UCalgary business school sees significant enrolment jump

The University of Calgary says it is set to welcome one of the largest student populations to date at its Haskayne School of Business in the upcoming semester.

The school says it has implemented changes to its undergraduate and graduate programs, and added new courses to its curriculums to “elevate the educational experience for its students” and to keep up with “unprecedented demand.”

Haskayne’s Bachelor of Commerce undergraduate program is seeing its greatest increase in first-year enrolment ever, according to UCalgary, growing by almost 30 per cent over last year.

This was supported by a funded multi-year domestic expansion which will allow for continued growth.

The business school’s undergraduate student population is nearing 3,600 domestic and international students.

“This academic year marks a transformative time for us at Haskayne as our enrolment rates soar and we look to introduce a new group of talented, passionate and diverse undergraduate students to the world of business,” Catherine Heggerud, associate dean, undergraduate program, Haskayne School of Business, said in a statement.

“The pace in which the world is changing has accelerated, and with it we’re seeing a heightened interest in business studies as students recognize the immense value business education can provide in equipping them with the knowledge, skills and confidence to excel in the workforce.”

Undergraduate students will now be able to take new courses in entrepreneurship and innovation, and generative AI and prompting, which will show them how to effectively use tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney in professional settings to find solutions to real-life problems.

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Applications for the Master of Management program has also seen growth — with a year-over-year increase of 27 per cent. This is the program’s highest enrolment to date.

To match the uptick in graduate studies and to create greater access to graduate business education, Haskayne says it has changed the admission requirement for its MBA program. The school says graduates who have earned a Master of Management degree from a recognized Canadian or U.S. accredited post-secondary institution within the past 10 years may now qualify for course exemptions towards an MBA at Haskayne.

“When we talk to prospective MBA students, more often than not, they list the time and financial commitment of the MBA program as their greatest barrier to enrolling,” Ari Pandes, associate dean, professional graduate programs, explained. “MBA students are often entering a new phase in their lives — they are starting families, taking on more responsibility at work, becoming homeowners, so they are seeking as much flexibility and affordability as possible.

“By providing students the option to leverage their Master of Management credits as course exemptions towards their MBA, we can help remove barriers to graduate education, offer more meaningful support and attract a larger pool of talented professionals.”

More students means concerns about space, but the school says a new building built in January — Mathison Hall — has sufficiently accommodated increased capacity.

Haskayne is also set to welcome a new dean on Sept. 1. Dr. Gina Grandy comes following a departure from the dean’s chair at the Hill and Levene Schools of Business at the University of Regina, a position she held since 2018.

The business school says these changes will allow Haskayne to maintain its position as “one of Canada’s top business schools” through the 2023-24 school year.