Learning and life go hand in program.“Partnering student groups hand, so it’s not so unusual that with different charities gives students McMaster University’s DeGroote the chance to take their experience, School of Business would impact the city of Hamilton in a positive manner. While students paying rent, buying groceries, and partaking in the city’s thriving arts and culture scene all deliver some economic impact, the greater impact from DeGroote’s MBA students comes from the School’s co-op work terms, as well as initiatives like its Pitching in for Charity challenge, according to Jennifer McCleary, Director, Student Experience, at the DeGroote School of Business.
“We were the first business school in Canada to offer an MBA co-op stream, and DeGroote currently offers three co-op terms over a 28-month period,” says McCleary. “Our relationships with employer partners are strong – many companies in Hamilton and across Southern Ontario hire Commerce interns and MBA co-op students directly from DeGroote. Our success rate is also very high. On average over the last five years, 84 percent of MBA co-op graduates were employed six months after completing the program.”
With the winner of the 2016 Pitching in for Charity challenge recently announced, tangible and measurable results are also evident. During the two-week challenge, 24 learning groups of first-year students were matched with a local charity partner and created an eight-minute pitch that answered the question: What would your charity do with $5,000?
First-year student Colin Rodrigues saw both the immediate and long- term benefits of DeGroote’s MBA knowledge, and creativity and apply it to organizations that are trying to help others,” says Colin.“After graduating, I hope to be able to use the knowledge I have gained from DeGroote’s MBA program to assist community groups in becoming more efficient with their resources so that more aid is available for those in need.”
Prizes awarded to the charities represented by the student groups included MADD Canada ($5,000), Thrive Child andYouthTrauma Services ($2,500), and the Boys and Girls Club of Hamilton ($1000).
Some lessons just can’t be taught in the classroom.When it comes to solving real-world business problems, utilizing the knowledge they learn
in the classroom, and developing valuable professional relationships, the DeGroote School of Business is leading the charge.
