessions next week on March 9th and 10th.  ARINGO conducted an interview with the Admissions Team to get an in-depth look at the program curriculum, focus on international business, and career outcomes.

Below you can find a transcript of that interview:

  • What is special about the HKU MBA program?

HKU MBA is ranked No.1 in the world for its one-year MBA degrees, the full-time HKU MBA is an intensive one-year programme with three different tracks: the London track (London Business School), the New York track (Columbia Business School) and the Hong Kong/China track (Fudan University), all designed to inspire our students while empowering them to become business leaders. Asia-Pacific and China focus gives the students a unique advantage in shaping their careers towards becoming successful leaders, both regionally and internationally.

  • What differentiates HKU MBA from other Asian MBA’s/Top MBAs?

HKU has established a solid reputation as a premier international university and a member of the global family of universities. HKU’s international MBA programme is designed to give you a first-class education, real-world experience, a deep understanding of international business and an appreciation of cultural sensitivities. Asia now lies at the centre of many business ventures worldwide, so our Asia-Pacific focus will give you a distinct advantage in building your career in the region and therefore anywhere in the world.

Our Asia-Pacific orientation focuses on Chinese business, which makes our MBA highly relevant to the region’s dynamic and evolving business environment. This China focus is achieved through pertinent and customised teaching materials, the local business knowledge of our faculty members and regular company visits and business field trips to China. We also visit countries such as Singapore, the UK, and the US, to give our students as much international exposure as possible.

  • Any recent changes/updates to the curriculum?

A series of Executive Development Workshops have been created to encourage the students to fully engage in a unique learning experience while sharpening their soft skills. The series of workshops are spread across the entire academic year and will be conducted on topics that include Business Communication & Presentation Skills, Managerial Leadership & Executive Presence, Problem Solving & Critical Thinking Skills and High Performing Teams & Collaborations Skills.

  • Can you share some details about where the program is located – what is unique about the location?

The programme is located in Hong Kong and Hong Kong’s status as a financial centre stands firm. China is still where all the capital is, Hong Kong continues to be a gateway for capital flow in and out of China and Greater Bay Area (GBA) and will be for the foreseeable future.

Moreover, students will have classes at both our Cyberport Campus and Town Centre Campus at Admiralty. Cyberport is a creative digital community with a cluster of technology and digital content tenants. Campus located at Cyberport gives our students an environment to access the Entrepreneurial Incubation Programme.

  • Can you share details regarding job opportunities or typical paths?

The HKU MBA Career Development & Training (CDT) Team works closely with MBA students throughout their MBA journey to provide career advice and guidance, enhancing their professional and personal skills and equipping them with network connections to relevant corporate and recruitment partners.

CDT offers a wide range of activities for students, including learning and development workshops, company visits, leadership talks, and a mentorship programme. Our workshops and leadership talks are hosted both online and in-person at various venues across Hong Kong. CDT organises business treks, where students visit companies and connect with HKU MBA alumni and senior business leaders. Our team works closely with each student to understand his or her goal and career aspirations, and we strive to equip students for success within a competitive global marketplace. In the 2021 intake, we have 90% employment rate and 80% of students who successfully secured jobs were able to change either their location, industry, or function.

  • What are you looking for in a candidate? Who will be especially enjoy HKU MBA? Who will be a good fit?

There are a few considerations when we evaluate the applicants which are the exposure level, passion in Asia and personality. Working experience plays a significant role here, do they have a more diverse background instead of just finance background. We also want our candidate to have knowledge about the Asian business world and that they would like to build and develop their career in Asia. HKU full-time MBA has a small class size every year (i.e., around 45- 50) and we value a proactive and collaborative personality.

For more information about the full-time HKU MBA program, register for the upcoming information sessions and visit their admissions website.