Professional Development Program

This program is intended to introduce students to various aspects of business processes and professional skill areas. It will also link students with the business community through utilizing guest speakers currently practicing and faculty members researching within the respective areas. Management and organizational leadership require knowledge in the functional areas of business and how those areas integrate in order to make business decisions. However, the successful practice of management is enhanced through knowledge of and expertise in a variety of skills that are situational based.

International Study Tour

The annual International Study Tour is an opportunity for students to experience business first hand within an international context and immerse themselves in the business environment of a specific country. A required component of the Edwards MBA, the Tour allows students to explore a country's business practices, challenges and cultures, through a combination of research site visits and meetings with executives and government officials working within the designated country. The International Study Tour is designed to enhance the classroom curriculum through increasing the awareness of how a global economy functions, provide firsthand exposure to the business culture of the chosen country or region and the world of international economies. It offers a unique experiential learning opportunity using a project-based learning approach. Students will prepare for their expierence through doing advance research on one selected geographic location and target companies and industries.

Executive Dialogue Series

Through our MBA Executive Dialogue Series, we host MBA alumni and other distinguished members of the business community in presenting to and discussing topics of interest to our MBA students.  Past speakers include:

• Angela Schmidt – Vice President, Competitiveness and Strategy, Enterprise Saskatchewan
  
• Chandra Shekhar – Associate Editor of "The Hindu Business Line" newspaper
  
• Ron Morris – Morris Interactive
  
• Ronan Lyons – Managing Consultant, IBM Global Center for Economic Development Research
  
• Chris Avery – Vice President of Network & Revenue at WestJet Airlines
  
• Bob Cummings – Executive Vice-President, Guest Experience and Marketing at WestJet Airlines
  
• Julia Ewing – Director, Community Relations - Shore Gold Inc.
  
• Bob Gorman – Chief Portfolio Stategist - TD Waterhouse Canada Inc.
  
• Ken Seitz – Vice-President, Corporate Development - Cameco
  
• Suresh Kumar – Principal Secretary, Irrigration & Power, with the Government of Punjab
  
• Colin Robertson – Head of Public Advocacy and Legislative Secretariat, Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC
• Brian Hesje – CEO (retired) and Chairman of the Board, Fountain Tire
• Kevin Peesker – President & Vice President and member of Dell Canada’s Senior Executive Team
• Dr. Les Vertesi – Associate Director of Health Research, Fraser Health Authority
• Robert Watson – President & Chief Executive Officer, SaskTel
• Peggie Koenig – Principal, Koenig & Associates Consultants
• Krista Green – Founder & CEO, Krista Green International
• Lee Whittington – Manager Information Systems, Prairie Swine Centre & Partner, Riverbend Plantation Inc.
• Murray Guy – President, Integrated Designs Inc.
• Nola Jooristy – Institute of Chartered Accountants of Saskatchewan; “Saskatoon Check Up 2007”
• Karen Mallett – The Civility Group
• Sean O'Hagan - Owner, SwithTrade, Saskatoon and Regina
• Ronan Lyons - Managing Consultant, IBM Global Centre for Economic Development Research
• David Sutherland - Past President & CEO, IPSCO
• Sean O'Hagan - Owner, SwithTrade, Saskatoon and Regina
• Harold MacKay - Counsel, MLT
• Ken King - President & CEO, Calgary Flames
• Dr. Roger Gibbons - President & CEO, Canada West Foundation

Integrated Curriculum

Students are taught in an integrated curriculum, teaching that attempts to break down barriers between subjects and make learning more meaningful to students. Major concepts are culled from these broad themes, and activities are planned that teach or inform of these concepts. One can see how integrated curriculum requires accessing knowledge from all of the traditional subjects without labeling them as such. In addition, integrated curriculum adds problem-solving, real-world application and social consciousness to the learning process, making it a more comprehensive way of educating and of learning.

Specialized Electives

The Edwards MBA allows students to take 8 credit units of elective courses. The Edwards School of Business offers a variety of electives within disciplines and industry specific areas of interest. These include Agribusiness, bioTechnology, Finance, Indigeneous Business, International Business and Human Resources. Each of these courses are 2 credit units so students would have the option of choosing four courses within their area of interest. The Edwards MBA also allows the consideration of other University of Saskatchewan graduate level courses upon consultation with the MBA Director. 

Management Consulting Project

This project is designed to lead students through the management consulting process, including developing and presenting a consulting proposal and then completing the consulting project. Students will learn how to specify business research questions, propose appropriate methods of researching the questions, analyze the results of the research, and present conclusions and recommendations. Real external business clients are expected for each consulting group (may be one or more students in a group, depending on the size of the consulting project), including a students’ employers, but exceptions may be made for students who wish to research their own business enterprise. The most common types of business research requested by clients have been marketing research studies, business plans, feasibility studies, and industry opportunity surveys.