Inside the MBA Leadership Week at Robert Gordon University

Dr Ian Broadbent laughs as he describes himself as a ‘poacher turned gamekeeper’. With more ties to Robert Gordon University than most faculty, the MBA alumna of the business school now leads the MBA program which continues to grow.

Broadbent says, “I did my MBA here full-time six years ago and joined the staff in 2013. It’s been quite an experience.

“I think the benefit I’ve got having been a student is I can appreciate student concerns, and what’s important to them so I’ve got that level of empathy.

“It’s a hard, hard course, and it’s a big commitment. Not only financial commitment, but time as people give up weekends and evenings too. I understand and share the students pain.”

As director of the MBA program, Broadbent leads the business school’s annual MBA Leadership Week, which has just celebrated its 12^th year.

What it’s all about

Broadbent says: “We’ve got a long-established distance learning program, but we wanted something accessible to our distance learning students on campus.

“Our drive was to create a level of integration and engagement with distance learning students, part-time students and full timers.

“So, everyone attends the nine-day spectacular Leadership Week we put on during their MBA course.”

Although MBA Leadership Week at Aberdeen Business School (RGU) is all about meeting peers, professors and making connections, Broadbent admits “it’s also a vehicle for industry engagement”.

He adds, “There’s a panel of invited speakers and illustrious alumni that come and give inspiration to current cohorts.”

Students must also hit academic requirements, and complete two modules during Leadership Week including the Leadership Communication and Change module, and a business simulation.

Broadbent explains, “There are assessments associated with it [the business simulation] but primarily it was to increase the engagement of all cohorts, and to promote the industry engagement aspect which is central to our approach.”

As the saying goes, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, and this seems to be working in RGU’s favor. Broadbent says, “We have a welcome reception on the first evening and often it’s when Distance Learning students meet each other face-to-face for the first time.”

The icebreaker day activities form the basis for one of the module assessments, and students do a reflective report on their leaderships experiences from the day – whether as a leader or follower.

Following the icebreaker, students complete a business simulation, explore leadership theory and listen to external speakers. There’s also a wrap up session, followed by a light-hearted awards ceremony.

Truly cosmopolitan

It’s important to have a little down time when being pushed to the limits, and RGU knows just the thing. Broadbent says, “We host an evening dinner. Students are encouraged in national dress because it’s a very international, cosmopolitan cohort – but being based in Scotland of course there are often several kilts on show”.

“We have people flying in from Australia, Canada, Korea – from all over the world. So, it’s down to us to make sure it’s a really great event.

“They’re taking time off work, away from family, eating into vacation time. And you can imagine sometimes there’s a bit of scepticism whether they should take nine days out.

“Overwhelmingly, the people that complete Leadership Week say it’s fantastic and worthwhile – and they go back to their roles with tools that they can put into practice straight away”

It goes without saying, putting together an event of this scale takes some planning as Broadbent adds, “Before this one finished, I was lining up speakers for next year. It takes a bit of organizing but I’ve got a good team around me.”

Making positive waves

But does Dr Broadbent think Leadership Week encourages more people to attend the business school? He says, “Absolutely - when I get perspective candidates to talk to alumni about the course, they always say Leadership Week is a highlight.”

And it seems other departments at the university have caught onto the scent, as Broadbent says, “They’ve asked us for advice for a teambuilding day, or perhaps corporate clients need a teambuilding day, and we adapt the format accordingly.”

The importance of industry

Broadbent says, “We’ve been doing the Oil & Gas Management MBA for over 10 years. It came about as a response to local industry needs because we’re based in the energy capital of Europe Aberdeen which is heavily dependent on the oil and gas industry.

“We have a reciprocal arrangement with Curtin Uni in Perth where some of their students can study our modules via distance learning and vice versa.”

Robert Gordon University’s MBA

Broadbent admits, “We’ve more students doing the online course than the part-time and full-time modes put together.”          

Alumni of Aberdeen Business School (RGU) boast well-known industry, managers and senior executives in their companies.

Broadbent says, “We’ve got some really good entrepreneurial alumni that have set-up in the industry.

“Online MBA grad Jenna Ross who’s setting up her own biotech slug control company for crops in South Africa is doing really well.

“Sam Pettipher and Nick Beeson talked at the year’s Leadership Week and are doing really well with EBar.”

The class makeup

Broadbent says, “A lot of candidates have said to us, ‘Oh I’ve been thinking about doing it for years’. They get to a point in their career where they’re managing more complex projects and situations and get promoted into positions and think ‘Woah, I’ve not got the tools to cope’.

“We like to think we’ve got a program to support people at different stages of their career. It’s a reflective program about bringing the academic theory into practice in the workplace.”

It’s all about the accreditation

RGU’s Online MBA is ranked second in the world for both class experience and faculty & teaching in the QS Distance Online MBA Global Rankings 2018, which suggests the Leadership Week is having the right sort of impact.

Broadbent says, “We want to build a program that has a great reputation amongst employers, students, and industry.

“Over the last couple of years, we worked really hard at Aberdeen Business School to get our AACSB accreditation. Those accreditations attract quality students and talented individuals and show we’ve got global recognition.”

The business school constantly looks for ways to modify the curriculum in response to industry needs and student requirements. Broadbent says, “We talk to industry practitioners, look for opportunities to partner with institutions.

“We look at the latest developments and trends, particularly with the oil & gas industry going through so many significant changes, we have to make sure the curriculum is fit for purpose.”