University of Calgary - Haskayne School of Business

Located in Canada’s “second business center (behind Toronto),” University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business “has close connections with local business.” That’s a big deal when you’re in “the heart of the energy sector of Canada” and those connections forge a “link to the oil and gas business environment and high-level executives.” Students note that “the integration into the oil and gas community is very evident here (e.g., speaker panels with oil execs, etc).” Haskayne’s energy-related specialization is in global “energy management and sustainable development.”

Energy isn’t the sole focus of a Haskayne MBA, though; on the contrary, “there is a good emphasis on bringing in execs from a wide range of industries,” with finance and accounting among the program’s other strengths. Across the curriculum, Haskayne employs “a mix of both…cases and structured lectures…and methods even beyond the two…to provide all the learning that’s essential to make good leaders for tomorrow.” “In some courses, the guest speakers alone provided the ROI in the course,” one student exclaims. “Really, really interesting” electives include “entrepreneurship and new venture courses that are so much fun.” “Leadership panel discussions and other networking and learning events for students” add further value. Speaking of value, “the cost of living as well as the tuition rates are reasonable” here, meaning that Haskayne “offers an outstanding graduate education at a fairly affordable price.” Students also see, and appreciate, the program’s “willingness to be innovative and [administrators’] willingness to receive student input.” Haskayne offers a twenty-month daytime MBA, an executive MBA, an evening MBA at its downtown campus, a Global Energy Executive MBA offered in five locations around the world, and a thesis-based MBA for those interested in pursuing business research.

Students are very enthusiastic about the career opportunities afforded by Haskayne’s “close connections with local businesses,” and the Career Center earns praise for “pro- viding access to new job opportunities.” In surveys, the school’s location is consistently listed as one of its major benefits. As one student explains, the program “takes advantage of being located in an energy industry hub to provide relevant courses of study and integrat[ion] with the local business community.” Some feel there’s too much focus on the energy sector; one student tells us that “the Career Center is great, but a lot of the companies they bring in are oil- and gas-focused. It would be nice if they also engaged other industries.”

Companies that frequently hire graduates include Enmax Corporation, Nexen Inc., Enbridge Inc., Suncor Energy, Bell Canada, CIBC World Markets Inc., Scotia Bank, SMART Technologies Inc., TransCanada, TELUS Communications Ltd., Devon Canada, Shell Canada, Imperial Oil LTD, ATB Financial, Mercer Management, and Deloitte Consulting.

Life at Haskayne “allows each student to be as involved or uninvolved as we want to be. Those who want to get involved can join the MBA Society. Those who don’t have time to get involved...simply go to classes and that’s it.” Involvement is strongest among full-time students, one of whom reports “that following great classes and group meetings there is a large proportion of students that get together and go out for drinks. We have great networking and social events planned throughout the year such as ‘Iron Chef MBA,’ curling, ski trips, etc. Just a great relaxing break from the busy schoolwork.” Those in the part-time program, on the other hand, usually “do not get the benefit of experiencing school life to its fullest.” School, work, and family obligations typically leave them little time for networking events.

Haskayne MBAs “range in age from twenty-two to forty-two, single to married and hav- ing five kids, limited experience to amazing experience. Despite my classmates coming from different regions of the planet and different regions of Canada, we have a strong sense of camaraderie and good communication.” The program includes “a lot of creative people and well-rounded people...just the kind of people that you wouldn’t expect to run into in an MBA program.” Students represent “a broad range of industries…but many are experienced professionals from the oil and gas sector.”