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University of Bath
University of Bath School of Management

School of Management
University of Bath
Bath, Somerset BA2 7AY
United Kingdom

In the school's own words...

The ethos of the Bath MBA is to look beyond business processes and techniques to emphasise the importance of self-awareness, intuition, cross-cultural sensitivity, entrepreneurship skills as well as having a socially responsible and ethical approach to business and management. We are acutely aware that business and management in the 21st century is conducted within the socio-economic, political and technological context of globalization – a theme that is embedded across the MBA. Issues surrounding corporate, social and environmental concerns, including ecology and climate change, are not add-ons but are woven through the curriculum with each academic incorporating their expertise on how best practice can be enacted. This is enhanced by the use of case studies and the sharing of students’ own experiences. Critical thinking, action-learning, teamwork, creativity, as well as individual and organisational development, are key to the programme.

The Bath MBA commences with an introductory, scene-setting module which emphasises the social, technological, political and economic contexts in which contemporary organisations survive and thrive. Students engage directly with the significance of external and internal expectations and demands placed on organisations encompassing key themes such as the global economy, international competitiveness, economic industry structure, the regulation of industry and business and society. These areas form the basis of this module by developing the awareness of the key contextual forces that impact on organisations, increasing the understanding of links between business and society and the impact of issues such as corporate social responsibility, business ethics and globalisation. The module provides students with a platform for debate within, and beyond, their degree.

After this introductory module, students embark on the ‘Developing your Managerial Competence’ stream which personalizes the key contextual factors, ensuring that the issues raised are not seen as abstract concepts but as areas in which they, as individuals, must play their part. This leads on to learning sets in which students further develop their understanding of how to apply what they have learnt to themselves as managers. Expertise from other sections of the School has fed into this programme with practices being incorporated from the School’s MSc in Responsibility and Business Practice, considered by the European Academy for Business in Society as the benchmark programme for education in this field in Europe. Research undertaken in the School also underpins the programme: the School’s world-leading Centre for Action Research in Professional Practice’s expertise has been vital in developing the MBA learning sets; the School’s Centre for Business Organisations and Society has also been influential to the programme as its primary aim is to study the relationship between corporations and the societies within which they operate, to enable firms to respond reactively and proactively to evolving social issues. The Bath MBA reflects the University of Bath School of Management’s overall commitment to sustainability, corporate social responsibility and regulation and their effects on business and society.

School Demographic Information