KING ABDULLAH ECONOMIC CITY — Prince MUhammad Bin Salman College's high-energy proactive student recruitment efforts have paid off beyond expectations as the number of applications submitted to the KAEC-based college over the past three months has surpassed 1,200, a surprising 500% more than the college's original goal. MBSC is the region's first institute to focus on business entrepreneurship. With applications from in an outside the Kingdom, the school has its pick of the cream of the crop. MSBC's registration is on-going and applicants can still apply to one of the college's three MBA programs. The full-time MBA requires daily attendance in the classroom along with practical activities aimed at completing the program in just 15 months. The part-time and executive MBA program, designed to accommodate students already in the business world, involves on- and off-campus activities every two weeks for around 22 months. Part-time and executive MBA offers a flexible program that allows those already moving up the professional ladder to continue their education in a manner that best fits their schedules. "Our recruitment efforts, which are very innovative and energetic, have been successful not only because of the hard work we have put into them, but because there is a very high demand in Saudi Arabia for quality business education, right now, especially in light of the guidelines of Vision 2030," said Dr. Nabeel Koshak, MSBC dean. "We have worked ceaselessly to make MBSC a top business school, even partnering with Babson, the world leader in entrepreneurship education, to formulate a curriculum that is relevant both locally and internationally." Babson Global, a wholly-owned subsidiary of US-based Babson College, is known for its hands-on approach to entrepreneurship education and enabling a practical learning experience for students through their participation in real-world entrepreneurial environments. Learning is seen as an active process, not a passive one that takes place solely in the classroom. The establishment of MBSC is considered a vital step toward creating an entrepreneurial eco-system within Saudi Arabia that is harmonious with Prince Muhammad's vision and MISK foundation's aspirations to create opportunities for the intellectual development of all Saudi citizens. One tenet of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 plan for social and economic progress promotes the establishment of an entrepreneurial culture that allows young Saudis to realize their creative potential. MBSC was founded with these goals in mind. The recruitment program includes many innovative approaches. First, MBSC went into the market to seek out the best and the brightest students, and offered sample MBA masterclass sessions delivered by MBSC faculty members in Jeddah, Riyadh, the Eastern Province, Bahrain and Jordan. Similar masterclasses were also held on the MBSC campus at KAEC. The recruitment program is still running and campus tours and masterclasses are still available. The recruitment program is bolstered by an easy-to-negotiate application process that can be completed entirely online. "We are a unique institution in the region and we are employing unique methods to attract the best and the brightest," explained Dr. Asma Siddiki, vice dean of Student Affairs and Enrollment. "This represents a new horizon, especially for our Saudi students, who are eager to distinguish themselves as integral participants in an evolving Saudi economy." So far, more than 19 countries are in the applicant pool, including candidates from both the public and private sectors.
