CREATING EFFECTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTSSINCE 1984

University of Jyväskylä

Total income ca.200 million euros

Staff about 2 600 over 16 000 full time students, in total 40000 students

7 faculties: - Humanities- Information Technology - Education - Sport and Health Sciences - Mathematics and Science - Business and Economics - Social Sciences

The Advanced Management Education Centre (AVANCE)

Established 1984, MBA since 1989

University´s MBA programme for executives and tailored management education programmes for organizations

Full time university team + wide networks

Nationwide operations, focused on Helsinki area

Part time programme, 100 ECTS credits

Ca. 250 students at the moment, among the biggest in Finland

Individual tutoring and coaching

Studying linked to participant´s organization´s strategic development

FOR EXECUTIVES

AVANCE MBA CONCEPT

New perspectives for business development and leadership

Using the knowledge and frameworks for strategic development

MBA-thesis as a tool for creating future success

AVANCE MBAEffectiveness evaluation research 2010

www-questionnaire for all 2009 graduates, graduates from open enrollment general MBA in total 49. (Total amount of graduates in 2009 was 73, but only graduates for general Avance MBA were included in this research)

69% answered (34 MBAs)

Respondent profile: 88% on age scale 36-55 years

Structure of the research:1. Framing the big picture and main learning achievement with open

question2. Evaluation of learning results and working capacity as a professional

manager 3. Programme concept and strategic strenghts4. Alumni and partnership perspectives

Result highlights and key issues: Big picture

• Open question: ”When you think back your MBA studies, which things made it especially meaningfull for you?”

• Open question analysis, mentions of most significant things combined (number of mentions) – Networks and learning in interaction, exchange of ideas and views (16)– Gaining new knowledge and frameworks, theory (8)– Implementation to work and organizational development (8)– Personalized learning ( tailoring, modular structure) (3)

• Conclusions– From results: Networking and learning in internation is the most important thing

when graduates evaluate their MBA experience!– For development: Modular Avance concept is an excellent starting point to

develop this even further (methods during seminar days, ICT-tools etc)

• In total 19 questions from 3 perspectives:– Professional network development during MBA studies– Development of learning skills during MBA studies– Development of self-knowledge and self-management during MBA studies

• Result highlights:– Networking:

• Importance of effective networking during MBA studies was graded on average 4.2 (scale 1-5)

• 88% formed friendly relations during MBA-studies• 68% produced ideas about business relations with other students during

MBA studies– Learning skills:

• Importance of developing learning skills during MBA studies was graded on average 4.1 (scale 1-5)

• Most significant development was evaluated in literature and motivation to read business books: 3,8 (question: ”my desire to read business books has increased” Scale 1-5, 1= not at all, 5=very much)

– Self-Management: • Self awareness increased the most (3,9 on scale 1-5)

Result highlights and key issues: Development of learning skills

• Results and observations from 1-5 scaling:– MBA final thesis as research project got the top grade, majority of students who

completed thesis in this way graded 5!

Result highlights and key issues: Methods of the programme

Functionality and value of different learning methods in MBA studies

Course modules and seminars

Literature

Final thesis (Doer´s approach)

Final thesis (Researchers approah)

Tutoring

3,9

4,2

4,1

4,6

4

Innovative starting point: Ask your customers whether you have the right strategy! That´s what we did:

Result highlights and key issues: Strategic strenghts of the programme

Personalized learning

Connecting MBA studies with students organizations development work

Learning in interaction

4,3

4,5

4,1

Question 1:”The following are Avance MBA programmes strategic strenghts defined by the programmes management. Evaluate how important you consider them to be”

Question 2: ”Evaluate how well these came through

during your personal MBA studies ”

3,9

3,9

3,5

• Conclutions– Programmes strategic positioning seems to fit customer needs very well– Developing learning in interaction and networking even further has propably the biggest

potential

• Strategic background for this set of questions:– Quality of the programme and its personnel is measured also by the willingness of the

graduates to continue cooperation after graduation– Quality of the programme is created in interaction with the current students and

alumni

• Results in a nutshell:– 73% are willing to offer their expertice on programmes development after graduation– 58% are willing to give lecture presentation themselves or host a company visit in

their organization– 44% are willing to develop management education cooperation on organizational

level with Avance and their company (tailored in-house management education etc)– 100% were willing to recommend the programme for their co-workers and friends!

Result highlights and key issues:

Partnership after graduation

Contact information

Pasi AaltolaProgrammes Manager, MBA Director

AVANCE Advanced Management Education Centre Continuing Education CentreUniversity of Jyväskylä

pasi.aaltola@cec.jyu.fimobile: +35840 5134682Street address: Matarankatu 6Postal Address: P.O. box 35FI-40014 University of JyväskyläFinland