MBAs in Greece
The number of MBAs offered in the English language in Greece is booming. Candidates can choose from full-time, part-time, International and Executive courses and study in their home country rather than going abroad. Courses offered locally benefit executive and working candidates because they save them from having to go abroad. «Some Greeks are unable to study overseas as a result of their work,» Dr Peter Wilkins, director of admissions at the University of La Verne, said. «And others understand that they can find reputable MBA programs in Greece that are just as valuable as ones outside the country.» Professor Gregory Prastacos, the director of the International MBA Program at the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) explains: «The quality of business education in Greece has increased dramatically in the last years, and the costs of studying abroad are sometimes prohibitive.» Furthermore, «some academic programs in Greece are quite similar to the ones abroad, with modern teaching methods and top-quality faculty,» he said. Studying in Greece can also assist future MBA holders with knowledge of both the local and the international market. «The student benefits by being exposed to faculty members from a number of countries and cultures, thus getting prepared for a global economy,» Prof. Prastacos says. Also, adjusting to the Greek management and culture is highly essential for the future career of the student. According to Professor Nickolaos Travlos, dean of the Athens Laboratory of Business Administration (ALBA), «some programs have strong links with the local business community and provide better chances for placement in the job market and address the educational needs of the local business community by including courses and projects related to the Greek economy.» Most courses require candidates to have some working experience and an academic background. «The ideal MBA class will include students with some level of expertise and practical experience, raising the level of discussion and offering more benefit to the participants,» Dr Wilkins says. The University of La Verne has been offering MBA courses for 27 years and has seen many of its graduates working as executives in multinational co-operations, while other graduates pursue further education in PhD programs. Some colleges accept credits from other institutions, however, this does depend a lot on the regulations of each school. ALBA has an exchange program allowing students to choose from several foreign institutions and take as many courses as they like. «This is useful because it allows students to spend time in other countries and to be exposed to different management cultures,» Prof. Travlos said. Studying for an MBA in Greece has an added advantage: Institutions have contacts in the local corporate world which can offer job openings to the candidates. The improvement of the courses, the qualified professors, the resources available and the affordability of the programs are all reasons to take advantage of this unique opportunity.
