Manchester Business School (MBS) Worldwide has recruited a further 90 new MBA students in the Middle East, 60 per cent of them residents of the UAE, followed by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar after closing its mid year intake for 2008.

This follows the 70 new MBA students who joined the school in January 2008 and brings the total number of MBA students registered with the school in the Middle East close to 400, representing 55 nationalities.

The MBS is ranked 22 in the world by the Financial Times.

MBS Worldwide, which operates in the Middle East from its regional centre at Dubai Knowledge Village, offers three MBA programmes for post experience students, delivered through blended learning, which combines self study and workshops.

Most of the new Middle East students chose the engineering business management MBA programme, with the balance opting for the finance MBA or the construction MBA, reflecting a similar preference across the wider study body.

The age range of the new students is from 27 to 52 years, with the majority falling into their 30s. Most of the school’s students are male, with female students accounting for 10 per cent of the school’s total student community in the region. Almost all the students are self funded.

Randa Bessiso, director – Middle East, Manchester Business School Worldwide, said: "Middle and senior managers in the region are increasingly turning to MBA programmes to develop their careers and enhance their future earning potential.

"As more quality MBA programmes become more accessible in the region, with blended learning programmes allowing professionals to study while working, managers are taking responsibility for their own career development; students funding their own MBAs are seeing immediate impact in the workplace, as they mark themselves out for senior roles."

"The vast majority of our students are self funded," said Bessiso.

"Once they have made this personal commitment, their employers recognise their ambition and commitment and can be quick to reward this with a promotion, pay rise and support for the their MBA studies, through time off for MBA workshops or a contribution to course fees to help reward the student. The employer is keen to retain the manager, who is looking for a return on investment."     

In fact, the process of pay-back for an MBA programme often starts as soon as a student enrolls; once an employer sees the commitment of a self-funded student, the potential of the student is often recognised and rewarded, which is an immediate additional incentive for the student.

Manchester Business School is the UK's largest campus-based business and management school. It provides a comprehensive range of undergraduate, postgraduate and custom-made executive programmes, for organisations from both the private and public sectors.

Manchester Business School holds triple MBA accreditation – AMBA, EQUIS, AACSB. Manchester Business School is ranked 22 in the world by the Financial Times. - TradeArabia News service