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Organization of the Master Business Administration Course
Administrative
What is the MBA in the Management of Funeral Services?

The MBA in the Management of Funeral Services is a European Master course comprised of 6 modules, blending on-line education and training with face-to-face and practical sessions, including a virtual Business Game. The six modules include: Strategy and Economics in Funeral Services Firms; Commercial Distribution, Marketing and Communication; Human Resource Management and Management Skills; Specific Characteristics of the Funeral Sector; Business Game; and Dissertation. It not only includes extensive online teaching and tutoring, but also uses innovative communication technologies to enhance the education and training experience and help prepare specialists in the field of funeral services to meet the challenges of an evolving European-wide market.

What are the advantages of a blended approach?

FUSEMBA develops a blended learning system, based on the integration of virtual and physical mobility, supported by teaching methodologies to enhance the learning experience. This approach allows students and professors to work in virtual settings, overcoming obstacles of time and distance, as well as in face-to-face sessions to increase the efficiency of the learning process regards the different skills required in the funeral service sector.

What title will I receive at the end of my MBA studies?

Students with a university degree will obtain the MBA. Students with equivalent experience but without a university degree will obtain a Certificate upon passing the MBA. Students who do not obtain a passing mark will have the opportunity to make up for late work and re-submit assignments in order to receive a passing mark.

How do I get more information on the MBA?

Please visit our web page. If you need have specific information, feel free to contact us directly at the page "contact" .

What is the general organization of the MBA in the Management of Funeral Services?

The MBA in the Management of Funeral Services is an 18-month programme comprised of 800 hours across 6 modules.

Start: October 2010

End: July 2012

How am I supposed to follow the online classes?
The online modules and Business Game are organized to provide the student with a variety of learning opportunities, which appeal to a variety of learning styles. The work calendar for each module is announced by the professor/tutor according to the global work plan. In order to maximum the benefits of the online learning experience, students should be sure to allow sufficient time each week to follow the modules, join the discussions, and participate in the Business Game.

What do the tutors do?

FUSEMBA provides tutors for all the activities of the on-line section and Business Game of the course. The role of the tutors is to provide support to students and catalyze learning during the online activities. Because of the international nature of the MBA, the tutors will speak English in their communications.

Are all the classes compulsory?

Attendance of all the classes, both online and face-to-face, is compulsory. A minimum 75% attendance required.

How do I enroll in the MBA?

All forms and instructions needed to apply for the MBA can obtained by contacting   info@fusemba.com.
Is there a limited number of participants?

The minimum number of students is 20 and the maximum number will be no more than 30.

What are the admission requirements?

Students who want to participate in the MBA in the Management of Funeral Services should have good working knowledge of English and a BA or equivalent degree or sufficient practical experience in the service industry to warrant admission. A selection committee will select the participants based on their experience and education.

 How much does the FUSEMBA program cost?

The enrollment fee for FUSEMBA is 8000 euros. Scholarships are available, so please ask us about how to apply!

 What is covered by the tuition fees and what it is not?

Fees cover the general costs of the MBA and study materials. Travel and accommodations are not included.  A limited number of scholarships are available. The rates include overhead costs of the MBA and study materials.

 When do I have to pay the tuition fees?

Please contact info@fusemba.con for dates, procedures and the possibility of obtaining a scholarship.

How do I pay tuition fees?

After admission to the FUSEMBA program, students will be notified about the payment procedures (bank transfer information and dates, etc...).

What do I need to follow the online modules?

Participating students will need a computer, a reliable internet connection and a browser. At this time, there are no further software installation(s) required for work. The Business Game requirements will be presented to enrolled students and a help desk provided for any assistance needed.

What are the minimum technical specifications needed to follow the course?

Students will need Microsoft Office (for EXCEL, Powerpoint, WORD; Adobe Acrobat Reader and Broadband connection to Internet)

FUSEMBA's on-line program has been entirely developed with the Java(TM) Technology so it is compatible with most all of the widely used operating systems and browsers in Europe.

Compliant Browsers include:

  • Windows XP o Vista: (Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, FireFox, Mozilla, Opera)

  • Linux: (FireFox, Mozilla, Konqueror)

  • Mac: (Safar)

 
What do I do if I have technical problems?

FUSEMBA technical help personnel are available to help solve any technical problems that may arise.

Does the learning environment work also on MAC and Linux based systems?

Yes, it does. Beginning from MAC OS 10.4 there is full compatibility. For previous systems version, please contact tutors for specific information.

What countries will I visit and what will I learn about there?

You will have the opportunity to get valuable on-site education on a wide range of special processes and services in the funeral sector in France, Italy, Germany, Spain and the UK:

FRANCE

Cremation

Funeral organization, ceremony, protocol

Quality Management

ITALY

Operations, logistics

Law aspects (international transports)

Materials

GERMANY

Planning, control, standardizations

Regulation (ISO)

Cemeteries

SPAIN

Introduction to Funeral Services

Communication

Psychological aspects

Funeral homes

UK

Embalming techniques

Body treatment 

Where will I stay and what are the basic logistics for classes?

The on-site study weeks in each country will follow a minimum 40-hour schedule, Monday to Friday, with possible Saturdays, 8 hours per day, blending face-to-face inputs by specialists, tutorials, presentations, open discussions and the closing event. Information on accommodation, which is included in the MBA fees, will be supplied by the Program to all participants well in advance of each visit to help students make their travel plans. 
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 20 July 2010 )
 
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More news

 

The Third Edition of the MBA starts now for October 2010 till July 2012. Fees are 8000 euros. A limited number of scholarships are available. The rates include overhead costs of the MBA and study materials. Travle and accomodation are not included. Sign up now - Inscriptions are still open!

Watch FUSEMBA Coordinator Josep Anton Diaz interviewing MBA student Fernando Sanchez in the You Tube video, where they talk about the current FUSEMBA MBA and the promotion for the 2010-2011 course. See  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTafLg89OCc


ALSO:

A special offer at the UK face-to-face session was presented by one of the world's foremost experts in cosmetic and restoration of bodies, Dr John Chew of the ESCO Company USA,  lectured at the Funeral Exhibition, Stoneleigh. FUSEMBA participants at his session received a special diploma.


On April 27, FUSEMBA visited the University of Bath, Centre for Death & Society, with the aim of setting the bases for future cooperation. The Director, Professor Glennys Howarth and the Centre's Manager, Caron Staley, are looking forward to the next steps to see how the MBA can link to what their Centre offers. See their Centre at www.bath.ac.uk/cdas



Please have a look at the story and watch the video on "Where Death Comes Cheap Many families want to cut burial costs. One funeral director stands ready." By Matthew Philips of NEWSWEEK (Magazine issue dated Mar 16, 2009). Go to  http://www.newsweek.com/id/188139/page/2 

                                                         Podcast



 

Listen to the July 17 Podcast between Robin Heppell, funeral consultant, and Paul Fenton, from the European Commission-funded project FUSEMBA. They talk about the advantages of this unique MBA, the face-to-face sessions in 5 European countries, the on-line methodology and lots, lots more. 

Here are the links:

http://funeralfuturist.s3.amazonaws.com/audio/FUSEMBA-Paul-Fenton-Robin-Heppell.mp3
http://funeralfuturist.s3.amazonaws.com/audio/Paul-Fenton-Robin-Heppell-welcome.mp3 

 
Registration
  REGISTRATION HAS BEGUN FOR SECOND EDITION

2010 - 2012

MANAGEMENT OF FUNERAL SERVICES

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Open to university graduates and funeral service professionals alike, the MBA in the Management of Funeral Services is an 800-hour European course comprised of 6 modules, blending on-line education and training with face-to-face and practical sessions in 5 countries, including a virtual Business Game. Based on the current 2008-2010 MBA programme, involving professionals from 6 European countries and open world-wide, its content has been developed with the support of the Erasmus Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Union. The six modules include: Strategy and Economics in Funeral Services Firms; Commercial Distribution, Marketing and Communication; Human Resource Management and Management Skills; Specific Characteristics of the Funeral Sector; Business Game; and Dissertation. The unique MBA, open for world-wide audiences, not only includes extensive online teaching, but also uses innovative communication technologies to enhance the education and training experience and help prepare specialists in the field of funeral services to meet the challenges of an evolving European-wide market.

Start: October 2010

End: July 2012

Institutional Recognition

The MBA is sponsored by the University of Barcelona (Spain) and the EFFS.

The MBA is brought to you by leading organisations across Europe in the funeral sector

Enrollment fee is 8000 euros. A limited number of scholarships are available! Fees cover the general costs of the MBA and study materials. Travel and accommodations are not included.

To sign up or ask for more information,

please contact info@fusemba.com

Read more...
 
More news

 

SHORT STORIES FROM THE FIELD:


In the interest of knowing more about the personal and professional impact that the EC-sponsored MBA and FUSEMBA project is having, we asked the current crop of students (promotion 2008-2010) to answer a few questions. Below are the first set of responses. Stay tuned for more!

MBA Student Jérôme Uguenphoto_073.jpg













Thank you, Jerome, for taking the time to offer your "story". Our first question is "how is the FuSeMBA experience enhancing your personal and professional experience and/or shaping your career goals"?


What has attracted me in this MBA is the possibility to continue my university courses in a modern way with new technologies and to obtain an internationally recognized diploma (the Master of Business and Administration), recognized by the University of Barcelona, supported by the European Federation of Funeral Services.


Why do you think the FuSeMBA is important for the funeral service sector in your area/country/Europe?


The program is enabling us to learn about the latest European management, marketing and communication techniques so we can apply them to the funeral sector. Today it is important to create a European network of young funeral directors, to open to an international outlook on the funeral business and to exchange views on the specific characteristics and specialities in each participating country.  



MBA Student Nuno Monteiro
 

Nuno, how is this FUSEMBA experience enhancing your personal and professional experience and/or shaping your career goals?


I started this experience with great expectations...This is a new European project.  Of course, it is changing my personal and professional goals, which are right now focused on the transfer of my new knowledge's to my company in order to improve the current work system.


Why do you think the FUSEMBA MBA is important for the funeral service sector in Portugal?


At this moment, I'm starting to have a totally different point of view about the management of a funeral home.  Obviously, this change of mind has opened my eyes to new ideas, and I think is possible to create a standard system in Europe (Funeral Homes and Services).


What specific problems or issues will you be able to address in a better way as a result of taking the FUSEMBA MBA course?


I hope to address in a better way all the themes approached during the course. All aspects are relevant for me, from the Commercial and Marketing side to the Human Resource Management and Management Skills side.


How do you think the people you deal with will benefit from your FUSEMBA education and training experience?


All the knowledge gained will be shared (or at least I will try) with the staff members of my company.


What has been the most exciting/interesting aspect so far about the FUSEMBA MBA programme?


The face to face sessions, because it the only way that we can all get together as a class, as professionals, and also as a group of people that is trying to accomplish the same goal: To know better so we can do better.

MBA Student Joaquin López


Joaquín, why do you think the FUSEMBA MBA is important for the funeral service sector in your area/country/Europe?


I hope and believe that this funeral service MBA will help to standardize this sector, at least at the European level.


How do you think the people you deal with will benefit from your FUSEMBA education and training experience?


I am convinced that thanks to FUSEMBA I will increase my knowledge of the European funeral service sector and become one of the first few fortunate people who are leaders in this scetor in the future.


MBA Student Fernando Yaybek Fervenza


Fernando, why do you think the FUSEMBA MBA is important for you, personally and professionally ?


Since I found out this MBA I've been very interested in participating because I´ve been working as a manager in this sector for 9 years but have not had the chance to receive specific training in funeral service management. This, then, is my opportunity to certify all my experience and knowledge in this business.


Why do you think the FUSEMBA MBA is important for the funeral service sector in your area/country/Europe?


I think it's very important because the funeral service has always traditionally been run as small, family-operated; but nowadays, in a more dynamic and demanding market, this sector needs well-prepared and qualified professionals with a wider business view about management and quality. This MBA, to me, personally, is key to meeting these needs.


Tell us a little about the MBA classes and your experience so far.


Up to now, the themes in the modules and the face-to-face sessions have been very interesting and useful to our daily tasks, but what I really find very exciting is the fact that I can participate with colleagues from other countries and learn their working methods, about other cultures and about the different way of thinking; that´s a " bonus " in this MBA.



Now available!  Dictionary for Funeral Services (in 15 languages)

By Rolf Lichtner / Christoph Bläsius (Bearb.)

ISBN: 978-3-936057-16-4

Price is 64,00 Euro per copy

To place your order or get more information, contact fachverlag@bestatter.de