Are MBA Graduates Satisfied with Its Content? How Do They Evaluate the Professional and Managerial Level of the Program? Do They Have Adequate Study Materials from Instructors? These are just some of the questions that the management institute CEMI set out to answer in a unique survey among its graduates, conducted by the STEM/MARK agency.
Professionally and managerially balanced MBA study program
According to 86% of respondents, the MBA program at CEMI is sufficiently professionally oriented, while 79% considered it optimally focused on management. The majority (71%) rated the balance between professional and managerial courses as optimal, although one-fifth would welcome more management-oriented courses at the expense of professional ones (more often respondents under 45 years old).
“In response to this survey, and also to feedback from our more than 1,600 students, we have updated the content of our programs and added entirely new management-oriented subjects across all fields. The aim is to modernize the MBA curriculum so that it is even more attractive to our students and provides more practical knowledge. All new students in the Czech MBA programs, therefore, have been taking a common management-focused first semester since October 2019. This semester includes key subjects in which students gain comprehensive knowledge in management and leadership, learn strategic thinking, project management, adapting to change, and maximizing the potential of innovations. They also learn how to develop their personal skills to become more effective, successful, and satisfied in both professional and personal life. These are subjects that are essential and 100% applicable for any manager, regardless of their field of study or sector,” commented Mgr. Štěpán Mika, director of CEMI.
High-Quality study materials as the basis of an MBA Program
Another part of the survey assessed the quality, scope, and format of study materials that MBA students receive online directly from their tutors. The survey showed that the vast majority of students were satisfied with the materials: 91% considered them adequately extensive, and 97% judged their professional level as appropriate or even very high. Only 3% considered the materials’ professional level to be low.
“All our instructors personally prepare study materials for their subjects and regularly update them according to the latest trends and knowledge. We also ensure high standards in formatting, clarity, and readability for students. In addition to these online materials, our students have access to the Bookport online library, which we were the first educational institution in the Czech Republic to use. It contains more than 4,400 books across all possible areas. The positive feedback from students confirms that our focus on high-quality study materials and MBA education is well-placed,” said Mika.
No demand for video lectures
An interesting finding of the survey was that only 4% of respondents preferred purely video lectures instead of text-based materials. “Given that 80% of our students are aged 30–60, they belong to generations accustomed to processing information in written form; they read a lot and enjoy it. Written materials also allow students to print them, take notes, and study offline, which is a definite advantage given the high cost of mobile data in the Czech Republic,” Mika said half-jokingly.
“In the past, we tried group video conferences with instructors, but student interest was minimal. Students prefer one-on-one consultations to address specific issues in their company or job, including real figures and data. Therefore, we set up a system of private consultations between the student and instructor. The output of each subject is a seminar paper that is a valuable document immediately usable in their company or work, with high added value thanks to private expert consultations. If video lectures are used, respondents suggested they should only complement text materials or be used for subjects where it is suitable. The main purpose of video lectures is to provide additional information not found in written texts.”
Is it worth studying an MBA?
This is another common question prospective students ask. The answer, according to the survey, is clearly yes. A previous STEM/MARK survey found that 91% of graduates believe investing in an MBA is worthwhile. For example, managers who earned an MBA from CEMI reported an average annual salary increase of CZK 66,588. Most respondents (84%) also stated that they gained many practical skills and knowledge applicable in their field, and three-quarters of graduates felt the MBA gave them a competitive advantage in the job market compared to those with only an academic university degree. Additionally, 58% reported an improvement in their professional ranking after completing the program.
Note: This unique Czech survey on MBA program evaluation by STEM/MARK was conducted in April 2019 on a sample of 184 CEMI MBA graduates from the classes of 2012–2019. The previously mentioned survey on MBA benefits by STEM/MARK was conducted in March–April 2018 on a sample of 200 graduates from the classes of 2012–2018.
