“One of the cool things about Auburn’s MBA program is our ‘learn today, apply tomorrow’ focus. It’s not only an opportunity for an organization to develop individuals, but to make a substantial investment in the organization’s health and long-term success." ”

Harbert College is dedicated to actively engage our stakeholders to develop partnerships that inform research and provide opportunities for experiential and lifelong learning.

The Harbert College is creatively finding means to expand its global footprint as a leader in graduate online business education.

A new partnership with Radiance Technologies – one that offers the Huntsville, Alabama-based company’s employee-owners an online MBA – creates a graduate program template that can be used with other organizations in the future.

“Business schools are known for being entrepreneurial, and the Harbert College is no exception,” said Jim Parrish, Executive Director of Fulltime and Online MBA Programs at the Harbert College of Business. “From the designing of new programs to add value and meet market demand, to creating innovative delivery models and collaboration for the future – business schools will lead the way for years to come. The Harbert College MBA program continues to be a destination for education. The outreach from Radiance Technologies and the agreed partnership solidifies that claim.”

Harbert College’s online MBA program is consistently ranked among the nation’s best, earning high marks by Poets & Quants (No. 8), Online MBA Report (No. 11), U.S. News & World Report (No. 18), and the Princeton Review (No. 19). Radiance Technologies is a 100-percent employee-owned small business prime contractor, founded in 1999. It’s employee-owners serve the U.S. Department of Defense, the national intelligence community and other government agencies.

Through the Auburn online MBA program, Radiance Technologies has the opportunity to invest in its 900-plus employee workforce by providing an educational benefit at zero cost – allowing employee-owners to “earn while they learn.”

“This demonstrates that organizations trust us to provide an outstanding MBA experience and a quick return on their investment,” said Stan Harris, Associate Dean for Graduate and International Programs at the Harbert College of Business, who noted the agreement was a win-win for Radiance and the Harbert College. “They could be doing a lot of other things, or working with other organizations. But this says something about their trust – not only in our program – but also in Auburn University.”

The 39-credit hour online MBA open to Radiance employee-owners will begin in the Fall 2020 semester, Harris said.

“It’s a benefit to employees to have their education reimbursed – plus, it makes it more attractive for new employees,” Harris said. “It builds loyalty to the company, because the company is showing loyalty to them. They’re also going to learn things that they can apply to have a positive impact on the company’s efficiency and effectiveness. One of the cool things about Auburn’s MBA program is our ‘learn today, apply tomorrow’ focus. It’s not only an opportunity for an organization to develop individuals, but to make a substantial investment in the organization’s health and long-term success.

“Partnerships such as these allow organizations to convert boardrooms to classrooms and help their employees grow to reach their fullest potential with an Auburn MBA degree.””

“For Auburn, we get the advantage of having a really cool and talented group of students who will enrich the program and the learning opportunities for all MBA students and faculty. It offers an important way for us to continue our reach and impact in Alabama and beyond, consistent with Auburn’s mission as a land grant university.”

Parrish noted that partnerships such as these deepen the connection between industry and education.

“As we work directly with companies on creating these opportunities, we can better understand the needs of our students as they try to balance work and school,” he said. “Partnerships such as these allow organizations to convert boardrooms to classrooms and help their employees grow to reach their fullest potential with an Auburn MBA degree.”

For more information about the Harbert College’s nationally-ranked MBA programs, visit https://harbert.auburn.edu/academics/graduate/master-of-business-administration/index.php