Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

College

College of Education and International Services

Program

Leadership PhD

First Advisor

Erich W. Baumgartner

Second Advisor

Jimmy Kijai

Third Advisor

Alayne Thorpe

Abstract

Problem

The demand to recruit highly skilled managers and laborers in Vietnam has encouraged educational institutions to upgrade the quality of their higher education programs and to evaluate their effectiveness. Andrew University’s MBA program did not have an assessment developed to evaluate the program’s effectiveness in Vietnam. It required an assessment of students’ experiences as a major predictor of evaluating how the Andrews University MBA program in Vietnam has impacted their career path and the extent to which it has benefited students.

Method

This study investigated the motivations, expectations, actual experiences, and career advancement opportunities of graduated students and current second-year students in the Andrews University MBA program in Vietnam. The study used the quantitative research approach, and participants were sent to a link at the AU Class Climate application to answer survey questions. IBM's Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze data. The study used a descriptive and correlational research design comparing different groups of students in the program by gender, previous work experience, program location, and student status.

Results

The study surveyed 58 graduates and 92 second-year students in the MBA program of Andrews University in Vietnam in two locations offered during 2015-2020 in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi. 51 graduates and 81 second-year students responded (85% response rate). The results indicate that participants found the program to contribute to developing professional skills needed at their workplace. Students' responses suggest that all five AU MBA objectives contributed to their learning experiences, and their experiences were not different by gender, age, previous work experiences, yearly income, program location and program status of the participants. The stronger the motivations and expectations students had before entering the program, the more satisfying their experiences and the reported relationship with career advancement.

Conclusion

Students perceive the MBA program of Andrews University in Vietnam from 2015-2020 as a strong positive factor for their career advancement. They entered the program with strong motivations and high expectations. The results suggest that regardless of cultural and political differences and the locations of the programs, students obtaining the Andrews University MBA degree gained benefits and satisfaction and were successful in their career advancements.

Subject Area

Andrews University. School of Business Administration; Business education--Vietnam

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