Stefan Reinig
I started to study for the EBS MBA in 2001, preparing for sitting the first exam in December of that year. Soon I realized that, a good five years after graduating from my first academic degree and working since then, I enjoyed a lot "being back to school". I found the material provided by EBS highly comprehensive and close to real business life. The studies did put an additional workload on me, but the concept of distance learning provided the necessary flexibility in timing so there was no conflict with my work, which required frequent business traveling. I usually took about a week off for the final phase of exam preparation and especially appreciated these intense immersions into the subjects.
Through the EBS MBA I complemented my technical / scientific education (first degree was physics) by a strong understanding of business matters. Additionally, for me as a non-native English speaker, it was beneficial to study in English, as this is the language I have used the most in my professional life since then.
I am sure that the fact that I was about to finalize my MBA studies was an important factor in my company's decision to offer me a position in our sales organization in Hong Kong from 2004 onwards. I am especially glad I could take this chance because it offers me a wealth of new professional and intercultural experiences.
Xuchen Zhang
On a normal Thursday in June 2005, I commenced my MBA study with EBS with zest. The straightforward style of EBS and Heriot Watt convinced me to set down my selection after nearly one year of business school investigation.
I enjoyed my study with EBS a lot, although it was hard for me to arrange my time due to a heavy load of daily work. The time spent with my dear classmates and absorbing knowledge from the courses encouraged me to success.
Being a middle manager, I have accumulated plenty of management experiences that exist like independent rings. The courses designed by EBS are bunching together those independent rings. Thus the knowledge, combined with my own experiences, forms a strong support helping me stand on a new height to view my work and even my life.
When I adapted what I learned from OB to view my staff, help my family members to analyse their puzzles, so-called troubles were readily resolved. My company is applying the procedures to strengthen risk control of projects. The Project Management course helped me to understand the core idea of those procedures. Well, I am ready to look up to another height, with the help of continuous study with EBS.
Bing Yuan
My name is Bing Yuan(Chinese name is 袁冰). I come from China. I'm an MBA graduate of EBS in Dec 2008.
In fact, I have to say that my experience of studying is not very smooth. The difficulty is not in studying itself, but the mechanism of education in our country. As is well known, the conditions may be a little different from other countries. The special point is that a foreign university can't directly set up any educational course project in China on its own.
The only feasible way is that it will have to firstly choose one Chinese university that is registered, confirmed and authorized by the Ministry of Education of The People's Republic of China, and then cooperate with it under the authority of MEPRC. Thereby, my way is much uneven. That said, I had to spend extra 2 years to study and attained another Diploma at the Graduate School of Beijing Institute of technology, because it was the cooperating School for EBS, during the time of learning the EBS MBA lessons.
But what I felt very deeply impressive is still the courses of EBS. It's the key.
I learned very much from EBS MBA courses, not only the knowledge, but also the way of thinking, and the skills of applying flexibly what are written in the referencing books. I also knew about the different cultures of the test between the two countries, the UK and China. All above are very useful for me. In my opinion, EBS MBA course is very excellent.
Val Kaplan
My MBA studies with EBS were a very interesting and rewarding experience. The studies were a constant juggling act to balance my work and family commitments and the need to dedicate enough time to prepare for rigorous tests. This was not an easy process and support of my family was the absolute essential ingredient.
The studies are no walk in the park by any means. If one wants to pass the exams and actually really learn something, the utmost dedication and discipline are imperative. For the last 2.5 years I would get up at 6.00am every single morning to have enough time for 1.5 hours studies and this routine stayed with me ever since. Now, as I've completed the degree, I still get up at 6am and spend my morning hours working out or studying Chinese. My present productivity has increased immensely and it is all thanks to the routine developed to accommodate the demands of EBS.
The EBS program is a perfect fit for people like me – expat professionals with busy schedule, lots of travel and dynamic life style. I was able to sit my exams in Seoul, Shanghai and Hong Kong and doubt that such flexible arrangement would be available with any other program. In addition, students can take advantage of web based support, course forums as well as the student community support of the "watercooler".
When I look back on the years spent on studying, I realize that it really wasn't all that difficult as it felt at the time and 2.5 years of commitment was a small price to pay for being able to put "MBA" after my name. Every time when I look at my diploma hanging on the wall of my office that says "graduated with distinction", I feel an overwhelming sense of achievement and it's a great feeling. My efforts have certainly paid off and now I'm able to take on more responsibilities in my company which directly translate to very tangible benefits in terms of more cash in my pocket as well as more respect from co-workers and the management.
Graham Mitchelmore
I chose to study with EBS for several reasons.
Firstly, through the Heriot-Watt University I was reassured that my qualifications would have the worldwide credibility of a 'Royal Charter' UK university, a credibility that was further justified by notoriously tough examinations. Next, the independent nature of the programmes, with no residential or group study requirements, combined with self-contained notes, meant that my study time was used very effectively. Finally, the flexible structure allowed me to combine a busy career with life-long learning.
As my work commitments ranged from fairly busy to frantic, I studied when time permitted and I tentatively sat exams one by one, even taking a year out along the way. I persisted though, and after four years, I travelled to Edinburgh with my family to graduate as an MBA with Distinction.
Afterwards, I took some time to reflect and enjoy my free evenings and weekends, but I had a nagging curiosity - what next? - it was between learning the piano and doing a Doctorate.
I looked at the courses available with EBS starting bottom of my choices as I wanted to expand my portfolio of universities. However, as I did my assessments, EBS crept up the list as the best fit for my circumstances. I made the application and took the plunge to do the EBS DBA.
With my experience of the renowned EBS pedagogy, I completed most of the examinations within one year and took the milestone option to graduate with an MSc, once more with Distinction. I was on the research element of the Doctorate, which was new territory for me.
The road from research proposal to final thesis and viva voce was long and winding, with quite a few pot-holes along the way. At times, progress was painfully slow, and for a period of more than a year I seemed to be stuck in a rut, although I never doubted my destiny. Finally, with a tactful prod from my supervisor, Dr. Bill Wallace, and the encouragement of many others from EBS, the research came together and my thesis and viva were done.
For my Doctorate, I chose to graduate in Hong Kong, again with my wife and sons in tow. Our boys are much bigger now – they have seen the value of persistence.
