New executive MBA for OHS professionals introduced by UFred

The Sandermoen School of Business at the University of Fredericton (UFred) is launching an executive MBA (EMBA) in occupational health and safety (OHS) leadership. Responding to what it calls a clear need for OHS leaders to have access to master's level education, the new online program was developed with input from the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE).

Evidence has shown that well-designed and managed OHS programs support healthy, resilient and productive workforces, contributing to financially sound organizations, according to UFred. As a result, OHS programs and processes are winning more prominent visibility in the executive-level agenda.

To address the need for an expanding OHS leadership voice, this program has been developed to significantly enhance management-related educational opportunities for advanced-career professionals and managers of OHS units who aspire to lead their businesses towards much higher performance.

Beginning on Jan. 6, 2014, with subsequent entry points five times per year, the program will cover a spectrum of topics from management essentials, such as accounting, finance and operations, to a detailed examination of leadership within a network of complex stakeholder relationships. It finishes with a series of specialty track courses and an integration project focused on building OHS-related leadership competence.

With a tuition fee of $24,500, there will be fourteen fully online courses, each completed in a seven-week, fixed-agenda format, with one "live" webinar a week. If courses are taken one at a time in sequence and without a break, the duration of the MBA program would be two years, five months.

"For CSSE's CHSC (certified health and safety consultant) designation holders, the value of this program goes beyond its convenient fully online format and affordable tuition, as they will receive a one-course advanced standing by virtue of the successful completion of the CHSC educational program requirements," says CSSE education director Dylan Short.