Profile: Queen's School of Business, Ontario

The intensive one-year MBA for science and technology at Queen's School of Business in Ontario, Canada, is aimed at people with an academic background in engineering or the sciences. They also require significant work experience to show their potential as managers. This innovative MBA, which has been ranked number one in Canada and second in the world outside the US by BusinessWeek magazine, is attracting a small but growing number of applications from Europe, with 30 per cent of students coming from outside Canada.

Heidi Pinkney, 35, from the UK, is on the Queen's MBA programme, having worked in Canada for several years. "I chose the MBA for science and technology because I wanted to move from a purely technical career in product development to a business career in a technology organisation, and I felt that this programme would best recognise and fulfil my needs."

Attached to one of Canada's most respected universities, Queen's School of Business has a long tradition as an innovator in MBA education. Its executive MBA is delivered in Ottawa and in 14 cities across the country via real-time interactive video-conferencing. The school's new accelerated MBA for business graduates uses the same delivery techniques. "The Queen's team-working approach is based on allowing students to draw on the diverse skills and knowledge of their team members," explains Professor Bill Blake, associate dean for MBA courses. "In our full-time MBA for science and technology, for example, students have their own dedicated team room and discussion groups produce a wealth of different perspectives on the high-tech issues of the day. The calibre of students we accept on to the course is underlined by the fact that the average GMAT score is 684. Many of our students already have Masters degrees and some have PhDs."

The business school is based on the Queen's University campus in the town of Kingston, which is situated at the north-eastern end of Lake Ontario, midway between Toronto and Montreal.

What is a year spent on the Queen's MBA for science and technology likely to do for your high-tech career? The MBA is rated number one in the world by the Financial Times in terms of students achieving their goals. "In our quest to turn bright scientists and engineers into well-rounded managers, our faculty, course materials, guest speakers and case studies are all focused on the specific managerial challenges faced by science and technology-driven businesses. This adds up to a very intense, rewarding, solid degree," says Professor Blake.