Hi all:
I will be in Basel area starting 2008. Besides work, I would like to
take an MBA programmme there. Anyone in EF has some references
about this (Uni, College, Institution, costs, duration, etc.). Or anyone who has already done his/her MBA in CH? some good tips/advices to share?.
Thanks in advance.

Did my MBA distant learning from the Open University in the UK

http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?Q01eF02

Make sure you do an accredited course.

See also http://www.mbaworld.com/page/welcome/index.htm

Just from my personal experience my MBA has scared a few people off, when applying for jobs, over qualified has been used a couple of times.

Ok.
Thanks a lot I'm gonna check these links. Maybe I have a wrong impression, but every IT guy I know in Europe (over 35 y.o.) has an MBA, so I wouldn't like to be out of the market.

"Just from my personal experience my MBA has scared a few people off, when applying for jobs, over qualified has been used a couple of times."
Well, this is an useful tip too...I think it depends on which are you in...But, really don't know.

Here is one that is run in Basel:

http://www.lasalle.edu/schools/cpcs/content.php?section=grad&group=swiss_mba&page=inde x

St Gallen has a very good reputation, but I don't know how the courses are rated now most of the pioneering teachers have upped sticks...

Hi Fran

I don't want this to be seen a advertising in anyway so if it is, Mods please delete this post.

I work for IMD International in Lausanne - we are one of the top 3 Business Schools in Europe and regulartly ranked in the top 3 international MBA programs, my role at IMD is marketing our MBA programs.

Probably our programs isn't what you are looking for - it's full-time in lausanne - but I would be happy to have a chat with you about if an MBA is the right thing for you and how to go about finding the right program.

PM me if you want to chat further.

Cheers
Nats

A bit of the topic, but do you reckon it pays off doing the MBA on your own expense? I know a couple of cases that really did not bring that much benefit. On the other hand, if you are company sponsored, you're already in the elevator heading up.

Anyway, I'd go for IMD if someone was paying for it.

Obviously paying yourself is a HUGH investment but it's amazing how many people actually do. In IMD's case with 90 students annually, we don't often have more than 2 or 3 who are sponsored, clearly the others must think it's worth the personal investment.

Interesting. How many of said class would you consider genuine Management material? If so many are hopping on the band-wagon - and it seems it's a band-wagon from the hype surrounding MBA's in recent years - what advise would you give a potential student considering enrolling?

The band wagon is actually huge, most schools take between 75 to 800 students per year. Obviously different schools have very different profiles and I don't want this to become a marketing for IMD but our students are typically very much mangement material.

Average Age 31
Average Years of work experience 7
Have lived and worked ourside their home countries

When deciding to do an MBA, its important to consider at least:
-the typical profile of the students who attend the school
-why are you looking to do an MBA - is it for the skill-set, the network you will develope or the letters you will be able to add after your name

All these things should be taken into consideration when diciding on which schools to apply to.

Well:
- A lot of helpful info in this thread...Thanks to you all.
- I am in a first phase. Just checking basics (cost, duration, requisites, languages, etc.)
- Well, about the cost. I think it will be on my own. So I will have to make a good election.
- Thanks NatsBrit: Your'e right. If it's Lausanne/Full time then is not what I am looking for, but i will take your offer about a chat in case I need it.
- Why and MBA?: It might be useful while I am in Europe and sure will be useful when I, someday in the future, comeback to LA.

I am about to complete an MBA in Melbourne (1 subject to go yay!) and thought Id share my experience of it.

I initially undertook this course to complement my other Masters which I originally enrolled in, which was a Master of Information Systems. The university offered a dual Masters course with the MBA so felt it would complement my existing studies. The benefit was that I was able to get a real view into business and entrepreneurship that I would not have received from the Information Systems Masters.

An MBA should be more than just trying to get the piece of paper. For most who undertake it with this intention, almost certainly find the MBA is about personal growth in areas such as leadership and people management skills that would be difficult to get elsewhere. If you come out of your MBA feeling you are only better off because you have the paper, then it was most likely a total waste of time.

Many people in my classes did not present to me to be management material and I felt some of them would not advance further after the MBA. The bottom line is it is not the MBA that will advance you, it is YOU that will advance you based on the learning and experiences you take from the MBA. This is why it is important to find an MBA course that suits your own personal needs in terms of direction of personal development.

Most would suggest getting into a top class school. This is good as it looks good on the resume, but again, if you have not taken anything away from the learning experience it is again next to useless. Employers will see the benefit YOU bring to their organisation, and advertising the fact you have an MBA, whilst all well and good, will not get you the job.

Fran, if you have an opportunity to do an MBA in another country, and feel it will develop you further to advance in your career, then it is worthwhile. For example, learning an MBA in another culture can bring so many possible rewards that you may not gain from studying in your own country.

Having said that, if it is your intention to do it based purely on the piece of paper, then think again. It is a lot of work, a lot of self reflection and takes a lot of commitment, focus and energy to get the most out of it. I do not wish to dissuade you from doing it as it is one of the most rewarding things I have done in my life.

It does indeed appear to be a bandwagon. I noticed that the questionnaire linked from a post here on EF recently about the UK Fast Track Immigration scheme had replaced one of the previous high scoring questions with a simple "Do you have an MBA?".

There is a bandwagon of people doing MBAs worldwide diluting the benefit of this course, however when you think about it a significant portion of people who are doing it, do it for the letters at the end. There is still a minority that will use it to leverage better career moves through personal development.

The more people doing it does not mean the number of quality students increase based on ratios. Employers will still see through the quality graduates and those churning through the system.

Back to my main point, this is worth considering. When applying for an MBA do you wish to churn through it or do you wish to raise the bar to new heights for yourself?

There were very few who ramped up their quality and commitment and focus in each of my classes. Quality stands out, also rans stumble through and hang on the coat tails of their group team mates.

AnAustralian:
--------------
"Fran, if you have an opportunity to do an MBA in another country, and feel it will develop you further to advance in your career, then it is worthwhile. For example, learning an MBA in another culture can bring so many possible rewards that you may not gain from studying in your own country."

This is almost exactly the point. I come from a spanish culture (LA) so I think an MBA in Europe/Switzerland (either on English or in German) can be a good investment for my future. I am not really sure if I am going to profit of that "good investment" being in Europe, but someday, back in LA, I know I will.

JVC:
----
"It does indeed appear to be a bandwagon. I noticed that the questionnaire linked from a post here on EF recently about the UK Fast Track Immigration scheme had replaced one of the previous high scoring questions with a simple "Do you have an MBA?".

Yes. It's true:I was looking last year the Fast Track I.S. for UK and there was a simple question that was awarded all the points that a non-EU citizen need to immigrate...."Do you have an MBA?".

I am bringing this up again, since I am looking into part-time MBAs in the Basel (or Zurich) area, as well.

Fran, what did you decide to do in the end?

Does anyone know if the LaSalle MBA in Basel is any good?
http://www.lasalle.edu/schools/cpcs/...mba&page=index

I have heard some positive comments about the Swiss Business School's Flex MBA in Zurich and St. Gallen's part-time MBA. Does anyone have any more info concerning MBAs in the Basel area?

Any further information would be appreciated!

PS. Please note that I am asking about a part-time MBA, so IMD is out of question. Thanks everyone!

Hello.

FHNW in Basel is offering two MBA Programs:

1. MBA International Management-Consulting MBA-IMC - http://www.en.fhnw.ch/business/conti...ent-consulting (joint program with Fachhochschule Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Institute for International Management Consulting IMC)

2. MBA Master of Business Administration Edinburgh Business School - http://www.en.fhnw.ch/business/conti...usiness-school (program with Edinburgh Business School)

university of lausanne also has an executive MBA program. Looks quite flexible

http://www.hec.unil.ch/emba/Welcome

Personally, if I have a rich employer; I would love to go for IMD (executive MBA).

Might still consider a normal MBA for 2010.

I am biased with my connection to the MBA program offered by La Salle University in Basel. Very personalized, great teachers (all travelling from the US). It is a one year / weekend based program with a 2 week Summer program in USA . It is accredited by AACSB (very prestigous) The web site is: www.lasalle.edu/swissmba

Good Luck.