Master in Business Administration (MBA)

Business administration is defined as the performance or management of business operations and decision making. This includes the efficient organization of people and other resources, so that all activities work toward common goals and objectives. It is mainly concerned with leadership, sales and marketing, quality assurance, corporate finance, management of business processes, human resources and business strategy. Legal and technical processes in companies are also considered. The MBA graduate will also gain insight into social and psychological processes that are important for understanding and explaining consumer behavior, as well as the design of effective personnel policy.

The Veterinary Touch

Our broad range of interrelated, state-of-the-art program modules gives students insight into the kind of knowledge that experienced managers share when it comes to management issues. The modules are practically based and will have an emphasis on the veterinary profession. The most important assets of our MBA program are our professors and top lecturers, all of whom have both extensive practical experience and strong didactic skills. In addition, the international group of veterinarians with their experience network will drive the specific cases you will have to work on.

The Program

The IBSV MBA program consists of 10 business administration modules as well as 8 personal development modules meant to enhance the students’ knowledge of management and 7 theme-based modules on current topics in the veterinarian market. The change management module will take place in Ashridge, UK. In addition to the various modules, students will work on a group management assignment in their first year. In their second year, rather than writing a theoretical master’s thesis, students work together in groups on a final project to develop a fully operationalized business plan for a new disruptive company, or a new product, or service in the veterinary market. Students will present and defend their “master” business plans in front of an evaluating committee. Any intellectual property rights developed in the process will remain with the students themselves and/or their respective employers, giving them the opportunity to actually start up their new company or new services. As the evaluating committee includes a venture capitalist from an investment bank in addition to our professors. Students will have access to a potential investor for the new business plan they have developed.

Zeist Castle, the home of the International Business School for Veterinarians

The facilities at Zeist Castle in the Netherlands are outstanding and so is the action-learning style of education and the guidance that students receive throughout their studies. The program can easily be integrated into the dynamics of the students’ work and private life and all work assignments and cases will be directly applicable to their business. Students must have a university degree and have had at least a few years of experience in a management position and/or as a veterinarian professional. They will also have the desire to develop themselves personally and professionally.

Accreditation process

The program is aiming at educating the future (thought) leaders of the veterinary practices/profession by providing students with leadership and management acumen. IBSV is in the accreditation process of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, to be registered as an educational institute at University level. In addition, the educational program is in the process of accreditation by the Veterinary Continuous Education in Europe (VETCEE) for a European professional accreditation for Veterinary Education Programs in Management of Veterinary Practices. This will provide the students who have successfully completed all exams the unique title of Master of Business Administration (MBA) for Veterinarians.

Cost and Timing

The MBA program will start on the 6th of May 2019; the schedule will become available online at www.veterinarybusinessschool.com. Students will typically have classes in the Zeist Castle (near Utrecht) in The Netherlands; once a month for 3 full consecutive days. The cost of participating in our master’s program is EUR 33.000. This includes literature and study materials as well as travel and accommodation expenses in Ashridge, UK; it does not include travel and accommodation costs in the Netherlands. As a service, the IBSV offers participants the opportunity to pay in installments over the entire program period. If you want more information or to enroll you can call Joop Loomans DVM, PhD, school director (0031653641514) or Professor Ger Hofstee MBA, dean (0031653944434) or email Joop Loomans at joop.loomans@veterinarybusinessschool.com