Junior MBA Programme

The Junior MBA programme is a 12-week programme designed to deliver an MBA style curriculum to primary school students. The essence of the programme is to deliver MBA modules to students aged from 6-11 years old with four learning goals:

  • To encourage students to think critically
  • To provide basic financial literacy skills to students
  • To encourage collaboration among students
  • To provide students the opportunities to learn through talk and to talk in accordance with the Oracy Framework

The Junior MBA programme was the creation of its founding teacher, Navin Valrani, Arcadia Education’s award-winning CEO, who was not only educated in the finest business schools in the world but who has also successfully led a number of companies across a variety of industries.

Course Objectives

The programme is considered essential for students as it provides them not only with financial literacy skills but also the basic tools of entrepreneurship that will serve them well in the long run. Due to the discussion-based nature of the class, the programme gives students the ability to think critically and encourages collaboration, with the intention of preparing students for their academic and personal journey ahead.

Course Structure & Eligibility

The course is taught in a discussion-based format by the class teacher and supported by Mr. Valrani. Students spend the first 6 weeks of the course discussing theory and last 6 weeks of the course on real world applications including interacting with relevant guest speakers, visiting companies and learning how to prepare and pitch a business plan in front of an engaged audience.

Only students at Arcadia School are eligible to enrol in the programme. All Arcadia students from Year 3 through to Year 6 (ages 7-11) are required to take the course as part of their schedule during Term 1 of the academic year. Year 1 and Year 2 students (ages 5-7) have the option to take the programme as an elective choice in Arcadia’s Enrichment Learning Programme.

Core Subjects

Based on a first year MBA programme, the course has been designed such that it is easily comprehensible for young students. The course delivery and level of complexity are tailored according to the age group being attended to. The core topics covered are:

  • Entrepreneurship
    • Idea Generation
    • Company Formation
    • Social Impact
    • UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • Marketing
    • The Marketing Mix
    • Branding
    • Social Media (safeguarding concerns highlighted)
    • Preparing Pitch Decks
    • Presentation skills
  • Finance
    • Fund Raising through Friends and Family
    • Commercial and Islamic Banking
    • Venture Capital
    • Stock Market (including exposure to live trading!)
    • Crowdfunding (including investing in real ventures!)
  • Accounting
    • Understanding Revenue and Expenses
    • Calculating Profit
    • Basics about Balance Sheets
    • Goodwill
    • Learning about the case study method

Year-end Project

The programme culminates with every student from Year 3-6 preparing and presenting an investment pitch around a business venture of their choosing. Students must come up with a business idea, research it and develop a presentation around it that covers the idea, the application of the marketing mix, how they plan to fundraise for the idea and the social impact the venture can create. Students are encouraged to look beyond their learning in the programme while preparing their decks.

Once students complete their projects, they have the option to participate in a school wide competition with external judges determining the winners.