As a public research university ranked #4 among Canada’s Best Comprehensive Universities by Maclean’s in their list for 2025, Carleton University is experienced in academic innovation, and their Sprott School of Business (Sprott) is a strong example of their approach. The business school leverages the university’s location in Ottawa, a thriving global city and G7 capital, by involving local business leaders in helping to shape the workforce-relevant curricula for its well-regarded Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.
When Sprott decided to offer the on-campus MBA program in an online format to better reach the underserved audience of working adult students, their leadership searched for an experienced partner to expedite that process. Partnering with Risepoint was itself an example of their innovative approach, as Carleton became one of the few universities in Canada to bring in external expertise to help them launch and run their online programs.
Emphasizing the student experience
In partnering with Risepoint, Sprott expected to extend their reach both within and beyond the Ottawa region, as well as to generate sustainable revenue. Beyond pursuing a significant opportunity for growth in the Canadian market for fully online programs, the business school was determined to demonstrate its commitment to successful student outcomes at every level.
“This program is unique because it brings the best of our MBA education and the experience that we’ve had in this field for years, and it combines it with the latest technologies to create a really engaging experience for our online learners. Our program is taught by world leading faculty and our students online are given all the support that we give each of our students at Sprott School of Business.”
Dr. Dana Brown, Dean, Sprott School of Business, Carleton University
Excelling in outcomes
Sprott launched their online MBA in March 2022, to enroll students for the first term beginning July 4, 2022. Interest in the program was immediate and outstanding, exceeding the University’s expectations for enrollments. The current online portfolio of the General MBA, MBA Business Analytics, MBA Finance, and MBA Management and Change has:
- Resulted in inquiries from ALL provinces and territories in Canada (10 provinces and three territories)
- Received inquiries and enrollments in all four concentrations
- Recruited 348 NEW students into the program in just four starts, less than one year in market
Following the success of the online MBA, both the Sprott business school and other schools within Carleton University are considering offering additional programs in an accelerated online format to extend Carleton’s mission of providing quality education in ways that meet the needs of working adults.
