Graduate Studies Blog
MASTER IN MANAGEMENT
NTU’s Master in Management | Where Ambition Meets Opportunity
Read the headlines and you might feel that robots are taking over every aspect of work – a worrying thought for anyone entering the workforce.
But a glimmer of hope persists: human-centric skills like critical thinking, ethical decision-making, creativity, and cross-cultural leadership stand alongside tech fluency as skills with the fastest growing demand in the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Future of Jobs Report 2025. “These are in demand because AI cannot replicate them,” explains Prof Tan Joo Seng, Academic Director of the NTU Singapore Master in Management (MiM) programme.
To thrive amidst AI disruption, develop these skills early – ideally within a programme like the NTU MiM that integrates them from the very beginning.
“Our MiM produces graduates who combine business fundamentals, AI literacy, sustainability awareness, and human-centric leadership – exactly the hybrid skill set employers want,” adds Prof Tan.
Data literacy is critical, but not enough
In today’s global, tech-driven economy, employers want graduates who deliver value from day one.
“When hiring graduates, employers expect a return on investment (ROI) through productivity, fresh thinking, and adaptability,” says Cheryl Leong, executive search Partner at Pullman Morrison. “New hires must learn fast and add value within months, not years.”
It’s a pattern that recruitment professionals like Cheryl recognise: technical skills are still necessary, but no longer enough. Employers now seek the following traits in fresh graduates and can no longer wait for them to learn these on the job.
“Data literacy is critical, but future leaders are good at turning insights into strategy,” says Cheryl. “Graduates who blend tech fluency with business sense are most valuable.”
Influence in the office: Technology has also eased rigid reporting chains in the office. “It’s less about formal authority; it’s now about empathy, communication, and managing diverse perspectives,” Cheryl adds.
Strong communication has become a key differentiator, Cheryl explains: “Graduates may know the latest frameworks, but if they can’t present ideas clearly or build trust, their impact is limited.”
How to turn knowledge into application
As employers prioritise applied skills over paper qualifications, graduates must go beyond academics and build cross-disciplinary capabilities:
Gain fluency in AI and sustainability. These are now essential competencies, with AI now embedded in most business functions and sustainability driving consumer choices. “Graduates who think across disciplines, leverage AI tools, and turn data into insights adapt faster and make greater impact,” Cheryl explains.
Develop critical thinking. Future-ready professionals assess trade-offs, not just execute tasks. “It’s vital to navigate complex decisions in organisations shaped by AI and digital transformation,” Prof Tan explains.
Develop empathy. Future managers must understand diverse stakeholder perspectives – especially as AI adoption reshapes human responses. “This is a skill set that has to be consciously developed, setting the foundation for long-term leadership success,” Cheryl says.
Learning disciplines within the context of disruption
Recruiters are increasingly ROI-driven when assessing graduate business degrees.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents to the latest GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey say a graduate business degree’s relevance has increased. AI and other new technologies require additional business acumen, increasing recruiters’ demand for graduate-level talent.
“Employers signal three main needs: Tech fluency, sustainability literacy, and adaptability in disruption,” Prof. Tan explains. “The NTU MiM responds by integrating AI, embedding sustainability, and developing graduates who can thrive in ambiguity.”
At the NTU MiM, students learn business fundamentals as dynamic disciplines – continuously transformed and tested by disruption. You’ll learn about core business concepts, and how these evolve as AI and sustainability move from emerging trends to strategic pillars.
“The fastest-growing roles combine AI fluency with sustainability literacy: the hybrid skill set the NTU MiM develops,” explains Prof. Tan.
The NTU MiM’s return on investment for graduates
The NTU MiM offers clear ROI not just for employers, but for fresh graduates and early-career professionals shaping their career paths.
“A MiM provides cross-disciplinary exposure when new professionals are still defining their direction,” says Cheryl. “Employers value this versatility; MiM graduates can move across roles from strategy to operations, then specialise later.”
NTU’s reputation gives graduates a strong head start: 96% of specialised master’s graduates secure roles within three months. This reflects NTU’s high standing among the world’s top universities for business education: the latest QS World University Rankings ranked NTU 12th globally, while the 2025 Financial Times Global MBA Ranking placed NTU’s Nanyang Business School 22nd in the world and number one in Singapore.
“Students develop a talent profile that employers recognise as job-ready, adaptable, and equipped to lead in a digital, sustainability-focused economy,” concludes Prof. Tan.
“A Masters in Management on a CV shows the graduate has invested in building a management toolkit and is more job-ready than a typical fresh graduate,” Cheryl Leong says.
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Take charge of your future with the NTU Master in Management and stand out to top employers. Discover how the NTU Master in Management helps you secure great opportunities and accelerate your career success.
