The growing demand for professional retraining services for managers is a global phenomenon. For example, a recent study by the British Institute of Management shows that 77% of British managers directly link continuous professional education to career advancement.
The International Institute of Business today needs no special introduction. In dozens of major foreign and domestic companies, enterprises and organizations, the abbreviation "IIB" is well known. And the key to the popularity of this educational institution in serious business circles is its ability to combine progressive ideas of Western management with the needs of domestic businessmen.
For those who are hearing about this educational institution for the first time, here is a brief overview. The International Institute of Business was founded in 1993. The goal of the new institution was to support economic reforms by training and retraining personnel. Today, IIB is considered one of the leaders in business education in Ukraine. Alongside the university's unique educational projects, a leading place is occupied by the Canadian Business Management Program in Ukraine. And it is this program that deserves a more detailed discussion today. In 1999, within the framework of the intergovernmental cooperation "Ukraine-Canada", the Canadian Business Management Program in Ukraine was created. On the Canadian side, the program is implemented by Grant MacEwan College, and on the Ukrainian side, by the International Institute of Business.
A few words about IIB's partner. Grant MacEwan College (Edmonton, Alberta) was founded in 1971. This institution is among the top five colleges in Canada. Its most popular programs are in management and accounting.
The result of the joint work of the college and IIB is a program unique to Ukraine, upon completion of which Ukrainian managers have the opportunity to receive a full-fledged Canadian diploma without leaving the country.
The Canadian Program today means compliance with international standards and at the same time adaptation of courses and case studies to our business environment and our mentality. It means solving issues and problems in classrooms that can be applied (and are applied) immediately in practice.
However, let us give the floor to the project leaders. Natalia Krasnyk, PhD in Economics, Academic Director of the Canadian Business Management Program in Ukraine:
– Of course, over the four years of the program's existence, changes have occurred. For the convenience of students, we developed a website where educational materials are updated weekly. In addition, we updated our courses in accordance with changes in the Canadian college's programs. We updated courses in accounting, financial mathematics, and financial management. The courses have been deepened in line with changes in the business environment in Ukraine and changes in the needs of students.
Our teaching staff has qualitatively improved. For example, the financial management course will be taught by Doctor of Economics Alexander Nakonechny. New computer programs have also appeared. The Resource Center is actively operating, where students have the opportunity to use the latest textbooks.
It is already noticeable that while initially students were motivated by the content – it was interesting to them, it was a novelty – now people see that the Program can be practically useful to them, and they try to get the maximum benefit from it.
Time does not stand still. And today the Canadian Program has significantly expanded its scope. Its new branch is the HR Management program – one of the most in-demand and promising areas in Ukraine today.
Anna Vlasova, PhD in Economics, Director of the Center for Management Development and Human Resource Management at IIB, Master of Business Education from the French University of Economics and Law:
– Human resource management is a fascinating area of modern management. IIB was one of the first to develop this area and today is a recognized leader in the field of human resource management.
Over the course of a year, we prepared to transform the well-established short-term seminars and trainings into a diploma program.
The program is divided into courses. As a result, each day of the program includes completing an individual assignment or group work aimed at acquiring specific practical skills. And after each course, students receive assignments to complete a specific project based on materials from a real enterprise. Therefore, our teaching methods are practical, interactive, and stimulating. After all, people learn better when they do something real and useful rather than listening to formalized and structured dry lectures from teachers. And importantly, company managers now have a real opportunity to obtain a high-class HR manager with an original Canadian diploma.