Abstract:

The requirements for the working force are not only growing under the pressure of labour market competition but change frequently according to the technological and managerial progress, so people need to update their professional skills or enlarge their knowledge in the adjoining spheres. Further professional education provides opportunities to fill the gap, still the evidence is that the volume of managerial education programs in the world has contracted during the crisis. The current economic situation after the crisis hinders the recovery of demand for business education. Besides, competition between Russian and international business schools and universities increases. It is therefore important to understand and predict the parameters of consumer choice of those who will opt for business education in the future.

Nowadays clients of further professional education are oriented on after-graduating career growth mainly in international or Russian companies working on the global markets. At the same time few of them are ready to study full-time, others prefer part-time or distant learning that combines applied theoretical classes with practically oriented business trainings. To check the main requirements of the clients and evaluate the results of the programs the special study was conducted by the management of MBA programs realized in the frameworks of further professional education in the Faculty of Economics of Lomonosov Moscow State University.

The study is based on the surveys (three waves in 2013-2014, more than 150 respondents) similar to those that are used in partners’ European business schools, so, applying it to the clients of further professional education programs from Russia and Kazakhstan we got the chance to compare priorities, preferences and the estimations of the results of different students. These results reveal common views and peculiarities and provide the basis for new approaches to further professional education, including accentuating efforts on analytical skills, thinking focused on decisions, and readiness for effective work and at the same time combining distant technologies with face-to-face contacts with professors and peers that create the unique atmosphere supporting professional and managerial development.

Further professional education should develop in accordance with the new requirements and interdisciplinary approaches play a special role in this process. Business education in Spain is one of the oldest in Europe and still 2 Spanish international business schools - IESE and IE are among 15 best in the 2014 FT Global MBA rating, so participation in the conference in Madrid will enlarge the vision of the members of our team on the modern trends of business education development.

Keywords:

Further professional education, MBA, crisis, consumer choice, multidisciplinary approach.