Ashland University will begin its recently established one year International Master of Business Administration program in January.

This new one-year MBA program includes two international study tours and classes that can be completed on Saturdays. The program was developed through the collaborative effort of the newly appointed dean of the Dauch College of Business and Economics, Elad Granot, and other members of the school and university.

“The fact that we have a one year format makes us very unique,” Granot said. “We also have two international study tours. That makes us not only unique in the region, but unique everywhere.”

Although most programs have one study abroad built in, there are no other MBA programs that offer two international tours as a part of their curriculum, while also not having any additional pricing he said.

In 2017, students will travel to Prague, Czech Republic and Lisbon, Portugal where they will have the opportunity to see these countries from the perspective of a tourist and business leader.

Granot, who has over 25 years of management, administration and leadership experience in a variety of military, business and academic institutions, said these tours are designed to raise awareness and increase exposure to businesses around the world.

“One of the things I have seen in my years of higher education is the impact international exposure has on aspiring business people,” Granot said. “I have seen students wake up to a new reality and going abroad, students cannot help but reevaluate career aspirations.”

As a result of Granot’s background in international business and marketing, he believes having multiple tours built in international programs is extremely important in order for the student to flourish in their experience.

“One of the things I have seen in both business and higher education is the impact that international exposure has on inspiring business people,” Granot said. “We can talk about in the classroom as much as we want, but it is a whole different story when you actually experience it.”

Another benefit to the AU program is that there is no GMAT requirement, and there is a low faculty-to-student ratio Granot said.

In the past, students would not begin grad school until after spending a few years in the work force. With the competition of getting into and MBA program increasing, students are beginning to go for their MBA right out of college.

Beginning the process of getting a masters right out of school can be expensive. This is why the program was designed to just hold classes on Saturdays, allowing students to have the weekdays to commit to working.

The price is also cheaper than other programs. Compared to The Ohio State University’s program, which costs over $60,000 for two years, AU’s program is under $30,000. The program also allows students the flexibility to have weekdays to work.

Granot encourages even those students who are not business majors to consider getting their MBA at Ashland because he said it can benefit every student, regardless of what their end career goals may be.

“The great thing about an MBA is that any line of work that you choose, you are going to be working within an enterprise,” Granot said. “That means you are working within an organization that has a structure, a financial and marketing element to it, so while you studying something now that is not a business related field, you will eventually be working within a business environment and having business skills is something that you will need as you climb up the ladder.”

The program begins with its first cohort on Jan. 14, 2017 and classes will held at the Ashland University Columbus campus. A second group will begin in fall of 2017.

Following the first cohorts, Granot said they hope to extend the program from the Columbus campus, to the AU campus, a site in Cleveland and eventually offer the program all online.