AMBA & BGA CAPACITY-BUILDING WORKSHOPS
The speaker’s perspective: Eimear Nolan , director of the flexible executive MBA, Trinity Business School, Ireland What was the aim of your session? “To share how I reimagined a face-to-face MBA as a flexible online MBA without sacrificing the student experience or quality. Having spent two years designing the school’s flexible executive MBA (FEMBA) and then enhancing it, there are some valuable lessons I have learned that can help others interested in adopting a blended or online structure.” Which single aspect of the redesigned EMBA are you most proud of and why? “Creating a programme that allows busy professionals (with full-time jobs and very often caring responsibilities at home, be it children, ageing parents, or indeed both) to obtain educational goals that otherwise might have been impossible. I asked myself how I would manage to do an MBA with all the other commitments and responsibilities that life holds and the answer was that I simply would not be able to do one [in the traditional format]. I thought that was an awful shame and I wanted to create a programme for people in similar circumstances.” What was the single biggest challenge you experienced in the redesign process and how did you overcome it? “Changing the perception that an online MBA was somehow a lesser option. The FEMBA was deliberately designed to offer an MBA experience that is equally as strong as traditional formats for those who cannot commit to being on campus a few times a week. “This is something that only time could solve, as both faculty and students experienced the programme’s quality of content delivery, the strong focus on student engagement and the commitment to peer networking. Hopefully, the FEMBA has paved the way for more programmes to adopt this approach and not be seen or labelled a ‘lesser’ option.”
The delegate’s perspective: Szilvia Bíró-Szigeti, associate professor and dean’s delegate for communication, Faculty of Economic & Social Sciences, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary What was your top takeaway from the workshop in Dublin? “The strategic importance of clear and distinctive positioning. Our value proposition at the Faculty of Economic & Social Sciences goes beyond conventional business education to encompass technological understanding, human and social insight, ethical reflection and a commitment to sustainability – an approach we call Business & Beyond. “The workshop reinforced my belief that such positioning must not only be clearly defined but also communicated consistently through messages tailored to different audiences. Equally valuable was the openness and supportive spirit of the AMBA & BGA community, whose members readily shared their experiences, challenges and practical insights.” Is your school planning any initiatives in the areas discussed? “Our plans focus on taking a more deliberate approach to the development and application of competencies. A deeper understanding of our workforce, insights into alumni career paths and feedback from employers and stakeholders could help refine this framework. “Furthermore, we plan to pilot more intensive, project-based and international learning formats that address real-world technological, organisational and societal challenges. Collectively, these initiatives would offer greater flexibility and prepare graduates to work confidently across disciplinary and professional boundaries.”
Business Impact • ISSUE 5 • 2026
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