EMBA and DBA programs are evolving to meet the needs of today’s business leaders, from teachers to senior executives across diverse industries.

Much like its sibling MBA, the Executive MBA (EMBA) and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programs must adapt to today’s business world, so that the target audience of senior executives has the right tools.

However, unlike MBA students who typically have less experience and are often looking to change industries or develop leadership skills, EMBA candidates are more established, with many having 10 or more years of experience in the workplace and looking to improve their existing leadership skills.

“We are looking for motivated, visionary individuals who are ready to take their leadership to the next level,” says Professor Chu Junhong, Director of the EMBA – International Stream Program at the University of Hong Kong (HKU).

Additionally, most EMBA programs are part-time to allow their cohorts to continue working full-time, especially since they tend to be mature students with more things to juggle in their lives.

“The average age of participants is 43 (with) around 20 years of professional experience,” says Dr Andrew Yuen, lecturer and director of the EMBA program at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). This diverse cohort includes both seasoned business owners and senior executives navigating the complexities of business leadership, as well as professionals from diverse industries, including doctors, lawyers, architects, actuaries and engineers.

“These students share a common goal: to improve their understanding of business principles and leadership strategies that complement their technical expertise,” says Yuen. “They come to learn something practical so they can apply it in the workplace. »

And then there is the DBA program which is at the upper echelon of business administration courses.

“There are two main types of students in the DBA program. They may be lecturers, instructors or educators in business disciplines at universities or colleges. They seek to earn a doctorate to enhance their academic credentials, advance their teaching careers, and contribute original research in the field of business administration,” says Dr. Bryan Chiu Weisheng, Head of Management and strategy and associate professor at the Metropolitan University of Hong Kong. (HKMU) Lee Shau-kee School of Business and Administration.