Former Premier to receive MBA

Former Queensland premier Wayne Goss says regardless of whether his next move is to Federal politics, a State Government front bench position or business, his master of business administration (MBA) from the University of Queensland will be an asset.

Mr Goss, MLA for Logan, will receive his degree at a graduation ceremony at the University's St Lucia campus at 8pm on Wednesday, May 14.

Mr Goss began his degree with the University's Graduate School of Management in February 1996 shortly after resigning as Premier. He said he had always entertained the prospect of further study since gaining his LLB from the University of Queensland in 1975.

'After resigning as Premier, I spent three days going to lunch with people and I thought: ?This is going to kill me'. Given my interest in economics, trade and organisational structure, I decided I would complete an MBA. I needed the mental exercise - going from Premier to backbencher did not have quite the same intellectual challenge,' Mr Goss said.

He said friends recommended the MBA program at the University of Queensland and the time frame for the degree (18 months to two years) was also attractive. As it was, he completed the degree in the minimum time of one year by working through the summer semester.

'I particularly enjoyed the MBA's finance and Indonesian business subjects. It was also interesting to examine what we as a government did in the six years I was Premier from a theoretical perspective. Some of the theory I agreed with, some I didn't,' Mr Goss said.

'Another enjoyable aspect of completing the MBA was meeting a great cross-section of fellow students who brought different contributions and perspectives to classes. They were from the real world and many different backgrounds.'

He said he looked forward to attending his graduation ceremony after not going to his law graduation 22 years ago.

Mr Goss will be available for a photo session in the Great Court at 10.15 am on Wednesday May 14. Contact: telephone 3805 1126 or 3224 5727 (work).