Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-16T22:04:40.812Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Acknowledging Student Diversity: Modifying the MBA Experience for International Students

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

Karen Dunwoodie
Affiliation:
20 Fitzgerald Street, Queens Park NSW 2022, Tel: 02 93865108
Murray Ainsworth
Affiliation:
School of Management, RMIT Business Level 16, 239 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Tel: 03 9925 5919, Fax: 03 9925 5960

Extract

Most international students entering RMIT's MBA program have relatively limited work experience and lack self-presentation skills. Some shortcomings in self-confidence in a western culture, job-seeking skills, networking experience and personal presentation skills are also evident. In these qualities the international students are notably different from the older Australian part-time students with whom they study. This visible diversity provided the catalyst for developing several “internationalising components” to better meet the needs of international students to enable international students to present themselves as informed, capable, culturally aware and desirable graduates. This paper describes how program changes were made with the objectives of building team interaction and problem solving skills, as well as cross-cultural awareness, building self-awareness of “me as a manager in the global marketplace” and exploring cultural diversity in business practices. In addition, the “competencies” stream was modified, with emphasis being placed on students' ability to assess the appropriateness and cultural fit of western models and theories in their own countries.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REEFERENCES

Bigelow, H (1996) ‘Educating and Training Interculturally Competent Students and Professionals’ Paper presented at The Inter cultural Competencies: Education and Training Imperatives for the 21st Century Seminar, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Biggs, J (1994) ‘Asian Learners Through Western Eyes: An Astigmatic ParadoxAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Vocational Education Research Vol 2 No 2 pp 4063Google Scholar
Freysinger, RC (1993) ‘Towards Total Internationalization: Comprehensive Institutional Reform and Global Studies - The Case of Bradford CollegeJournal of General Education Vol 42 No 3 pp 178190Google Scholar
Hofstede, G (1993) ‘Cultural Constraints in Management TheoriesAcademy of Management Executive Vol 7 No 1 pp 8184Google Scholar
Mauch, J and Spaulding, S (1992) ‘The Internationalization of Higher Education: Who Should be Taught What and HowJournal of General Education Vol 41 pp 111129Google Scholar
Karpin, DS (1995) Enterprising Nation, Report of the Industry Task Force on Leadership and Management Skills Canberra: Australian Government Printing ServiceGoogle Scholar
Knight, J and de Wit, H (1995) ‘Strategies for Internationalisation of Higher Education: Historical and Conceptual Perspectives’ in de Wit, H (ed) Strategies for Internationalisation of Higher Education Amsterdam: European Association for International EducationGoogle Scholar
Kormanski, CL (1985) ‘A Situational Leadership Approach to Groups Using the Tuckman Model of Group Development in Goodstein, LD and Pfeiffer, JW (eds) The 1985 Annual: Developing Human Resources San Diego: University AssociatesGoogle Scholar
Schutz, WD (1982) The Schutz Measures: An Integrated System for Assessing Elements of Awareness, San Diego: University AssociatesGoogle Scholar
Swierczek, FM (1991) Leadership and Culture; Comparing Asian Managers, Leadership and Organisation Development Journal, Vol 12, No 7 pp 310Google Scholar
Tuckman, BW (1965) ‘Developmental Sequence in Small GroupsPsychological Bulletin, Vol 63 pp 384399Google Scholar
Tuckman, BW and Jensen, MA (1977) ‘Stages of Small Group Development RevisitedGroup and Organization Studies Vol 2 No 4 pp 419427.Google Scholar
Yalom, ID (1970) The Theory and Practice of Group Psychology New York: Basic BookGoogle Scholar
Willis, Q, Ainsworth, WM and Bigelow, H (1994) ‘Are Cultural borders Vanishing Between MBA Students?’ paper presented at the ANZAM Conference Wellington NZGoogle Scholar