University of Canberra MBA program director Brent Jackson (pictured with MBA student Abbey Cubit) says the brand ethos of the Business School and Faculty of Business has always been “deliberately and unashamedly about providing opportunity”. Photo: UC.
The University of Canberra (UC) may not be as traditional as its competitors. But building a new Master of Business Administration (MBA) – one that responds to Canberra’s unique market needs – has proven this is no disadvantage.
In fact, UC MBA program director Canberra Business School Brent Jackson says not being “rooted in tradition” has allowed the university a level of flexibility, agility and innovation that gives its MBA a distinct edge in the national capital.
“Time and time again people were telling us, ‘I have career aspirations, management aspirations, leadership aspirations – but I don’t know if I can take the time, make the class, go to campus’,” he says.
“It became increasingly apparent that the old ‘chalk and talk’ approach of traditional MBAs was presenting major barriers for people, and we needed to move on.
“Fortunately, at UC we’re all about agility, practicality and improvement, so this was not a problem.”
The idea for a new kind of MBA emerged – online and self-paced.
Assessments are due as usual in UC’s online MBA. But the lectures are pre-recorded, to be consumed at a time and place that suits the needs of those working full-time and likely balancing a family and other commitments.
The university no longer asks its MBA students to “be at a certain place at a certain time”. Workshops are run like drop-in sessions and academics are available to meet with students.
“People’s lives just don’t work that way anymore. It’s not uncommon for people to spend half their week in an entirely different city, or to be completing their MBA alongside other nine-to-five commitments,” Prof Jackson says.
Flexibility aside, another major design element sets the UC MBA apart.
MBA program director at the Canberra Business School, University of Canberra, Professor Brent Jackson. Photo: UC.
As a university “for and of” the people of Canberra, Prof Jackson says the educational opportunities must reflect the demographic needs of the nation’s capital.
“When looking at recreating the course to suit Canberra, we asked, ‘Is there anything unique or different about doing business here in Canberra?’,” he says. “The answer is: ‘Of course’. We’re the seat of government and we have a vibrant public service, not-for-profit and consulting sectors as a result.”
As such, the learnings of the UC MBA are sector-agnostic and can just as easily be applied to those looking to be better leaders, managers and executives in the public service, not-for-profit or consultancy sectors as those chasing success in a Fortune 500 company.
This broad applicability interrogates the conventional perception of an MBA being purely corporate-focussed.
“Traditionally, as the name suggests, your standard MBA teaches a person how to administer a business, so it’s fair for people in these sectors to wonder if it’s for them,” Prof Jackson says.
“We know that not everyone wants to be a corporate global CEO – some want to advance within other sectors.
“That’s why our MBA at the University of Canberra aims to teach a `business-like way of thinking’ and managing complex organisations, their resources, people and strategies. The tools and techniques taught can be applied in any organisation or sector – not just business.
“We want to give people working in the public service or not-for-profit sectors ways of thinking that allow them to streamline their approaches, independent of the environment they’re in.”
But one design element of the UC MBA remains unchanged: the course is still built from the ground up with practical experience in mind.
At every stage of its development, UC sought advice from graduate employers on what they needed, the gaps they saw in employees and what they looked for in graduates.
All case studies and materials in the new MBA are drawn from real organisations, punctuated by guest lecturers providing real-world applications and examples.
“Our brand ethos in our Business School and Faculty of Business has always been the same – we are deliberately and unashamedly about providing opportunity,” Prof Jackson says. “Our grads get jobs right away, on excellent starting salaries.”
UC is 5-star rated for full-time postgrad employment in Business and Management and number one in Canberra for skills development and student support, according to the 2025 Good University Guide.
“Yes, there’s no escaping the textbooks and the theory. But we take that and show grads how to use it, so that from the first day they set foot within the workplace, they know how these theories apply,” Prof Jackson says.
Applications for UC’s new online MBA program are open. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact UC for personalised advice and further information via the University of Canberra’s MBA page.
Original Article published by Dione David on Riotact.
