RBS Belgrade has established itself as a key player in the development of business education around the region, offering high-quality programmes that are recognised internationally and respond to contemporary business challenges. Through the introducing of an MBA programme in Serbian, this school is further expanding its mission, enabling a broader group of professionals to earn a prestigious degree and advance their careers
Here we speak with RBS Belgrade Director Rajka Šinik Vulić about this institution’s role in advancing business education around the region, as well as the trends shaping the future of executive education.
RBS Belgrade is entering its fifth year of operations in Serbia and the region. How would you assess the school’s development so far and what is the vision for its future?
— RBS Belgrade has become recognised as an outstanding business school over the past few years, focused primarily on educating senior managers.
It has managed to establish itself in the country and the region in a relatively short period, attracting experienced professionals and leaders from various industries. Our goal from the very outset has been to offer programmes that combine expertise with practical application, while keeping pace with the latest trends and changes to the business environment, both globally and locally. We have received strong support in this endeavour from our partners at Rome Business School in Italy, while in the coming period we plan to strengthen our existing programmes further and introduce new ones, in line with market trends.
Your Executive MBA programme stands out for its quality and the expertise of lecturers. What distinguishes it from other programmes on the market?
— Our Executive MBA is designed for experienced managers who wish to enhance their skills through an interactive, practical and internationally recognised programme. Its uniqueness lies in its learning methodology, which is based on real business challenges, case study work and first-hand insights from global industry experts.
You are introducing an MBA programme in Serbian as of 10th April this year. What are the key differences compared to the Executive MBA?
— In short, the Executive MBA is for managers who are already in leadership positions and want to enhance their strategic and leadership capabilities while continuing to work, whereas the MBA is for professionals looking to accelerate their career advancement and transition to managerial roles. There are also differences in terms of duration, number of modules and required experience.
RBS Belgrade is expanding its impact by introducing an MBA programme in Serbian, thus making high-quality business education more accessible to local professionals
The Executive MBA is delivered in English, runs for 20 months, consists of 16 modules and requires a minimum of five years of managerial experience. The MBA in Serbian lasts one year, includes 10 modules and requires three years of work experience. However, both programmes share the same methodology and quality of modules, offering practical knowledge, international accreditation, dual degrees from Rome Business School and Valencia University and 60 ECTS credits.
How aligned are your programmes with market demands and modern business education trends?
— We strive continuously to ensure that our programmes are as aligned as possible with contemporary market needs, which is why we update them constantly, in response to changes to the business environment. We focus on topics like digital transformation, artificial intelligence applications in business, strategic leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship. We additionally place significant emphasis on practical application, both through case studies in modules and the Capstone Project, which allows participants to apply the knowledge they have acquired throughout the programme.
Does RBS Belgrade plan to expand and introduce new educational programmes?
— Absolutely. We monitor market needs continuously and aim to innovate existing programmes while also introducing specialised programmes that address current topics and requirements. In the future, we will continue focusing on digital transformation, artificial intelligence and the further development of soft skills. Besides our Executive MBA and MBA programmes, RBS Belgrade has long offered Executive Development and Custom-Made programmes, which allow for education on even more specific topics.
What are the most common motivational factors among participants enrolling in your MBA programmes?
— Motivation varies, but the most common reasons include the need to gain a broader understanding of business, professional advancement, career change aspirations, networking opportunities with professionals from various industries and obtaining qualifications that are recognised globally. Many of our participants come from companies that seek to enhance their managers’ capacities through lifelong learning.
How do you see the role of RBS Belgrade in advancing business education in Serbia and around the region?
— From the outset, we have been guided by the ambition to raise the standards of business education and offer a programme that is relevant, internationally recognised and practically applicable. We believe that learning and acquiring new knowledge and skills is a lifelong process.
Aligning with market trends, RBS Belgrade integrates digital transformation, artificial intelligence and strategic leadership into its business education programmes
That’s why we strive to provide up-to-date programmes with concrete skills and tools that help participants better understand the business environment and make timely and effective business decisions.
How does RBS Belgrade empower professionals not just to follow changes, but to anticipate them – from digitalisation to sustainable business practices?
— In today’s dynamic business environment, merely keeping pace with changes is no longer enough – leaders must have the ability to foresee and shape them. Our methodology combines analytical thinking, strategic planning and practical application, enabling participants to develop a proactive approach to managing change.
Through modules dedicated to innovation, artificial intelligence in business, strategic leadership and performance management in a sustainable manner, participants not only acquire knowledge of current trends, but also learn how to integrate them into their business models. We additionally place a strong focus on developing critical thinking and data-driven decision-making, which are essential in this era of digitalisation and sustainable business practices. We believe that education should not be passive, but rather stimulating, providing participants with the tools to recognise opportunities before they become obvious and to leverage them effectively in their professional environments.
