A prestigious Prague MBA program is rocket fuel for development and networking

Holding your own and succeeding in the world of business is no mean feat. Often, professionals who find themselves elevated into management roles feel overwhelmed, as they are required to take on additional responsibilities necessitating new skill sets.

MBA degrees are designed to equip students with the skills they need to succeed as business leaders. One of Czechia’s most prestigious MBA programs, run by the Faculty of Business Administration (FBA) at the Prague University of Economics and Business, teaches crucial business capabilities to Czechs and expats alike in a part-time format, with teaching taking place every other weekend. 

Students with professional experience can pursue their MBA alongside their working life – bringing major benefits both for their own careers, and for their organizations as a whole.

Described as a “Demanding MBA for a Challenging World,” VŠE’s Executive MBA program, run by the Faculty of Business Administration, each year attracts a blend of Czech and foreign students bringing a wide range of perspectives and personalities to the course. In last year’s cohort, 40 percent of the class were expats hailing from Central Europe as well as from Asia, the United Kingdom, Ukraine and elsewhere.

According to Vojtěch Opleštil, Executive Director of the program at the Faculty, “most of our students live and work in Czechia already and are seeking new insights and impetus for their careers.”

Students have typically gained 10-12 years’ work experience, though this can vary widely; in the previous cohort, the youngest student was 28, while the oldest was close to 50. At least six years’ work experience, with at least two years spent leading a team, is required.

“The course is ideal for those without a strong business background who find themselves taking on a management role, as well as people who have a business background but want to gain new perspectives. Students gain a broad understanding of business,” Opleštil explains. “We also teach senior managers with 15-20 years’ experience who want to learn something new.”

Opleštil adds that while the curriculum is the same for all students, the program “is what you make it.” 

Every student is encouraged to apply their learnings within the context of their own career. “This way, the course directly benefits them as individuals, and also their teams and organization. I always strongly suggest that students discuss their priorities and goals with their boss and colleagues before embarking on the course,” Opleštil says.

Applied learning, putting theory into practice, is a central component of the FBA MBA course content. Along with lectures, students engage through skills seminars, corporate workshops with companies, an international trip and more.

These opportunities are, according to Opleštil, “part of an approach which emphasizes not just knowledge, but also skills. We take academic theory and discuss how it can be applied in real life.”

“Students really appreciate this practical approach,” he adds.

Skills seminars drawing on lecturers’ real-world experiences include deep dives into topics such as problem-solving – teaching the secrets of management consulting – and how to deliver effective presentations. Corporate workshops, recently held with major companies including Kaufland and CE Industries, allow students to tackle business problems in collaboration with senior leaders.

Mahmoud Omara, who joined the program as a newcomer to Czechia, describes being “lucky enough to meet a lot of great people who pushed me in many ways.”

VŠE’s Faculty of Business Administration is the only faculty in Czechia to hold Triple Crown accreditation, combining prestigious AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA international accreditations, which are only awarded to schools with the highest quality staff, teaching and science. As such, it ranks among the top 1 percent of business schools in the world. In this way, it also contributes to the overall quality of MBA programmes throughout the Czech Republic, which is varied due to a lack of regulation.

As Executive Director of the course, Opleštil brings expertise and experience gained at some of the world’s most renowned companies. While previously working in the high-pressure world of management consulting, Opleštil achieved success with Deloitte, PwC and Novartis.

Now leading VŠE’s MBA program, Opleštil praises the Faculty of Business Administration’s “ambitious, flexible and forward-looking” approach. This is in line with the ambitions of the Faculty's leadership under Dean Prof. Jiří Hnilica, a renowned expert in corporate finance and family business. 

The Faculty's achievements are reflected in its leading position in the CEMS alliance, which brings together the world's top business schools to offer the Masters in International Management. What’s more, Opleštil points out, the course provides a quality business education at a favorable price when compared with similarly prestigious schools elsewhere in Central Europe and around the world.

For professionals seeking to broaden their horizons, gain skills to further their careers and boost their leadership skills and business network, the FBA Executive MBA program delivers a recipe for success. With applications open to join the next cohort of budding leaders, expats have a unique opportunity to put themselves at the cutting edge of modern business.