B-School Short-Term Thinking Assailed

University of Maryland Gets $250 Million Contract to Teach US Military in Europe

The University of Maryland University College has signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense. As part of this agreement, University College will provide face-to-face MBA courses to military personnel and their families at American bases in Europe. The contract, which must be renewed annually, runs for 10 years and could be worth over $250 million dollars.

According to Bloomberg Businessweek, the program will launch at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany and the Aviano Air Base in Italy before being placed at smaller installations in Europe. Like the University of Maryland’s MBA program, the curriculum will include seven six-credit seminars, along with a three credit introductory course. Each credit would cost $285, with many courses taught on-site by University of Maryland faculty. University College estimates that the 200 students will be enrolled in the program.

The University of Phoenix had previously delivered MBA courses to US military personnel in Europe. Bidding for MBA programs in American military bases in Asia will occur later this year.

Sources: Financial Times, Bloomberg Busienssweek

Blast from the Past:

An aerial view of Stanford’s new nine-building complex for its business school.

Harvard vs. Stanford: Which Builds a Better Entrepreneur?

Close your eyes. Think about “Harvard” for a minute. What impressions come to mind? Blue bloods? The corporate elite? Slow and stodgy tradition? Now, imagine Stanford. What do you see? Silicon Valley? Start ups? A fast-moving landscape requiring continuous improvisation?

Now, open your eyes. You might be surprised to learn that many of these tags don’t quite fit. Sure, Harvard has traditionally been hostile to entrepreneurs. Now, first years are required to take an entrepreneurship course – and Harvard’s business plan competition is bigger than ever! Harvard even has a $25 million dollar center dedicated to entrepreneurship (along with 35 faculty members devoted to it). Conversely, Stanford actually has no dedicated faculty to entrepreneurship. And they don’t hold a business plan competition either.

So which school is the true destination for entrepreneurs? Check out this expose of each school to learn the truth.

Source: Poets&Quants