Exchanging perspectives: Jordanian Global MBA students visit Lancaster
Published 1 February 2012
Four Lancaster Global MBA students from Jordan made a five-day visit to the UK at the end of last term, keen to compare ideas and experiences with their counterparts on the Full-time MBA and Executive MBA programmes.
One of those who requested the special visit was Nart Abdullah, who has worked in Jordan’s telecoms sector for the last four years:
"Being here in Lancaster, meeting people from other cultures, other nationalities, is a great opportunity. The whole experience of being on campus, living the life of the Full-time MBAs, meeting Executive MBA students, and sharing thoughts from different perspectives – it all adds up to provide the big picture."
In a packed programme, the students attended classes on both the Full-time and Executive MBA, and went to several lectures by visiting speakers. To give them a taste of the wider locality, they also fitted in an excursion to the Lake District and a shopping trip to Manchester.
"Everyone's aiming to excel"
The visit to LUMS reinforced the parallels not only between the three Lancaster MBA programme variants but also between the students studying on them.
Zeina Monther Khasawneh, a senior officer in marketing for wi-tribe, was delighted to find students on the two Lancaster-based programmes were covering the same concepts and topics as on the Global MBA, and with the same interactive approach to learning.
“Despite being from different cultures and on different programmes, we found that as part-time students we face many of the same issues and concerns as full-time students – especially how to manage our time,” added Yara Hani Zreikat. “The competition is high: everyone’s aiming to excel, whether at work or at study.”
Zaid Asfour, an engineering graduate working for the French energy company Schneider Electric, said that the visit had delivered even more than he had hoped for. “I was happy when I was able to talk to the students here – they come from different countries, different backgrounds. It definitely adds to the quality of the MBA class,” he said.
Director of MBA Programmes Dr Jonathan Matheny was also very pleased with the success of the visit: “Our Lancaster-based MBA students loved meeting their Jordanian colleagues. The students have made a great impression here, and are returning to Amman with a real sense of what Lancaster is all about and of their vital place in the Lancaster MBA family.
“Extending the School’s global reach is very important to us and to our alumni. The Global MBA plays a crucial role in this – and we know that visits of this kind significantly enrich students' experiences. That's why in future we hope to expand such opportunities, enabling students to take classes at other locations – either here at LUMS or in the growing number of countries where the Global MBA is offered.”
More about the Global MBA
The Lancaster Global MBA is a two-year part-time modular Masters programme for aspiring senior managers, delivered in various countries around the world. It is ideal for those whose personal circumstances do not allow them to travel to the UK to study, but who want an MBA that can deliver tangible benefits for them in their current job. All workshops and teaching are provided in the host country, but involving faculty from Lancaster.
The Global MBA is currently offered in Singapore, Jordan and Zambia.
Find out more about students' experiences on the GMBA in the Global MBA video gallery.
