Amid accelerating technological change, shifting global markets, and increasingly complex management challenges, Ivey’s 62 new MSc students are developing the skills and global perspective needed to lead in today’s evolving business environment.
Welcoming students at an orientation event on January 6, Warren Ritchie, MSc Program Faculty Director, emphasized both the selectivity of the cohort and the expectations that come with it. While students arrive with strong individual achievements, he noted success in the MSc program is built through collaboration and shared learning.
“If you’re here, we expect you’re going to succeed,” he said.
Success in the program, Ritchie added, is grounded in the practical skills students develop to understand global change, evaluate business strategy across diverse markets, and work effectively in international teams.
The global perspective students bring to the classroom is reflected in the makeup of the cohort. The MSc Class of 2027 represents 15 birth countries, with 35 per cent international students. Nearly half of the cohort (29 students) is pursuing the MSc in Management: International Business, while 33 students are enrolled in the CEMS Master in International Management, including 25 incoming CEMS students from 12 partner schools worldwide.
The class also reflects a strong gender balance, with 60 per cent identifying as female, 39 per cent male, and one per cent gender non-conforming.
In the MSc International Business field, students focus on developing four core competencies: identifying emerging global change; assessing business strategies across diverse markets and economic contexts; making ethically responsible recommendations for international implementation; and collaborating with international teams to navigate cross-border business challenges.
A program designed for a changing global business landscape
Throughout the 16-month program, Ritchie said students are expected to demonstrate Ivey’s core values of integrity, inclusivity, courage, and humility, developing a professional identity grounded in teamwork and respect.
The MSc program is intentionally structured as a specialized, capability-focused degree, distinct from general management programs. Ritchie highlighted its strong emphasis on experiential learning, including client-based projects and international experiences, alongside a curriculum that continues to adapt to keep pace with emerging technologies and evolving business practice.
“They are entering the program at a moment of profound change in the global business landscape, and our curriculum is evolving alongside it,” said Ritchie. “We are expanding experiential learning opportunities, deepening our engagement with the transformative role of AI in business, and equipping students to navigate the complex management challenges that define today’s rapidly changing world. It’s an exciting time to be part of the MSc program.”
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