Faculty of Business Studies
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International Accreditation & Memberships
The
Faculty of Business Studies at Arab Open University is proud to be a
member of AACSB International and a member of the Business Graduates
Association (BGA),
and a Full Member of EFMD Global (including EQUIS). These
prestigious memberships underscore our commitment to delivering
world-class, ethically grounded, and globally recognized business
education.
Arab
Open University's Faculty of Business Studies (FBS) is non-traditional
in approach, creative in application, and unique in perspective. FBS is
the Arab World's most comprehensive Blended learning
business school, offering the full spectrum of business and management
education options from single courses through to bachelor's and,
master's degrees- all delivered with the flexibility, accessibility and
quality that students expect from AOU leading blended learning
university. The FBS prepares students for careers through British
educational experience consolidating top notch scholarly challenge and
ethical professional practice.
Offered Programmes:
1. The Diploma in Business Studies
at the Arab Open University is a two-year program designed to equip
students with foundational knowledge in key business areas such as
marketing, human resource management, finance, and information
technology. Conducted in English the diploma aims to develop a deep
understanding of business principles, organizational dynamics, and the
broader market environment. Students will gain essential skills in
communication, analysis, and practical IT application, preparing them
for diverse business environments. The program includes practical
assessments and continuous skill evaluations, with a curriculum
structured to meet both academic and real-world industry needs.
2. The BA in Business Studies
at Arab Open University provides a well-rounded education with an
honours-level focus, equipping students with essential business
knowledge, skills, and confidence. Students begin with core business
courses before choosing from eight specializations, including
management, marketing, accounting, economics, human resource
management, finance, systems and inormation management systems.
Graduates are prepared for roles in junior and middle management with a
solid foundation in decision-making, teamwork, and ethical business
practices. This programme is composed of eight pathways as follows:
- The Accounting Pathway aims
at providing students with the skills needed for measuring and
analyzing financial information used basically by managers, investors,
tax authorities and decision makers for the purpose of resource
allocation and distribution within enterprises, organizations, and
governments. Business Administration graduates in the field of
accounting have a broad range of challenging and rewarding job
opportunities in the accounting of businesses and organizations in the
public and/or private sectors.
- The Economics Pathway aims
at improving the students' proficiency in the field of economic
analysis and at strengthening their understanding of economic changes in
addition to appreciating their influence on the business sector. It
also aims to develop the students' ability to describe and evaluate the
economic behavior of households, businesses, and markets.
- The Finance-Micro Finance Pathway aims
to provide students with an understanding of the financial sector of an
economy, the role and services provided by the main financial
institutions and markets, and an understanding of how international
corporate financial decisions are made. Students will also gain an
understanding of economics as a social theory, and an understanding of
the main principles of economic analysis and their organizational and
policy implications. The program also aims to develop students'
specialist skills in Finance and microfinance. Students will acquire
relevant and practical skills in numerical and financial analysis, and
they will develop their critical thinking skills. Business
Administration graduates in the field of finance have a wide range of
challenging and rewarding job opportunities at financial institutions,
financial markets and banks.
- The Human Resource Management (HRM) Pathway provides the
students with a general understanding of business organizations, their
key elements, wider considerations such as environments, markets and
processes, and how all these work together. Students will be able to
analyze how businesses develop strategies, handle risk and take
decisions. Business Administration graduates in the field of Human
Resources Management have a broad range of job opportunities in service,
commercial and industrial firms as HR specialists, HR officers and
training and development officers.
- The Management Pathway aims
at giving students the needed skills for managing investments through
an organized behavior which takes into consideration the principles of
financial management and organization for public and private sector
enterprises. Business Administration graduates in the field of
Management have a broad range of job opportunities in service,
commercial and industrial firms as project managers, business advisors
and administrators.
- The Marketing Pathway aims
at providing students with the required skills necessary for
discovering the needs and desires of customers in order to develop a
group of products or services capable of satisfying those needs and of
insuring a good profit for the organization within an acceptable time
frame through the focus on marketing tools such as the product,
distribution, promotion and price. Business Administration graduates in
the field of Marketing have a broad range of challenging and rewarding
job opportunities in private and public organizations as marketing
executive, marketing researcher, media planner, etc.
- The Systems Practice Pathway aims
at providing the students with the skills needed to improve the process
of administrative decision-making. It also aims to improve the
student's abilities to apply systems thinking and practices for managing
and solving complexities in accordance with administrative
requirements.
- The Management Information Systems (MIS) Pathway aims
to equip students with the expertise to manage information and enhance
business processes effectively, the Management Information Systems (MIS)
Pathway at AOU develops skills for collecting, processing, and
analyzing data to support decision-making across all management levels.
The pathway emphasizes data integration from various sources to
streamline operations, enabling students to generate comprehensive
reports and deliver timely, reliable information essential for strategic
planning and organizational management. This foundation prepares
graduates to make informed decisions, optimize operations, and enhance
overall business performance.
3. The OU-AOU MBA program
is a professional, strategic management-focused degree for experienced
professionals, blending theoretical and practical skills essential for
leadership roles. Graduates are equipped to solve complex business
challenges, communicate effectively, and lead in diverse sectors. The
program offers both Project and Thesis Pathways
with core courses and electives, tailored to specializations like
Finance and HRM, preparing students for advanced roles in their fields
with strong analytical and decision-making skills.
- Master in Business Administration - General
This
internationally recognized MBA is designed for practicing managers
aspiring to higher positions. The emphasis for your learning is directly
rooted in management practice – the 'master' in the degree title
signifies your 'mastery' of the art and science of management. To
achieve this level of capability the program concentrates on strategic
analysis, interdisciplinary skills, intellectual stimulation and
independent judgment and builds these upon a solid foundation of core
disciplines, including human resource management, organizational
behavior, accounting and finance, marketing and operations. You will
learn to analyze, synthesize and evaluate a wide range of situations
within the broad framework of organizations, their external context and
internal management. Among these you will look at economic,
environmental, social and technological change issues, corporate
governance, markets and customers, managing resources and operations,
financing organizations, management and development of people,
developing information technologies for application in business and
management within a global knowledge-based economy, and development of
appropriate business policies and strategies within a changing context
to meet stakeholder interest.
- Master in Business Administration - Finance
The
MBA in Finance will equip students with necessary skills to analyze and
solve complex amorphous business finance problems. In addition,
graduates will be able to communicate their finance related findings and
will develop the skills to implement them effectively and efficiently.
Students will also develop strong relational capacities and will be able
to relate commendably with a range of finance related topics.
- Master in Business Administration - Human Resource Management
The
MBA in Human Resource Management offers an in-depth understanding of
human resource (HR) management combined with a broader understanding of
the organizational and management context within which HR management
specialists must operate. It combines an emphasis on the development of
HR management strategies with opportunities to develop specialist skills
essential for practitioners. It is suitable for those who are at the
start of their career as an HR professional or who aspire to enter the
HR profession and it is also relevant to the experienced manager/HR
professional with a degree who wants to gain a postgraduate
qualification. The qualification provides a route to professional
membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and
students following this route are expected to be student members of CIPD
throughout their studies. Throughout the program you will be encouraged
to explore the strategic choices available to organizations in relation
to human resource management and development. You will also consider
international examples of human resource management and some aspects of
comparative HR practice which will help to prepare you to work in the
global economy. There will be a strong emphasis on practice-based
learning so that you will be asked to evaluate research and theory and
consider its relevance to practice. Training is also provided in
academic and research skills, as preparation for further study and
research in the field of HR management.
Duration of the programmes:
- Diploma 2 years
- Bachelor programmes 4 years
- Master programmes 2 years
Method of Teaching:
The method of teaching for all faculty of business studies' programmes is full time teaching/ blended learning.
Awards leading to an OU Certificate:
UG- Certificate/Diploma
- Certificate of HE in Business Studies: Certificate of Higher Education for Students who successfully complete 120 credits at level 4.
- Diploma of HE in Business Studies: Diploma of Higher Education for students who successfully complete 120 credits at level 4 and 120 credits at level 5.
PG- Certificate/Diploma
- Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration:
Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration will be awarded
upon the successful completion of Stage-I of the OU-AOU MBA programme
(60 pts- 16 credit hours).
- Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration:
Diploma in Business Administration will be awarded as an exit degree
upon successful completion of not less than 120 points/32 credit hours.
