University of Kent Kent Business School

Kent MBA (1 year)

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MBA History

The first Master Degree in Business was offered in 1902 at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. The American concept of practical and excellent business education caused a sensation. Under the name of Master of Business Administration (MBA), the program developed into the most sought-after graduate degree worldwide.

The first American programs (such as those at Dartmouth College or Harvard University) were set up in the United States in the first decades of the 20th century, as the aim was to secure America's global economic competitiveness with specific training modules. The previously existing university, very theoretical and less innovative study programs were no longer able to produce competent managers and top managers. These first MBA programs revolutionized business education.

England followed the United States: From 1910, the first master's programs were offered at business schools in Europe. The supply increased rapidly in the first half of the 20th century. At the same time, the bachelor degrees were widespread in the economic education system, so that the MBA programs had a lower number of graduates than these "undergraduate degrees".

From the 1950s, the importance of MBA programs continued to increase. The course program was supplemented by mandatory courses (management, financing, marketing, accounting). Up until 1950, the MBA was intended as a deepening and specialization of knowledge and economic knowledge, but now the focus is shifting. In addition to technical knowledge, attention is increasingly being paid to the integration of training in social skills (leadership skills, team building, motivation, correct use of available resources).

The 1960s and 1970s saw massive criticism of the MBA programs. Well-known business magazines predict a steady decline of these training programs with fewer students and graduates. Despite the forecasts, however, the MBA programs experienced a real boom. More and more programs were offered in the United States. After the anti-capitalism mood of the 1960s, the access rate rose again. Students of other disciplines whose work situation had deteriorated (law, history, philosophy etc.) as well as female students, members of minorities and international students hoped for new opportunities from the MBA programs.

The business schools reacted to this trend by introducing new training methods and modules. The success of the MBA programs was also reflected in the above-average earnings of the graduates.

In the 1980s there was a lot of discussion about the hard work of the young top managers, regardless of people and the environment. “Materialism” and “arrogance” were two catchwords that came up again and again in this context. As a result, the top schools are increasingly relying on the ability to cooperate and social skills in addition to specialist training. The information on economic, social and political framework conditions was integrated into the training program as well as team leadership, presentation and negotiation techniques.

More than at the beginning of the 20th century, top MBA programs in their module design have to pay attention to flexibility at a continuously high level. The boom in MBA programs also brings providers to the market who do not meet the quality criteria. The MBA is no longer a direct guarantee of top management training and expert knowledge, but it can still be.

The profile of the respective business school, i.e. the design of the training modules, the professional competence of the trainers and lecturers, as well as the international network and the alumni club, are just as important after almost 100 years of MBA programs as the title itself.