The first weekend of the last semester is underway. We are all looking forward to finishing and getting our lives back, but we have been mentioning to each other about how we will miss catching up with each other every couple of weeks.
Old courses have all been wrapped up and (most) grades received. For the most part I believe that people were happy. There weren`t any final exams, so all of the marks were based on essays. This has it`s advantages and disadvantages, but I believe that most students preferred this method to final exams.
New courses will be starting this weekend, although everyone has started making their predictions based on course outlines.
8 weekends of school work left - Corporate Strategy, Information Systems, Mergers and Acquisitions or New Capitalism and Major Project.
The semester culminates with the class trip to Hong Kong and Tokyo. It will be a bittersweet as it will be a lot of fun, but it will also probably be the last time we will all be together (save for graduation). Lots to look forward to.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Friday, December 5, 2008
Leadership
The class is coming to the conclusion of it's first semester of year 2. As the calendar year comes to a close, thoughts turn to our trip (see previous post) and graduation.
Some of the benefits of non-core courses in the second year is more emphasis on class participation and less on finals and midterms. I really prefer this way of instruction. This encourages students to prepare, to participate and the think more out-of-the-box about concepts rather than learn them by rote and write them down on an exam for marks.
Leadership is the first class that we have finished this semester. I really wanted to enjoy this class, but unfortunately I didn`t get out of it what I wanted. The amount of reading was quite voluminous with at least six HBR articles to read each class. I don`t mind doing the reading, if it is beneficial, but doing the readings and not following up in class was frustrating for me.
This is a subject matter that is difficult to cover in just 32 hours. Hitting the high points and delving into a few important points would have been more beneficial than trying to cover it all and then expecting the class to go into the depths on their own.
Overall, I enjoyed the class, but I don`t think that I got out of it what I wanted. This feedback has been provided to the instructor and I hope that the class improves for the next class.
Some of the benefits of non-core courses in the second year is more emphasis on class participation and less on finals and midterms. I really prefer this way of instruction. This encourages students to prepare, to participate and the think more out-of-the-box about concepts rather than learn them by rote and write them down on an exam for marks.
Leadership is the first class that we have finished this semester. I really wanted to enjoy this class, but unfortunately I didn`t get out of it what I wanted. The amount of reading was quite voluminous with at least six HBR articles to read each class. I don`t mind doing the reading, if it is beneficial, but doing the readings and not following up in class was frustrating for me.
This is a subject matter that is difficult to cover in just 32 hours. Hitting the high points and delving into a few important points would have been more beneficial than trying to cover it all and then expecting the class to go into the depths on their own.
Overall, I enjoyed the class, but I don`t think that I got out of it what I wanted. This feedback has been provided to the instructor and I hope that the class improves for the next class.
International Trip - The Decision
Before there was 1 - there was 4: Hong Kong/Beijing; Hong Kong/Tokyo; Santiago/Buenos Aires; Dubai/Bangalore.
The Dubai/Bangalore trip was popular however there were two drawbacks: the time to be spent in the air and the school was finding it difficult to find a tour operator. However, the school said that if the class voted for that trip, the would work something out. This trip got a boost earlier that day when a manager from Emirates Cargo came to talk to us about his company and what it is like to travel to and visit Dubai.
The Santiago/Buenos Aires team brought in a case of wine to help "smooth" the voting. The Hong Kong/Tokyo team had a member that was willing to pay for all drinks on the flights! All is fair in the voting process apparently.
The rules were set out - simple majority of votes wins. There were 35 students casting votes - first group to 18 votes wins.
ROUND 1
Hong Kong/Beijing dropped out of the voting. There was a general feeling that this trip was two cities in one country although vastly different.
ROUND 2
Dubai/Bangalore dropped out.
Down to South America and Asia. The bidding war went up when it was pointed out that there may be free drinks on international flights and promises of fully paid nights out were flying all over the place.
FINAL ROUND
Hong Kong/Tokyo is the WINNER!!!
Everyone is very excited and looking forward to the trip - not just because it is the culmination of two years of seriously hard work.
The Dubai/Bangalore trip was popular however there were two drawbacks: the time to be spent in the air and the school was finding it difficult to find a tour operator. However, the school said that if the class voted for that trip, the would work something out. This trip got a boost earlier that day when a manager from Emirates Cargo came to talk to us about his company and what it is like to travel to and visit Dubai.
The Santiago/Buenos Aires team brought in a case of wine to help "smooth" the voting. The Hong Kong/Tokyo team had a member that was willing to pay for all drinks on the flights! All is fair in the voting process apparently.
The rules were set out - simple majority of votes wins. There were 35 students casting votes - first group to 18 votes wins.
ROUND 1
Hong Kong/Beijing dropped out of the voting. There was a general feeling that this trip was two cities in one country although vastly different.
ROUND 2
Dubai/Bangalore dropped out.
Down to South America and Asia. The bidding war went up when it was pointed out that there may be free drinks on international flights and promises of fully paid nights out were flying all over the place.
FINAL ROUND
Hong Kong/Tokyo is the WINNER!!!
Everyone is very excited and looking forward to the trip - not just because it is the culmination of two years of seriously hard work.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
EMBA Information
If anyone would like information about doing an Executive MBA - particularly at the University of Calgary, I would be happy to have a conversation or provide information about either the program or anything else surrounding the requirements.
Leave a comment with your email address and I'll send you an email. I can delete the comment afterwards so that your email address isn't visible online for long.
I look forward to hearing from people!
Leave a comment with your email address and I'll send you an email. I can delete the comment afterwards so that your email address isn't visible online for long.
I look forward to hearing from people!
Friday, October 10, 2008
No shortage of fodder
With the current financial "crisis" going on, there is no shortage of people being affected. From the young (RESP) to the old (RRSP) to the middle-aged (both).
Every class that we are in is talking about it - from International Business to Leadership. A lot of questions, but not a lot of answers.
Every class that we are in is talking about it - from International Business to Leadership. A lot of questions, but not a lot of answers.
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