Korean Job Discussion Forums

[denistron]

I am considering some different options in terms of studies. One of which is doing an MBA at a Korean university. I heard that scholarships for foreigners are quite good.

My question is what kind of weight would getting a degree in Korea carry back home? Would I be better-off doing an online/correspondence program from a university of my home country? I'd rather do something face to face with a real teacher. But, I also don't plan on staying in Korea for ever, so I need something that can still be useful down the road.

Any experiences, opinions?

[TheBulimicFatGuy]

Doesn't MBA stand for 'Married But Available'? At least, it does according to one of my Korean ex-coworkers.

Seriously though, I haven't gone on for the post-grad degree myself but I know quite a few co-workers that are on it. Most of them are doing an online degree from the University of Queensland but if you want an online degree to be taken seriously in Canada, I've heard that the University of Phoenix is the way to go. A lot of money though. I've yet to hear of how well Korean degrees are accepted back in Canada (no idea for other countries) but I imagine they're no different from any other foreign degree. Once you've gone back, you'll have to take some tests to prove the validity of your degree.

[aarontendo]

I wouldn't even touch University of Phoenix. It's online only. If you're going to do a distance degree do one that is offered both on and off campus.

[bobbyhanlon]

if you're seriously looking to improve your career prospects, i would advise you not to do an MBA in korea. and don't do an online one either, for that matter.

if you were studying korean, or asian studies, something like that, then a degree from korea would probably be very respectable. but not for an mba... thousands of korean students go to the usa and europe every year for precisely that reason.

right now i'm taking an mba at manchester university, which is my home city. it is ranked 22 in the world, so it isn't harvard, but its perfectly respectable. however, its still tough to get a good job because the market is terrible right now (i'm applying to most of the main investment banks). i can't even begin to imagine how difficult it would be with an online degree.

[denistron]

egad!

[moff12]

A Korean MBA, like any MBA, has the most value where you receive it. So do an MBA here if you have at least medium-term prospects in Korea, otherwise there is no point.

I think the key to any MBA program are the connections you make with fellow classmates, therefore I feel that online-MBAs are more for people trying to advance at their current employer than people trying to career-switch.

However, if your goal is to start your own business then it is just about the knowledge not the recognition so anywhere in any form is fine. (But you could save a lot of time and money and just buy the books).

[shaunew]

If you want a great online MBA from Canada that is ranked in the top 100 world MBA's and 3rd in Canada go to www.athabascau.ca click grad school area.

[shaunew]

http://www.mba.athabascau.ca/

Here is the direct link to the MBA course.

[sonicmatt]

I know most colleges in the states offer online courses for MBA, just go to a college that has a good MBA program on campus and search around the site to see if they do online courses.

[Mr. Pink]

[Jane]

I know some people doing their MBA at Sejong University in Seoul...they have a joint program with Syracuse University in the States...I believe foreigners get some sort of scholarship and also that the program just got accredited..

[bobbyhanlon]

what's your plan after the mba?

[moff12]

Sungkyunkwan's GSB MBA is in calloboration with MIT, and IU as well I think, however it is not accredited.

[Traveller]

I spoke to a foreigner who did an MBA here today actually.
She works in the corporate environment, and said that had her employer not paid for it, she would have dropped out. Topics are not open for discussion, lecturers are not questioned, and after completing the MBA she gave it to a potential employer in Seoul, who didn't accept it as being valid towards her application. A Korean employer told her the standard is too low.

If you can do it full time(18mths) there is a programme in Shanghai, on the top 10 list, for much less in terms of fees. it looks like an excellent programme.

[DaeSung]

I think this topic has been covered a few times here on daves. I'm also looking at doing an MBA (applied, had my interview waiting for the outcome).

I work for a fairly large Korean company, speak moderate Korean, and although I would really like to take some classes in Korea, there is just no way that even a free MBA would be worth it unless you plan on staying in Korea. Just my two cents.

I have a close friend that was attending grad school at Seoul National University (doing asian studies/chinese lit.) He wanted to go back to the states for a Phd at a top ranked program and they told him his degree was basically worthless. He ended up going to the states and just getting an MBA.

As for what Korean employers will think, um... well they will think its cool if you happen to go to the school they went to, if not and you didn't go to Seoul, Korea, or Yeonsae then you pretty much don't have anything going for you.

Where you go to school is up to you, as for me, I'm going back to the states (if i get in ^^). My wife is Korean and we really like being in Korea, we even plan on coming back sometime. The thing is I want to be a C level employee when I come back, and that won't happen if you graduated from a Korean MBA unless you got some great experince, awsome Korean skills, and personaly know someone thats gonna get you hired.

Hope everything goes good for you 화이팅