On the lookout for the best MBA in Chile? We heard from Marcos Singer, Director of the MBA Program at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC), who gave us an insider’s view of what UC Chile has to offer.
Starting with the overall curriculum, the UC Chile MBA covers key concepts to get all students up to a postgraduate level. These modules include Accounting for Management, Strategic Management, Leadership and Organizational Change, plus many more. All of these first-year subjects give students a global view of business and prepare them to move confidently into the corporate world.
The second year allows students to choose their own path and specialize by selecting five electives. By focusing their efforts on certain areas, they start the process of entrepreneurship that UC Chile aims to foster in all of its MBA students.
Some of the more innovative electives include R&D for Creative Innovation, Economy and Businesses of Climate Change, and Strategy in the Era of Digital Disruption. However, there are a wealth of electives to choose from, and they all fit into one of the following categories:
Marcos points to the dual focus of the UC Chile MBA, telling MBAGRADSCHOOLS that the program is unique and goes above and beyond the traditional experience and business’ point of view. Its courses have been designed to equip students with the tools and skills needed to understand and pursue the new world of startups and the ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship, and lead 21st-century corporations.
Along with the flexible element of the course content, the format is part-time, allowing you to work alongside your studies. As Marcos explains, this structure is very common in the region. “In Latin America, there are almost no full-time programs. It’s just not the culture. People usually work in specific jobs, so it’s always an Executive MBA,” he says. (02:04)
The second way the school gives its students options is where they attend classes. The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile allows you to study in-person, in a hybrid format, or fully remote if you’re looking for an MBA online in Chile.
Over time, the UC Chile MBA course has learned that students often can’t commit to a repetitive schedule, so offer two pathways and let students decide.
Evening classes take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday to Thursday.
The weekend format is every two weeks and takes place on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
“Students can [choose] whatever. It’s not that a particular cohort goes on one schedule and/or the other. You as a student can switch from one to the other, which is very good for flexibility,” adds Marcos. (02:36)
As Director of the UC Chile MBA program, Marcos is in the best position to describe the key differentiators of the program. We’ll split them into different sections:
Chile is one of the countries most affected by climate change, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by the course creators. Marcos explains, “We’ve taken a very strong approach towards sustainability. We care a lot. Our country has been enjoying, and at the same time suffering, the good and the bad from capitalism. So we have to understand well how to do it right, and we care a lot and we study a lot of social [and] environmental governance issues. (03:33)
Aside from having various electives that deal with topics such as sustainability, these social and environmental governance issues are baked into all areas of the course.
To offer a well-rounded education, the UC Chile MBA takes advantage of its well-known worldwide network of professionals, combining state-of-the-art teaching styles. This is the building block of the program’s success and reputation, as it prepares leaders with the ability to adapt to different and competitive working environments. With a world-class faculty, the UC Chile MBA continues to redefine executive programs in the region.
There are many elements that make up UC’s mission to prepare students for the world of work. Some are strategic, such as discussing and advising on career paths, as well as connecting students with potential future employers or mentors.
However, UC goes one step further when it comes to supporting its students. “We have a funding program that in some cases we fund the startups they are creating. So a lot of resources for them to reach their goals,” Marcos shares. (05:52)
Funding opportunities are not only beneficial financially. They replicate the real-life experience of presenting a project to investors and can be the first step that students need to make their mark in the world of business.
If you’d like to speak to MBA students about their experience directly, head to the MBAGRADSCHOOLS Ambassadors Page.
