News Highlights
Author:
Caroline,Mccabe,Hariz,
cm11@aub.edu.lb
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First Class of Executive MBA Students Welcomed
 | The inaugural celebration of the new EMBA program
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The Suliman S. Olayan School of Business welcomed its distinguished first class of students to the new Executive MBA during an inaugural celebration on February 25. The program, which targets regional executives of senior standing from all sectors with a proven management track record and growth potential, was fittingly ushered in with a keynote speech by Professor Sarkis Joseph Khoury, a prominent researcher and author, from the University of California at Riverside.
Speaking on the important role education plays in producing business professionals with unique perspectives and ideas, Khoury distinguished between a quality education that understands the critical importance of ethnic, racial and religious diversity versus one that cultivates close mindedness, corruption, and deceit. |
"Education can be a cure or a disease. It cures the disease of ignorance, but it can also be a dangerous weapon in the hands of illegal weapon manufacturers, corrupt politicians and business people, and political oppressors," Khoury said. "It is said that without wisdom and morality, knowledge can be more harmful than ignorance," he continued, adding that "research needs to be done in collaboration with moral thinking." Pointing to the crisis in the region, he noted that despite all the research in the world, peace in the Middle East has not yet been achieved.
"In fact, a considerable body of research may have hindered change," said Khoury. "The only time peace will visit the Middle East is when the condition of the heart changes." |
"The EMBA program is a natural addition to the widely acclaimed BBA and MBA programs offered by the school." The new program--at once academically global and Middle-East-focused--will begin this winter with 22 international senior executives including managing directors, COOs, and entrepreneurs from Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Oman, and Germany. Due to prior business commitments, another nine deferred admission until the fall semester.' Just two of the 31 students are female."
Each semester will focus on one of four themes such as analytics, operation management, corporate strategy, and change management. Students will be admitted two times each year to the 18-month program, beginning in May and November." To accommodate working professionals, classes will be generally held Thursday through Saturday. |
"We received many applicants for the new program," said Professor Nadia Shuayto, director of the EMBA program "We are being very selective and strict on admission. We want experienced participants who will not only learn from course work but share and learn from each other."
Also addressing those gathered at the inauguration, which included US Ambassador to Lebanon Vincent Battle, as well as AUB faculty members and administrators, Lebanese ministers and senators, and top executives, were President John Waterbury and George Najjar, dean of the Business School. |
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