Illinois Institute of Technology’s Stuart School of Business and the Chicago Innovation Awards recently announced the creation of an all-new accelerated MBA program that focuses on the Chicago Metro’s growing tech and startup scene and gives students hands-on projects in the city’s innovation community. The program also gives MBA students who “demonstrates a continuing commitment to innovation in the Chicago region” a chance to earn a $10,000 scholarship from the Chicago Innovation Awards.
This new program was crafted for mid-career professionals moving into leadership roles who want to develop talent that can drive startups and tech companies to the next level. Krishna Erramilli, associate dean and program director of the new program at Illinois Tech, explained the potential impact of this new program in a statement.
“It ensures that some of the Chicago region’s brightest students will be directly and deeply engaged in Chicago’s vibrant innovation community, and it will sharply reduce the cost of the degree for each student who participates. It is a solid step forward for the region and for its next generation of business leaders.”
Here are some more details on the program:
- 36 credit hour accelerated program
- Classes are taught on Saturdays over six semesters in two years at the school’s West Loop campus.
- Courses like MBA 505 (Economic Analysis and Game Theory), MBA 524 (Leadership in Multicultural Organizations), and MBA 522 (The General Manager) are all focused on the innovation sector’s growth and business models
Before they earn their degree, each student is also tasked with a capstone project that must be completed with a Chicago Innovation Award-winning organization. Students are also expected to attend at least five educational events organized by the Innovation Awards. As part of the application process, students submit a 400 word statement about their interest in Chicago’s innovation community, with select students awarded $10,000 scholarships.
Tom Kuczmarski, one of the cofounders of the Chicago Innovation Awards, explained the importance of the new program to ChicagoInno:
“Rather than trying to import talent from the coasts, let’s do more to invest in young professionals locally who have a strong desire to work here and see Chicago rise as a top innovation hub.”