Cyprus-Forum.com

[vasilijs]

What can you say about Cyprus International Institute of Management? Is it a good school? Is it easy to find employment in Cyprus for the CIIM graduates (citizen of EU, but not Cyprus native)? Is it possible to find a part-time job while studying? How much would it cost to live in Cyprus for a year (while studying)? Thank you in advance!

[Sotos]

What can you say about Cyprus International Institute of Management?

It is very good. Not the best facilities like building etc but the teachers are very good from what I hear.

Is it easy to find employment in Cyprus for the CIIM graduates (citizen of EU, but not Cyprus native)?

I believe that in Cyprus fresh graduates almost never get very high salaries. You will be able to find a job but I don't know if it would be what you expected.

Is it possible to find a part-time job while studying?

Yes.

How much would it cost to live in Cyprus for a year (while studying)?

You will need minimum 350 pounds per month. More if you want to have some fun!

[vasilijs]

Thanks!

I guess, buildings are less important than teachers . Have you actually worked with anybody who graduated from CIIM?

What kind of job a typical CIIM graduate would be able to find? What would be the starting salary for CIIM MBA? Would my previous education background (which includes MA Asian Studies and BSc Chemistry) be of any value? Are there mostly inland jobs or it is possible to find a job in internationally operated firm as well?

Does 350 pounds per month include accomodation rent? 350 pounds is about US$750, right? Could you please quote some prices for food stuff in Cyprus? Like 1kg of pork/beef, 1kg of apples/pears etc? Is medical care in Cyprus expensive? Is medical insurance available?

One more question. Does Cyprus have a good public transportation system?

[Mikros]

Hi, I'm attending an MBA there (just started to be honest), but I have some friends that have already graduated. Facilities are ok, they have a small library, where you can search for books either from the site or from home. They have a nice on-line messages board for students, can register on-line, etc. CIIM is well respectable in the MBA world, so I can recommend it. Dont expect though to get a high salary as soon as you graduate. Work experience is what gives you the money, mate! But according to your questions, you seem that you do not have a good knowledge on what an MBA offers you from a knowledge base of view. you can have a look at their website (www.ciim.ac.cy) or better still attend an Open Day or visit them to discuss with an advisor there.

[vasilijs]

First of all, I became interested in CIIM's MBA because their recruitment campaign reached me through the GMAC website. I knew nothing about this programme a week ago. Since that time I have studied their website carefuly, and I have learned something from the site. If I could visit the school, I would not ask these questions here. But I am about 10 hours of flight away... I have a meeting with the CIIM representatives next week, so that I want to know what to expect. At the moment the only knowledge of their programme besides of the website is taken from the reviews in Business Week and in the Independent. According to the website, the application process is really lose. The application form is much simpler than world-class MBAs usually have, and the essay questions are not very deep. According to the Business Week, the programme is mediocre - average GMAT score of 580 does not represent a world-class MBA (with my result of 690 and four-year experience in top executive positions I may be able to find something more competitive). However, according to the Independent, the programme is competitive, and especially good in Strategic Management (my area). Having seen so different views about this programmes, perhaps, I don't know what to expect from this particular MBA course. But since it is quoted specifically good in my area of interest, it is worth to research it further. That is the reason for my questions - I want to understand if the programme is suitable for me, but I don't have enough information to do it. Please help me with additional information if you can. Thank you in advance!

[Mikros]

Well, if you think that it is low rated then dont attend to this MBA!!!! Simple and effective. As a rule of thumb I never believe/follow only one source of information (possibility of biased opinions....). GMAT score or 4 years only experience means nothing to me personally.... 4 years only is just "preliminiry stage" for a successful high-quality managerial position.... I think I have the prospectus in pdf if you want it.
Of course you can always do a distance-learning course, or attend an MBA course at any of the other colleages in Cy.

[vasilijs]

Mikros, do you actually READ my responses? I agree that believing one single source is stupid. But ignoring a source is also stupid. That is why I look for additional information, and, in particular, asked this question here. I do not live in Cyprus, I live in Thailand. For me it is simply impossible to visit the school and see how it works, what it teaches, and what is the public there. Business school means not only facilities and library, but also students and lecturers. And so far I have not received any serious feedback about either of them. Applying to this school, if succesful, means that I have to move to Cyprus specially for this course, and, possibly, live there for a while after graduation. If I considered that the MBA programme in CIIM is not worth attention, I would not even think about so radical change. What I am saying is:
- I am curious about this programme, and I lack information about this school, if you can provide me with a pdf-prospectus, it would be very nice since I could not find it on the website
- GMAT result and four-year full time executive work experience means little when looking for employment, but these are important factors applying to MBA course; the numbers I mentioned are comptetitive applying to most of top schools in all ratings, and thereby I would like to know where do I apply and is it worth to apply there
- I know that salaries do not go up sharply immediately after MBA, but I also don't want to spend money and time on studies which would result in lower position and salary than I have now, before taking the course

If you can, please give me a link to the pdf-file you mentioned - this should be of help. Also I would be grateful if you can provide some of your personal feedback about the courses, lecturers, co-students and other things which are not in prospectus. Thank you in advance!

[Mikros]

Ok it is clearer now.... as for local acreditation, it could be the most sought after by the local companies.... You can also check at the Association of MBAs as well. The prospectus can can be downloaded from their website as well, I have just checked http://www.ciim.ac.cy/easyconsole.cfm?id=7 . Teaching wise they are ok, the lecturers quite friendly, I'm doing it part time as well, what time of feedback do you need? I can give you the course list with their reading lists, and lecturers' names if you want. As for your experience.... Well I have 10 years experience, and before attending the course I was still feeling unexperienced. One advice to you though... don't look the MBA only as a way of getting more salary.... this is only one of the ingredients of this meal...