MBA scholarships offered to innovators

Innovative leaders have been given the chance to win one of two full £17,600 scholarships to study for their Master of Business Administration (MBA).

The innovation scholarships are being offered by the University of Portsmouth Business School and the city’s Cathedral Innovation Centre, supported by the Royal Society of Arts.  

The main aim of the scholarships is to encourage and foster creativity and innovation, and to support those who wish to make a greater leadership contribution in the future. 

Applications will also be considered from individuals going through a career change who plan to move into a leadership role contributing to social, public or economic innovation.
The scholarships are for the part-time Executive MBA starting this September at Portsmouth Business School . The programme, which is accredited by the prestigious Association of MBAs, comprises two years of block delivery study (mainly on Fridays and Saturdays), followed by a research project lasting six months.

The deadline for applying for admission to the programme and for applying for the scholarships is July 24.

Winners will have their course tuition fees paid by Portsmouth Business School. They will also receive business and innovation mentoring arranged through the Cathedral Innovation Centre and will be given access to a network of business resources to help support their studies. 
Additionally, on successful graduation they will become life-time members of the Association of MBAs providing them with a network of over 5,000 contacts worldwide.

Professor Gioia Pescetto, Dean of Portsmouth Business School, said: “The MBA is the gold standard business qualification and many of those who study with us are quickly promoted once they graduate.
“The aim of the scholarships is to promote the value of innovation and social responsibility in our region, which, in turn, has the potential to help local businesses, large and small, become fit for business challenges as we emerge from the recession.”

To be eligible to apply, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Have a first degree (2:2 or above).
• Have at least three to five years of managerial or professional work experience.
• Have demonstrated a commitment to innovation in their career and a desire to make innovation a focus of their MBA study and work after graduating.
• Live in the south-central region.

Successful applicants will be required to focus their MBA assignments and dissertation on innovation in one of four areas – the marine economy, the rural economy, the public sector or the social sector. Applications from those going through a career change and planning to move into a leadership role contributing to social, public or economic innovation will also be considered.

Successful applicants will be required to focus their MBA assignments and dissertation on innovation in one of four areas – the marine economy, the rural economy, the public sector or the social sector. Applications from those going through a career change and planning to move into a leadership role contributing to social, public or economic innovation will also be considered.


To find out more and to apply, visit our MBA scholarship page at www.port.ac.uk/mbascholarships