Reinforcing Professional Development Through the MBA Program
Dr. Mane Beglaryan joined AUA in 2011, initially teaching in the Political Science and International Affairs (PSIA) program. She became a full-time lecturer at the Manoogian Simone College of Business Economics in 2012. In 2018, she assumed a position as assistant professor in the Bachelor of Arts in Business (BAB), Master of Science in Management (MSM), and Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs. In February 2020, Dr. Beglaryan was appointed chair of the MBA program.
The launch of the MBA program coincided with the formation of the private sector and first round of reforms in Armenia following the country’s independence in 1991. The early graduates of the MBA program found employment in development and private companies that demanded business education and English language proficiency. Over the years, as Armenia established professional services such as accounting and auditing, the graduates chose to specialize in the latter fields. Today, the program has shifted its direction to not only equip graduates with horizontal skills, but also create a bridge between technology, leadership, and entrepreneurship to be more compatible with the current business landscape. “As the MBA program chair at AUA, I aim to instill in my students the essential skills, including resilience, agility, open-mindedness, and sound decision-making. Under my leadership, the program has attached great significance to growing students’ intellectual capacity, soft skills, and ability to see the bigger picture,” remarks Dr. Beglaryan.
The MBA program brings in professionals in their mid-to-senior-level leadership positions who already have a solid business acumen, industry exposure, and clear ideas about their professional trajectory, in order to enhance their career path. The program provides not only the core subjects, but also the opportunity to explore and transition into completely unrelated fields such as IT, creative industries, green finance, healthcare, and more. Dr. Beglaryan believes that project-based learning is essential for the program’s development. The interaction and collaboration with industry experts bring cutting-edge knowledge directly into the classroom, allowing the program to remain relevant and highly competitive. Guest lectures, company visits, and hands-on projects are deeply ingrained into the program, providing experiential learning through close collaboration with local and international businesses.
The future of the MBA program is aligned with industry demands. It is important to not only embrace trends and developments, but also provide a unique program relevant to both the global and local context. Through the MBA journey, students learn how to build start-ups that grow into mature firms and expand beyond the boundaries of Armenia. This is a solid bricolage to foster the stronger entrepreneurial activity that is vital for Armenia.