New Canadian B-School. International Business University

Discussion in 'Business and MBA degrees' started by Johann, Mar 12, 2022.

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  1. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    The jazz station I listen to a lot, JAZZ-FM 91.1 carries very few ads (mostly listener-supported). This is one ad it carries - International Business University - a newly established Private university, located in Toronto. One degree - a 4 year Bachelor's. Yes, it's a bona-fide Uni - all i's dotted etc. Cost is pretty steep. $6,000 a semester - for 8 semesters. That's for Canadians. It's a lot more than a Public university here normally charges. Nearly double. Is it worth it? Have a look - you decide. https://ibu.ca
     
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  2. JoshD

    JoshD Well-Known Member

    Looks interesting. Would be curious to know if they felt being in Toronto would be more appealing due to the size of Toronto or if Rotman being there had some weight. With Rotman being grad level only, this could somewhat feel any undergraduate need in the area. I am not super familiar with Canada and it’s higher education so I could be bumbling like a crazy man.
     
  3. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    BTW - I'm not impressed with the slogan: YES YOU WILL HAVE A BETTER LIFE. No one can guarantee that. What if you don't? Do you get a refund?
     
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  4. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    You, Josh - "bumble like a crazy man?" Never. You couldn't do that on a bet! I don't know, but I'm betting it's more Toronto and its metropolitan nature, rather than the presence of Rotman. And there is U. of Toronto itself and other schools, e.g. York and Humber, that provide undergraduate studies. There's a fair choice in the public system, in and around Toronto, for a first degree, whether or not you intend to head to Rotman for grad work, afterwards. That's just my take. Maybe the chat-thingy on the website might tell you. I don't know.

    BTW - what do you think of the curriculum? I'd appreciate your views.
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2022
  5. JoshD

    JoshD Well-Known Member

    I did a brief overview of their curriculum and it seems fairly well balanced for a general business degree. I think if someone wants a general business degree, it has the right courses. However, if anyone wanted to dive in deeper to a specific area (accounting, finance, etc.) then it does not appear they have that opportunity as of right now. The course descriptions all seem fairly typical of what I’d expect of a program like this. I failed to find the faculty but I’ll look again. I would like to know the quality of teaching in regards to the courses.

    At Duke, my Accounting Professor, Dr. Katherine Schipper, made what would have normally been a boring class one of my most favorite courses.

    The real test will be having a graduating class and seeing employment stats. I’ll be curious how these students compare to other universities you mentioned in the same area.
     
  6. AsianStew

    AsianStew Moderator Staff Member

    They only have one degree program thus far, I looked at them a few months back when they indicated approval to create the degree program. I haven't looked at them in a while, but they're over priced and do not have concentrations, it's just International Management & Technology. I wonder if they're going to be creating a ladder to an MBA or something along those lines... Here's the Academic Calendar (56 page) PDF: Academic-Calendar-2021-06-09-Updated.pdf (ibu.ca)
     
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  7. Dustin

    Dustin Well-Known Member

    University Canada West tried this (with BBA and MBA degrees as their initial offering too) and it didn't go well. Canadian employers are rightfully suspicious of private universities and the foreign students they tend to attract (because they can afford the higher tuition or don't know any better) get at best an equivalent education to one of the many fine Canadian schools for a lot more money, and at worst a bad education for a lot more money.
     
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  8. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    ....
    ... And long ago, in a land called New Brunswick, a couple of DEAC- (back then, DETC) accredited distance schools tried it, too. They were operating under genuine, although somehow separate authority from the Province. The Prov. Gov't's idea was to attract moneymaking enterprises to NB - a good idea, but in this instance, it didn't go well. IIRC, two of those schools (now gone) were Meritus U. and Lansbridge U.
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2022
  9. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I think I owe an apology for this. I went back to the IBU site and couldn't find it again. It may have been on a school site (not Canadian) with a very similar name (I've forgotten now) that I landed on and glanced at, before finding the IUB url.
     
  10. AsianStew

    AsianStew Moderator Staff Member

    Gasp! Nostalgia... I recall Meritus University was a U of Phoenix operation, they wanted to expand in Canada, have a distinct online institution, and also compete with their own Canadian operations for some reason. Lansbridge U had two campuses, one in BC and another in Ontario, they were "forced" to close because of deceptive practices, essentially they mentioned partnerships with prestigious universities that were falsified among other things.
     
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  11. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Meritus U. was owned by Apollo Group, the same co. that owned U. Phoenix. Two distinct schools - same corporate owner. I don't believe U. Phoenix ever had a "Canadian Operation," and I just looked it up to make sure. However, the US school certainly did (and does) enrol distance students from Canada - their RA accreditation means their degrees are satisfactory for Canadian standards. I've met one or two Canadians who are M. Ed. grads of U. Phoenix.
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2022
  12. Stanislav

    Stanislav Well-Known Member

    I worked for Meritus. It was a separate operation, likely for legal reasons. Coursework model, however, was pretty much the same as UoPx Online. I believe they shared some operations (like IT) with AZ as well.
    I also worked for another NB operation, Yorkville University, which appears to be alive and well. They have bought a private school in Toronto (RCC College) and now have a BBA program on campus there. Just like this new school, I'm willing to bet the campus program caters to immigrants. Provided that they have proper degree-granting authority, students can get a study permit, post-graduate work authorization, and points for independent immigration scheme. That's a legitimate value. Yorkville, BTW, likely operates in Toronto under same authority as IBU - Ministerial consent. RCC College already had one when Yorkville bought it. The online programs (including Doctor of Counseling and Psychotherapy, which is new) is under New Brunswick approval.
     
  13. Stanislav

    Stanislav Well-Known Member

    Yep, I also don't remember Phoenix operating in Canada on its own. If they did, the operations didn't overlap with Meritus. The reason they gave for closing the school was insufficient enrollments.
     
  14. Dustin

    Dustin Well-Known Member

    I will say, Yorkville's Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology is very popular among students who want an online option to get trained as a therapist or counselor but don't want to or can't complete an MSW. I've known 4 people in my small circle in the Greater Toronto Area who have completed that program and all spoke highly of it, but I don't know anyone else who has completed any of their other programs (the BBA, etc.)
     
  15. Stanislav

    Stanislav Well-Known Member

    I taught Business Math for a few semesters; can't say anything beyond. The course was more rigorous than Meritus'. Know nothing about the rest of the program; no reason to assume anything bad.

    P. S. I can see the appeal of their Master's degree. It is designed to fill this particular niche.
     
  16. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    The Yorkville I experienced, as a much younger guy, was the district - around Avenue Rd, Yorkville Ave - the coffee-house and music district of the 60s. It became a very upscale shopping area as the coffee-houses declined. When Yorkville U. started up, in NB, I was perplexed - why is this "Yorkville" so far from home, (Toronto)? Glad to hear Yorkville U. now has a campus in the proper city - and appears to be successful with its niche.
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2022
  17. Stanislav

    Stanislav Well-Known Member

    Apparently there is some place called "Yorkville" in Fredericton NB.
     
  18. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Yeah? Do they have any clubs like the Mousehole or the Penny Farthing? How's the espresso? And the music - any "jug bands" or other good ragtime pickers? "Folk-rock" hit there, yet? ...memories... :)
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2022
  19. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Now you've got me down a lane -- but OK, this is the last of it. 3 links to Yorkville coffee houses of the 60s and the scene in Toronto.
    The USC links are excellent, historically - unfortunately I couldn't find one of theirs for the Mousehole. It is, however, mentioned in the Riverboat article.

    https://scalar.usc.edu/works/musictoronto/the-riverboat
    https://scalar.usc.edu/works/musictoronto/the-penny-farthing
    https://www.ajournalofmusicalthings.com/looking-back-torontos-yorkville-scene-1960s/

    They say if you can remember those times (60s), you weren't there. BS. I was there. For the music, not the drugs. That's why I'm still alive. I had friends who didn't make it... And now, back to our regular broadcast...
     
    Last edited: Mar 14, 2022

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