The University of Auckland’s community-based Faculty of Business Administration has prospered since 1969 under the guidance of professionals, the achievements of graduates, and the brilliance of up-and-coming students.
Fifty years later, OU Business School will offer an internationally recognized program, partner with companies to tackle challenges, and its faculty will study new issues and educate tomorrow’s leaders. A perfect complement to undergraduate, graduate and executive programs, OU Business School has a maturity of over 50 years.
Creation of heritage
Reflecting the growth of the school, Ronald Horwitz, Ph.D., who was the head of the school from 1979 to 1990, states that “a legacy was born in 50 years.” Professor Emeritus Dr. Howitz oversaw the transformation from the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration to the Faculty of Business Administration and led the school’s first AACSB accreditation.
Recognizing the role he played in laying the foundation for Oakland’s young business school, Dr. Howitz relied on the past to pave the way for the future. “One of us [Horwitz and then Provost Keith Kletchner] If there was a crisis, I went for a walk on campus, “Dr. Howitz said. “We spread our shoulders to lean against each other.”
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Dr. Ron Holwitz focused on building a community for students and led the transformation from the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration to the Faculty of Business Administration in the 1980s. Dr. Horwitz is portrayed with Pipier Scott and Sonya Roberts, then OU business students. |
At these moments, he refocused on everything that is the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Business: Nature, Expansion and Community.
For Dr. Horwitz, community meant creating a community for business students, inviting business leaders to school, and laying the foundation for integrating professional development and experiential learning into the curriculum.
From the launch of the school’s first visitor committee, chaired by then-President of General Motors, James McDonald, to the introduction of courses to meet business demands, to promoting the growth of a vibrant student organization, Dr. Howitz Started working with a strong team of faculty. The success of today’s Faculty of Business Administration.
“Maintaining connections with students is very important,” said Dr. Horwitz. “That’s the way we’ve maintained relevance.”
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From 1968 to 2006, John Tower was a professor, advisor, and vice dean, and the two appointments were interim dean of the OU Faculty of Business Administration. |
Connections and relevance influenced strategic decisions about the school. During this growth, the school introduced its first master’s program, the Master of Business Administration. It has evolved into an MBA, expanding its majors and courses and creating four faculties that currently exist. Looking to the future, Dr. Howitz oversaw the launch of the Money and Capital Markets course, which was the origin of today’s financial and data courses.
Business schools’ reputation for an active student organization that connects students and professionals has grown since this time. Beta Alpha Chi, the American Marketing Association and OASIS, and the Oakland Accounting Student Information Association were launched at this time and have sowed many corporate organizations since then.
Lead the legacy
For decades, the school remained true to its heritage, focusing on its future. During the years between Dr. Horwitz’s leadership and Michael A. Mazzeo, Ph.D., Dean and Professor of Finance from 2013 to 2022, schools have increased in height, reputation, and enrollment. .. School leaders embraced interdisciplinary understanding, integrated technology into the curriculum, expanded experiential learning, and increased attention to professionalism and career readiness.
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In the fall of 2000, the University of Auckland opened the R. Hugh and Nancy Elliott Business Information Technology Hall, home of the Faculty of Business Administration. |
New programs such as the 1997 Interdisciplinary Applied Technology in Business, the 2000 Executive MBA Program, and the 2008 AACSB Certified Best-in-Class ACHIEVE Career and Professional Development Program have strengthened the legacy. In the fall of 2000, when the university opened R. Hugh and Nancy Elliott Business Information Technology Hall, the school moved to its current home in recognition of the Elliott family’s long-standing support.
As the international market became more important, business faculty expanded their global partnerships and academic activities. The curriculum reflected this as faculty provided opportunities for internationally focused projects and global immersion.
The dedication of OU Business School leaders is a technological shift that promotes the business world through applied research, focusing on hands-on learning in the real world, both inside and outside the classroom, and formal integrated career and professional development into the curriculum. Deepened my understanding.
Build the future
Frequently hearing about schools described as hidden gems, Dr. Mazzeo’s mission was to increase the reputation of business schools both inside and outside the region. Built on the foundation of community and connectivity, it shaped a strategic emphasis on student-centric success. “The skilled faculty and dedicated staff of the OU Business School community are committed to student success, from classroom to career,” said Dr. Mazzeo.
This focus on student success is demonstrated by strategic decisions to adapt academic programs to address emerging business trends. From cross-disciplinary business student preparation with an understanding of analytics to program implementation in information security, wealth management, and FinTech’s fast-growing areas, business faculty and students focus on leading the future of business. I am.
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In 2015, the Faculty of Business Administration launched a student investment fund and set up a trading floor in Elliott Hall. |
The 2015 partnership with The Kresge Foundation revitalizes Oakland’s $ 2 million student-managed investment fund and establishes a trading floor in Elliott Hall, where business students learn professional-level programs and gain hands-on experience. It was an opportunity to do it.
“Technological changes have an impact on the business world,” said Dr. Mazzeo. “Marketing, finance, accounting, management information systems, and even human resources have come to understand how analytics drives decision making.”
Launched in the fall of 2018, the BusinessHonors Direct Admit Program provides a cohort-based honorary curriculum for highly educated freshmen and transfer students.
Increased scholarship support, faculty-led travel, and study abroad opportunities have made it a reality for more business students to be at the forefront of the global world of business. “For many Oakland business students, this is their first opportunity to travel abroad,” said Dr. Mazzeo.
Combine a career services team specializing in business students with an active student organization to connect students to your employer and build a network before you start your career. Today, OU Business School has more than 12 industry-oriented student organizations, welcoming a steady stream of guest speakers that give students insights into their career paths.
Today, OU Business School has more than 12 industry-oriented student organizations. During the school year, student organizations welcome the steady flow of guest speakers from regional organizations that give students insights into career paths and opportunities to expand their networks.
“The focus on career and professional development through career services, ACHIEVE and student organizations allows students to seamlessly transition from student to professional and from classroom to career,” said Dr. Mazzeo. I am.
Watch a decades-long video journey from the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Business Administration.