Research in Higher Education Journal Work Experience and Learning, Page 1 Work experience and learning: a case study of MBA students Ahmad Sharbatoghlie Sharif University of Technology Mohsen Mosleh Sharif University of Technology Seyed Hossein Emami Sharif University of Technology ABSTRACT Should the M.B.A. program directors consider students’ prior work experience in their admission criteria? This is a very crucial question as it influences the M.B.A. admission criteria. The aim of this exploratory study is to evaluate the effect of students’ prior work experience on their learning in an MBA program utilizing the Learning Skill Profile (LSP). The twelve learning skills consisting of relationship skills, adapting skills, information- gathering skills, information analysis skills, goal-setting skills, action skills, initiative skills, planning skills, quantitative skills, and technology skills were measured for students having prior work experience and those who did not have any work experiences. The results indicate that the two groups of students are not significantly different in any of the learning skills defined by Kolb’s LSP. As prior work experience is considered as a mandatory admission criterion by many business schools, knowing the fact that this factor does not necessarily increase learning skills required in the program will give an incentive to revise the M.B.A. admission weighting criterion. Keywords: Work Experience, Admission Criteria, Learning Skills Profile, MBA Program, Learning Assessment