MBA program enables students to gain firsthand experience with nonprofit organizations

MBA program enables students to gain firsthand experience with nonprofit organizations

As the nonprofit sector continues to grow, many campus-based and online MBA programs are tweaking their curricula to help students land managerial jobs in this booming field.

For example, the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Business now offers degree seekers the opportunity to gain real-world experience with nonprofit organizations through its NeXus program. This initiative allows students to provide consulting services to social enterprises under the supervision of faculty members and industry experts.

Projects launched by the student-run company challenge degree candidates to call upon a great deal of skills that they may learn in their classes, such as those relating to banking, accounting, marketing, strategy and operations.

Recent clients of the organization include the National Educational Association of Disabled Students, the Center for Social Innovation, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation and Eva's Initiatives.

Similar experiences could help MBA candidates launch careers in the fast-growing nonprofit sector, which employed nearly 5.4 million individuals last year and is expected to increase in the coming years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

By Stefanie Hughes