Athabasca University's Business Graduates - Look out World!

EDMONTON, June 7, 2016 /CNW/ - Athabasca University (AU) is celebrating another impressive Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) graduating class of 2016 with 172 MBAs, 8 DBAs and 176 Undergraduates. This year, our graduates are coming from as far away as Shanghai, China and Nigeria.

"This newest class of grads speaks to the growing reach and impact of AU's online business programs on the Canadian and global business communities," says Dr. Deborah Hurst, Dean, Athabasca University, Faculty of Business. "Our grads represent an amazing cross section of geographic regions, industries, sectors and occupations. This reflects the powerful collaboration and sharing of ideas, experiences and business practices that occurs in our online environments."

Here's what Athabasca University's business grads have to say about AU's graduate programs:

Keltie Jones (DBA 2016), Assistant Dean, Students & Academic Administration, Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture (Truro, Nova Scotia) – "I wanted to complete my doctorate at a Canadian university, and the online format combined with some in-person time was very attractive. In addition, the practical/applied focus of the DBA appealed to me – I am not interested in studying theory for the sake of theory!"

Steve Dennison (MBA 2016), Director, Implementation & Logistics – Automation, McKesson Automation Canada (Montreal, Quebec) – "I travel quite a bit for work and live in the suburbs, so it was important to find a program that offered flexibility and didn't force me to be in a classroom on specific days, while still providing a good education and with a good reputation. AU offered all of that."

Danny Leckelt (MBA 2016), Owner, Co-President, Silent-Aire Manufacturing, Inc.  (Edmonton, AB & Gilbert, Arizona) – "I chose Athabasca University because of the reputation and the ability to learn remotely while working and growing the family business."

Marcia Trudeau (MBA 2016), Strategic Investments Officer, United Chiefs & Councils of Mnidoo Mnising (Wikwemikong, ON) – "I would not have been able to complete the program without the flexibility that online learning provides (we moved 4 times while I was enrolled), and thoroughly enjoyed the international aspects of the program."

Nearly 420 grads and family members will be arriving in Edmonton on Thursday and Friday to attend the Faculty of Business' convocation ceremonies in Athabasca, Alberta on Saturday, June 11 to receive their degrees.  "It's very impressive that so many of our grads bring their families to Athabasca to attend the convocation ceremony and join us at a gala dinner and dance in Edmonton,' says Dr. Hurst. "It really speaks to the community that's built within our online environments, as well as pride our grads feel at completing a major educational and professional milestone."

Launched in 1994 as the world's first online Executive MBA program and in 2009 as Canada's first online DBA program, AU's business programs are among the largest in Canada with approximately 13,000 active undergraduate, 900 MBA and 50 doctoral students.

SOURCE Athabasca University Faculty of Business

Media inquiries: Chris McLeod, Director of Marketing and Communications, Faculty of Business, Cell: 780-965-0286, Email: [email protected]