Irving Oil-UNB Saint John executive MBA program graduates its first class

SAINT JOHN, NB, Oct. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - Irving Oil and the University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNB Saint John) will celebrate the graduation of their first class of 48 Irving Oil employees who two years ago enrolled in the newly formed joint Irving Oil-UNB Saint John executive MBA (EMBA) program.  

Irving Oil's joint Executive Masters of Business Administration program offers a fully accredited degree over two years for its full-time employees through UNB Saint John with tuition paid in full by the Company. Irving Oil EMBA graduates will receive their diplomas at the UNB Saint John Fall Convocation on October 19^th at the Imperial Theatre in Saint John.

"Two years ago Irving Oil partnered with UNB Saint John, to enable our employees, our most important asset, to advance their education as well as enhance their business capabilities," said Mike Ashar, President of Irving Oil. "Today we're proud to announce the graduation of our first class. These newly minted EMBAs represent a three-way win - for our people, for our business and for our community."

The joint partnership exemplifies how progressive employers can provide further educational opportunities for their employees.  Universities are uniquely suited to support this emerging trend in progressive human resource management.  The potential positive impacts are far reaching for employers interested in continuing professional education for their employees as well as for communities desiring to create a rewarding place to live and work.  

"We are excited and pleased to see this first cohort of Irving Oil EMBA graduates join the UNB family as alumni," said Robert MacKinnon, Vice-President of UNB Saint John.  "This new program showcases UNB Saint John's flexibility to offer educational opportunities to a wide-range of student with a variety of experiences and backgrounds."

Irving Oil views the UNB Saint John EMBA program as a mutually beneficial partnership where employees can earn a first-rate executive MBA degree with the full support of their company, and the company then gains a team of employees who can further contribute to innovation and improvements in operations that will inevitably lead to improved business performance.

The Irving Oil partnership with UNB Saint John marks the strong local commitment to its employees and to education. The program is also in keeping with the company's long tradition of supporting educational programs that enhance the local community.

In addition to Irving's current 2012 EMBA graduates, there are two additional cohorts currently enrolled at different stages. By 2015, close to 150 employees will have entered the EMBA program.  Irving Oil covers the full tuition and provides additional support to employees through Executive Team mentoring, coaching, time management and personal organization workshops, periodic tutoring, and wellness programming as well as support for their families. Employees learn in a dedicated learning facility, using state of the art technology.

UNB Saint John's EMBA program is specifically tailored to accommodate the work schedules for Irving Oil employees, with classes held in the late afternoon. Case studies and class examples focus on areas of particular interest to Irving Oil industries, keeping the content as relevant as possible for Irving Oil employees.

About Irving Oil

Irving Oil was founded in 1924 and is a privately owned regional refining and marketing company with a history of long-term partnerships and relationships. Irving Oil operates Canada's largest refinery, in Saint John, N.B., which is located 65 miles north of the U.S border and has reached production rates in excess of 300,000 barrels per day. The refinery exports over 80 per cent of its production to the U.S., and accounts for 75 per cent of Canada's gasoline exports to the U.S. and 19 per cent of all US gasoline imports. In 2003, Irving Oil became the first oil company to receive a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Excellence Award, for its clean gasoline. For more information about Irving Oil, visit www.irvingoil.com.

About the University of New Brunswick

Established in 1785, UNB is one of the oldest public universities in North America. More than 11,000 full- and part-time students from more than 100 countries are studying on campuses in Fredericton and Saint John and several thousand more take UNB courses online and at partner institutions around the world.

SOURCE: Irving Oil Operations Ltd.

Irving Oil
Carolyn Van der Veen
1-506-202-1869
[email protected]

University of New Brunswick - Saint John
Heather Campbell
[phone]
[email protected]