A fast-tracked pathway for women seeking to complete their MBA has been announced as a joint effort between Deakin Business School and Women and Leadership Australia.
Women and Leadership Australia is one of Australia’s largest training initiatives and offers women a range of leadership development programs including the Advanced Leadership Program. Two credit points will be awarded to women who complete the program toward a Deakin MBA and an additional two credit points if undertaken with DeakinCo LEAD credentials.
The prospect of receiving up to four credit points for recognition of prior learning is a substantial boon for female students; the equivalent of a third of Deakin’s world-class MBA program.
‘It’s important to recognise the valuable professional development that people undertake as part of their careers and outside of the classroom,’ says Deakin MBA Director Dr Andrea North-Samardzic.
‘Many women are encouraged to undertake extra professional development to be seen as more competitive for promotion and in the marketplace. We want to recognise the valuable professional development that women do through programs through WLA and provide credit into our program, giving greater access and opportunity for women to complete the Deakin MBA. An MBA is a globally-recognised degree with many organisations now requiring applicants to have this qualification before being considered for senior leadership roles. The more women who have MBAs, the more qualified they will be for more senior roles.’
Recently celebrating its 15th anniversary, Women and Leadership Australia has connected with women across more than 10,000 organisations and has guided over 60,000 Australian women in their leadership journey.
It hosts some the nation’s most-highly regarded leadership events as well as the Australian Awards for Excellence in Women’s Leadership with national winners including Gail Kelly (2018), Ann Sherry AO (2017) and Elizabeth Broderick AO (2016).
Dr North-Samardzic says the flexible nature of the Deakin MBA is ideal for women, particularly those who have family and carer responsibilities.
‘You can do the whole MBA online or you can mix and match study modes to suit your needs. We also offer residential programs and international study tours which are great networking opportunities. It is essential for women to network for career success.’
Suzi Finkelstein, Women and Leadership Australia’s Global Executive Director says organisation is delighted to be partnering with Deakin to offer world-class study pathways for Australia’s female leaders.
‘The quality and agility of Deakin’s internationally-accredited MBA makes it a clear choice for WLA and a compelling fit for our high-calibre participants.’
