By SHABBIR H. KAZMI
Sep 25 - Oct 01, 2000
Greenwich University, a familiar name for imparting BBA and
MBA education, has introduces a new concept — Baccalaureate. It is a
comprehensive and rigorous programme spread over five semesters or approximately
21 months. This programme aims at preparing students for entry into Greenwich
University for the MBA programme. It focuses on wide range of subjects taught at
various American universities. Additional subjects, in different fields, have
been included to enable the MBAs to specialize in certain areas, keeping in view
the requirements of Pakistani business environment.
This programme is spread over 5 semesters of 12 weeks
duration each. The subjects covered are English, Mathematics, Social Sciences,
Islamiat and Pakistan Studies, Economics and Accounts, Computer Science,
Political Science and International Relations, History and Geography, Commerce
and Business Management.
A unique feature of Baccalaureate programme is a built in
'fast track' movement, whereby students who perform exceptionally well in a
course will get advance credit. While the programme has been prepared for
students who wish to continue their higher education at Greenwich, students
leaving at the end of programme will be well prepared and qualified for entry
into other centers of learning. All students completing this programme will be
awarded a Baccalaureate degree by Greenwich University — a fully accredited
degree awarding institution.
Greenwich University was established by an Act of Sindh
Government in February 1998. It is recognized and approved by the University
Grants Commission as a degree-awarding institution. It is one of the pioneers of
business education in Pakistan in the private sector. Founded over a decade ago
Greenwich has become a synonymous for excellence in business education in
Pakistan. With the rapidly changing needs of business Greenwich has striven to
keep pace by taking the advantage of new technology and skills.
Greenwich University offers a variety of programmes to suit
the needs of students and cater to the requirements of business community in the
country. These include, undergraduate programmes, Bachelor of Science in various
disciplines, MBA and MBA-Executive and Post Graduate Diploma programmes.
Greenwich considers education a life-long endeavour and
develops its programmes to meet the needs of students and requirements of the
business community. The University has made necessary arrangements to provide
the students with needed facilities, superior quality faculty, computer labs,
library and a sports stadium. Greenwich takes pride being one of the business
schools which also believes that a broad liberal arts base is fundamental to
intellectual growth. Students are sent to leading business houses for
internship. Already a large number of Greenwichians are working at key
positions.
One may wonder why Greenwich has introduced this programme
and what is its contribution in MBA programme? We realized the disparity among
the students joining our main MBA programme. We, at the University, believe that
once the entrants, after completing high school education, go through
Baccalaureate programme, they would enjoy the least disparity and learning will
also become a pleasure. If a student does not have the basic knowledge about a
particular subject then coping up with the normal courses offered in MBA
programme becomes frustrating. This ultimately affects the whole learning
process and GPA.
We also strongly believe that despite the increasing demand
for specialization, an MBA needs comprehensive curriculum to acquire knowledge
about the socio-economic fabric of the country, tools used in business and
decision making. Imagine an MBA who does not have sufficient knowledge about
economy of the country, the factors influencing political-economy and laws
governing the business. Can he/she be a good executive and prudent decision
maker?
Once a person gets his MBA degree and join a particular
industry and also decides to acquire certain specialization, then only he/she
should take the advance courses. Please also remember that the country needs
business managers who have to ultimately become the decision makers. A decision
maker has to keep the wider spectrum in mind which can only be developed by
having knowledge about all the facts affecting the economy in general and
influencing the business in particular.
