Non-engineering courses for Engineers

I took "half an MBA" many years ago, it was incredibly useful in helping me move into a full time management, and later senior leadership, role. Sadly it's no longer available - it was a modular course with a common first two years which led to a post grad certificate (which was as far as I got), and then a number of other options including two more years to make it an MBA. What I missed in those extra two years was the strategic and finance education which could have led to a director level position in a large organisation, which I wasn't interested in anyway.

Later on I did a research Master's in management which was also very useful as I could study a specific engineering management topic in my field.

And I've done loads of management short courses.

Overall, it was the post-grad certificate that really helped my engineering management career, including signalling to my company (who paid for it) that I was interested in that path. Short courses I've found very hit and miss, they depend so much on the individual tutor (and the motivations of the organisations that offer them!), I think it would be hard work to find a sufficient breadth of courses to gain the full spread of skills in subjects such as law, finance, HF management etc.

As for a full MBA...from my personal experience, I tend to feel that those who are motivated to get an MBA would probably get to appropriate senior leadership role anyway. However, I have known people who've managed to fast track their way to leadership roles (particularly in the finance sector) through getting an MBA. And probably very useful if you want to get into management consulting. 

It all depends whether you want to stay in engineering or move to the dark side...

I took "half an MBA" many years ago, it was incredibly useful in helping me move into a full time management, and later senior leadership, role. Sadly it's no longer available - it was a modular course with a common first two years which led to a post grad certificate (which was as far as I got), and then a number of other options including two more years to make it an MBA. What I missed in those extra two years was the strategic and finance education which could have led to a director level position in a large organisation, which I wasn't interested in anyway.

Later on I did a research Master's in management which was also very useful as I could study a specific engineering management topic in my field.

And I've done loads of management short courses.

Overall, it was the post-grad certificate that really helped my engineering management career, including signalling to my company (who paid for it) that I was interested in that path. Short courses I've found very hit and miss, they depend so much on the individual tutor (and the motivations of the organisations that offer them!), I think it would be hard work to find a sufficient breadth of courses to gain the full spread of skills in subjects such as law, finance, HF management etc.

As for a full MBA...from my personal experience, I tend to feel that those who are motivated to get an MBA would probably get to appropriate senior leadership role anyway. However, I have known people who've managed to fast track their way to leadership roles (particularly in the finance sector) through getting an MBA. And probably very useful if you want to get into management consulting. 

It all depends whether you want to stay in engineering or move to the dark side...