IDEAS that light up the catwalk to global business

If one was to mention New York, London, Paris, and Milan in the same sentence, it would mean the whole world to some. But to others, they are just major cities in the global market. Those in the fashion industry live from season to season while those in international business do so from quarter to quarter. From inception to implementation, the planning calendar becomes a complex matrix of decisions as interlinked events make up a whole.

Pressure? When your work is on the catwalk under the brightest of lights, every decision made for the last nine months is illuminated for the world to see. It’s time to sizzle or fizzle. And if you sizzle, then it’s time to do it again for the next season or the next financial quarter. The skill set to sustain management success in fashion or international business in the long run is hard-earned. But for aspiring mid-level managers and future entrepreneurs, one of the best routes is through professional education with the right accredited MBA programme in a resource rich environment. It’s time to LEAP up onto the catwalk!

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s MBA programme meets all of these. “We have been developing general managers since 1990,” states Dr June Cheng, PolyU MBA Programme Director. “Starting from September 2017 Intake, we will launch a consolidated curriculum with specialised study streams in International Business, Fashion, and Business Research, allowing students to develop in depth professional skills related to their industries."

Accredited by both the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) and EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), PolyU was ranked #6 in the world by QS Top 50 under 50 2016 (for universities under 50 years old).

“Our community is dedicated to the pursuit of IDEAS (Innovation-driven Education and Scholarship) with a 3D focus on Discovery, Design, and Delivery. We realise knowledge and technology transfer through high-quality educational programmes, as well as partnership and close links with industry and the professional community,” continues Dr Cheng.

PolyU is situated in the heart of the most dynamic business city in the world and has cultivated experience rich partnerships with the global industries present in Hong Kong. Where better to earn an MBA in International Business, Fashion, or Business Research than at PolyU. Financial services, trading, textiles, fashion, ICT, and hospitality all have major regional presence in Hong Kong and the nearby Asian manufacturing base gives rise to the opportunity to learn from the best global players. “Our MBA students have an average of more than 10 years of rich working experience in the real world which they bring to the classroom to share with their classmates and professors,” adds Dr Cheng.

But it’s not all about classroom learning. The best experience is gained in the field and PolyU enables this through field study courses. Recently, their MBA students went to Frankfurt to visit Audi AG, Leica Camera AG, Mercedes Benz Museum, and Sirona Dental Systems GmbH. Students also went to Perth and visited a harbour operator, a winery, and Curtin University, and to Milan to visit the companies of Moreschi, LoroPiana, BrancaMenta, Giorgio Armani, Cartier, and Visionnaire. They also attended the Milan World Expo 2015 to gain a further understanding of real-life business issues in an international perspective.

Take a LEAP
Application for PolyU’s MBA in International Business, Fashion, and Business Research streams has begun and it is time to take the LEAP. Leadership with responsibility; Empowerment through intellectual growth and networking; Agility to face challenges in a complex and fast-moving world; Pragmatic knowledge for Fashion, International Business, and Business Research is the catch phrase that guides the PolyU MBA programme with world-renowned and industry experienced faculty providing a solid foundation in Fashion, International Business, and Business Research streams.

Haute Couture or prêt-à-porter? The MBA in Fashion stream draws upon PolyU’s own Institute of Textiles & Clothing to provide close to 60 years of knowledge at all levels, from textile manufacturing to fashion design, with an established industry network throughout the world from which candidates can learn from and network with. PolyU’s Asian Centre for Branding & Marketing, meanwhile, provides a powerful research resource for candidates to understand how best to build and promote their products, brands, and labels.

Business in Hong Kong is international and there is no better place for the MBA International Business candidate to gain insight into working across disciplines and build their network in all aspects of trade, sourcing, supply chain management, project management, and financial services. PolyU has a network of over 43,000 alumni across all disciplines.

PolyU’s MBA programme is designed for mid-level managers to learn at their convenience through evening and weekend classes, as well as field study. A Management Orientation Workshop provides students with the orientation to PolyU’s MBA programme as well as an opportunity to get better acquainted with their classmates.

PolyU’s promise of Opening Minds and Shaping the Future steers the University to excel in professional education through applied research and partnership for the betterment of Hong Kong, the nation, and the world. PolyU is constantly reviewing its curriculum to meet current and long-term needs to equip students with theoretical concepts and practical applications.

The PolyU MBA — with streams in Fashion, International Business, and Business Research — is a direct result of innovationdriven education built on a solid base of industry experienced faculty. “We aim at nurturing business leaders with practical wisdom,” concludes Dr Cheng.

For more information, visit www.fb.polyu.edu.hk/r/mba