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HKUST MBA |
FULL TIME MBA
Different aspirations towards a common goal – Interview with the MBA Association (MBAA) 2018
Different aspirations towards a common goal – Interview with the MBA Association (MBAA) 2018
As the leadership of the full-time student body, Laurent and his team have continued to improve every student’s individual MBA experience through a series of themed events. They told the MBA Sundial about their achievements and future plans.
One of their most notable accomplishments was a series of student-led sharing and tech-themed workshops. These formed a suitable introductory point for the technology currently in use and created momentum for continuity beyond the workshops. For instance, at the Unix system workshop the students learned the essentials of file management interface. This in turn laid the foundation to explore the newer enhancement applications that evolved from Unix. On another occasion, the students worked on Tableau, which excelled at story-telling and the visualisation of plain data. The participants were instantly fascinated.
One of their most notable accomplishments was a series of student-led sharing and tech-themed workshops. These formed a suitable introductory point for the technology currently in use and created momentum for continuity beyond the workshops. For instance, at the Unix system workshop the students learned the essentials of file management interface. This in turn laid the foundation to explore the newer enhancement applications that evolved from Unix. On another occasion, the students worked on Tableau, which excelled at story-telling and the visualisation of plain data. The participants were instantly fascinated.
Escape Room Game: some are able to escape, others get locked in. All good for team-building nonetheless.
Because team-building was another theme that the MBAA focused on, Laurent and his team held a string of #mUSThave events that included the MBA for Professionals (MBAP) students and alumni (through MBAAA). The #mUSThaveSaturday allowed full-time MBA students to regularly and conveniently mingle with MBAPs, because they met on campus immediately after Saturday classes. The visit to the LostHK Escape Room was an enjoyable and successful afternoon that allowed different groups to work together to problem-solve a common goal. A couple of hiking trips helped to build bridges and foster bonding between our students and alumni. One fruitful takeaway was the opportunity for a few current students to join the alumni Dragon-boat team.
‘We realise everyone has different aspirations. Exploit the common thread so we can progress towards a common goal, and benefit as a whole’, Laurent Ye, President of MBAA.
Laurent Ye– President
When asked about the upcoming plan, the first words out of everybody's mouth concerned the Global MBA Challenge. Given that this is our fourth time hosting this distinctive competition, the committee is working tirelessly to ensure a successful event with elite competing business schools and prestigious sponsors. An on-going plan ‘Project 85 Something’ is also picking up speed. It consists of a chain of interviews or personal stories from Intake 2018. The scripting of contrasting styles really shows the variety of individual characters. Ten stories have been published so far (link). The ultimate goal is to acquire all 85 unique stories from our full-time students.
The Committee added that because the alumni events have been constructive and popular, the MBAA intends to engage more alumni in its upcoming events.
‘Family, Discover, Execution’ said Laurent when asked to summarise his MBAA journey so far. ‘I regard the MBA cohort as a big family and MBAA as its support. Running it along, unprecedented challenges continue to be discovered. Prioritising and time-management are essential in order to make things happen’.
The Committee added that because the alumni events have been constructive and popular, the MBAA intends to engage more alumni in its upcoming events.
‘Family, Discover, Execution’ said Laurent when asked to summarise his MBAA journey so far. ‘I regard the MBA cohort as a big family and MBAA as its support. Running it along, unprecedented challenges continue to be discovered. Prioritising and time-management are essential in order to make things happen’.
‘I am most satisfied when everybody gets happy and gives positive feedback. I hope the cohort finds our work on their behalf to be valuable. The sense of achievement that I get comes from knowing that everybody enjoyed themselves’, Alex Ip, VP Alumni Relations of MBAA.
Alexander Ip- VP Alumni Relations
