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Meet The Team: Michele Roberts, University Of Western Australia

UWA Business School has a brand new MBA program kicking off in 2015. And Michele Roberts, the school’s MBA Program Director, speaks exclusively to us about what UWA offers.

Mon Mar 24 2014

BusinessBecause
UWA Business School is one of Australia’s leading business degree providers. Part of the University of Western Australia, the school’s campus is located in Perth and students benefit from an outstanding lifestyle as well as academic rigour.

The school delivers undergraduate, postgraduate and research courses to over 5,000 students, and has just launched a new full-time MBA program, MBA Full Time, featuring 12-months of intense study with direct industry-project involvement and a full cohort experience.

There is also an MBA Flexible program, which is designed for busy professionals wishing to combine work and study, and is ideally suited to middle and senior managers in full-time or part-time employment, including employees on fly-in-fly out arrangements. It is available to domestic students only.

The school is one of only a few in Australia to be internationally accredited by EQUIS and AACSB.

Michele Roberts, the school’s MBA Program Director, says that their students also benefit from networking with business executives whose companies have HQ’s in Perth.

UWA also supports international students whom want to take advantage of the country’s more relaxed visa laws and work in Australia after graduation.

Michele has tips for impressing the admissions team, information about the school’s new MBA program and information about what background skills you need to enrol.

What characteristics are you looking for in candidates applying for the school's MBA programs?

We are looking for candidates who are bright, innovative and have demonstrated leadership qualities – whether at work, in the community, or through other spheres. The UWA MBA is about developing global leaders, which means we expect our students to be culturally aware and ready to adapt to a changing business environment.

At UWA, we also offer three focus areas: Leadership, Natural Resources and General Management. This makes candidates with an interest in one of these areas particularly suited to the UWA MBA.

The program has minimum entry requirements, including a first degree, work experience and a GMAT score for the full-time MBA.

For full details, see mba.uwa.edu.au

What can prospective MBA candidates expect from the interview process?

The interview process includes a short presentation from the candidate and questions from a panel of faculty. During the interview, the candidate might be asked to use examples from their work or other aspects of their life to demonstrate their leadership potential.

What do MBA candidates need to know about The University of Western Australia?

The University of Western Australia is ranked 91st in the world by Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Academic Ranking of World Universities.

As a world-class university, we offer our students outstanding levels of support. UWA offers assistance in finding accommodation to students and their families, and students also have access to a range of study support and social activities.

UWA is located in Perth – Australia’s fastest-growing state capital city, located in the same time-zone as large parts of Asia, and in a resource-driven economy that is driving the nation’s remarkable resilience and prosperity.

It is also the world’s ninth most liveable city and ranked in the world’s top 30 best student cities. Recently, Perth was ranked in the top ten-travel destinations in the world to visit by The New York Times.

Do you have any tips for impressing the admissions team?

Be yourself. We want to get to know who you are as a person, what your values, goals and career plans are, and what you want to get out of the UWA MBA. If you can demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and leadership potential, combined with a high GMAT result, then you will impress the admissions team.

What makes MBA programs in Australia different to other parts of the world?

Western Australia is a fantastic place to study an MBA. Our location connects you with large parts of Asia, and also puts you right in the heart of the resources industry, which is driving much of Australia’s economic growth.

Perth is the headquarters for hundreds of listed companies, meaning that our students are able to meet with and learn from senior business executives. For example, UWA MBA students have sessions on strategy with the Managing Director of Wesfarmers, President of BHP Billiton Iron Ore, Chair of Macquarie Capital’s Global Resources Group, CEO of Woodside and Managing Director of ATCO Australia.

On top of this, Australia offers a fantastic lifestyle. The UWA Business School is located on the banks of the Swan River, next to the America’s Cup winning Royal Perth Yacht Club. Perth offers a rich and diverse range of sporting, cultural and social activities.

While an Australian MBA is unique, the UWA MBA is also recognised by employers across the world. The UWA Business School holds international accreditation from EQUIS, the European Quality Improvement System, as well as AACSB, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Australia has more relaxed visa laws for international graduates – what support is available for MBAs who want to stay in the country and find work?

During the MBA course, we provide our students with numerous opportunities to take part in workshops, seminars and networking events. This allows UWA MBA students to refine their CV and interview skills, attend professional development seminars, and meet potential employers from a range of different industries.

Full-time MBA students also complete the Leadership Development Program, which supports individual students on their leadership journey, and provides them with the tools they need to identify and implement their own career development plan.

After graduation, there are a number of visa options available to students, and these can be found on the Australian Government’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s website.

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