Executive MBA

EMBA participants can undertake the ‘Doing Business in International Markets’ option module in Trimester 2 of year 2 at an additional cost.  The tour combines high-level company visits, presentations and panel discussions from leading executives, government officials and entrepreneurs, all relevant to the core management disciplines. Key themes are developed from which to learn about the country's business and cultural landscape. Importantly, the Study Tour provides a fantastic opportunity for participants to spend time together and lay the foundation for strong future relationships. Previous destinasetions have included Argentina, Scandinavia, Germany, Italy and Singapore.

“The Doing Business in International Markets module is a key pillar in the internationalisation of our programme and is central to the participants’ international experience. The module consists of sessions profiling the history, culture, institutional context and business issues in a specific location. Then, the participants visit the location for a week of site- visits, presentations by local executives, cultural visits and engagements with members of the Irish diaspora and UCD alumni in the destination. Recent destinations have included: Vietnam, Chile, Singapore, Dubai, Sweden, Germany, India and Argentina. While many schools offer such experiences, our small intimate class is joined by senior faculty members
who contribute to participants’ learning in real-time by offering perspectives and facilitating group discussions and debates during the visit. This in-depth, intimate and exhausting experience forges a tight bond between faculty and participants and within the participant group, as the latter typically burn the candle at both ends.” - Pat Gibbons Professor of Strategic Management and Module Co-Ordinator, Doing Business in International Markets

Read our Smurfit MBA Blog in which students Caitrín O'Leary and Sagar Srichand Purswani team up to give a taste of the module during their study tour to Singapore.

The purpose of the International Consulting Project Trip is to develop research knowledge and skills to solve live business problems faced by companies operating in international markets. Key topics include organisational diagnosis, data collection, data analysis, a foundational overview on the strategic and cultural nuances of operating in a specific market, strategic planning tools, project feasibility, and collaboration with clients. The overall module involves classroom learning and a live consulting project in an international location. 

Students work in teams under the supervision of UCD Smurfit School faculty during the fieldwork component of the module, which offers an important opportunity to synthesize learnings and apply fresh ideas and management consulting skills to the challenge. The week-long module culminates with client presentations.

The Global Network of Advanced Management (GNAM) is a network of 32 of the world’s leading business schools.  GNAM week provides an opportunity for faculty and students to exchange ideas through short, one-week immersion programmes. The dedicated EMBA Global Immersion Week currently takes place in June and is open to year 2 EMBA students.  Participants travel to a host institution for project work such as data collection, sharing case studies, and networking as part of a global team. Network institutions can also nominate high-achieving students for consideration in the highly selective Masters of Advanced Management programme at the Yale School of Management.

View the Video Blog created by former Smurfit MBA students Grace Bergin, Ken Power and Siun Tobin, documenting their experience at UC Berkeley as part of GNAM week. 

By developing a solution to a real problem faced by an organisation, students have the opportunity to improve their analytical, problem-solving and communication skills. The Capstone project helps students master the real challenge of applying diverse streams of knowledge acquired during their studies, combined with practical, real-world application. Prior to the start date, participants take part in various workshops to support the project process. 

This is a group project and is typically sourced from within a company or from an organisation to which one of the team members belongs. Assistance is provided to groups who cannot source a project themselves.

MBA participants can further enhance their learning and networking by becoming involved in a range of extracurricular activities. This includes MBA events, MBA sports competitions, MBA Clubs (e.g. Entrepreneurship Club, Thought Leadership Club) and MBA Blog posting.

By utilising a range of methods including lectures, seminars, guest speakers, practical projects, and case studies, the Smurfit MBA faculty encourage participants to draw on their own professional experience as they broaden their knowledge.  Assessment for the MBA is based on a combined grade for group assignments and presentations, individual projects, class participation and written examinations. The exact assessment strategy varies by module at the discretion of the faculty member delivering it. Graduates are given a GPA and level result.

The purpose of the MBA programme is to offer students with a well-rounded approach on business and management from the perspective of a general manager (Purpose).

The programme equips students with the skills and techniques required by a general manager from various business disciplines. The intention is to develop both within, and across functional discipline, knowledge (education and subject/discipline/professional values).

The Programme promotes an environment where: the material focuses on contemporary topics and challenges; students are encouraged to take ownership for their learning journey; learning is rooted in rigorous management research; and application of knowledge is encouraged (the nature of the learning environment for students).

In addition to lectures, students work individually and in small groups on business cases and assignments. Students are also exposed to skills training sessions, and presentations by visiting lecturers and practitioners. They are also required to undertake an international study trip (key approaches to teaching, learning and assessment).

On successful completion of the programme students should be able to: