Doha, Qatar - February 26, 2015

Georgetown University in Qatar recently hosted the Georgetown - ESADE Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) program participants during their fourth residency module which included site visits to Bangalore and Doha.

Leveraging the expertise and the alliance of Georgetown's McDonough School of Business and Walsh School of Foreign Service and ESADE Business School, Spain, in global business strategy and management, policymaking, international relations and leadership, the Georgetown - ESADE Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) is a world-class Master's program which was created for professionals who have a current international role and at least eight years of postgraduate experience. The program was designed to equip the participants with the knowledge, skills, and global perspectives needed to manage and lead effectively in today's rapidly changing business environment.

Across fourteen months and through six residency modules which include site visits to six countries and ten cities, the program participants learn through immersion, interaction and networking with colleagues and organizations in advanced and emerging economies. The inclusion of site visits allows the program participants to connect with the leading local business executives and government officials to gain additional insight into different companies, industries, and business issues.

Harnessing its well-established connections with local community partners in Qatar to support the curriculum, Georgetown University campus in Doha served as a link in connecting the international delegation of 52 program participants from 17 countries with prominent practitioners from the leading organizations in Qatar for "Special Topic" and "Academic Briefing" sessions to discuss current business and management challenges faced by various sectors in the region.

Yousuf Al-Kaabi, who is the Manager of IT Project Management Office at Sidra Medical & Research Center and one of the Georgetown - ESADE Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) program participants, commented on the experience by saying that the Doha site visit provided the students with valuable insight into Qatar's economy at a very relevant time. "In addition to offering valuable insight into the economies of Qatar and the GCC region, this program facilitated exchanges between regional experts and international business executives. This kind of interaction will eventually reinforce Qatar's position as an international business hub," he said.

 "The fact that Georgetown decided to bring their Global Executive MBA to Qatar shows the important role that Qatar is playing on the world economic and political stage," noted Waleed Khan, Assistant Director for Marketing at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, who is also one of the 52 program participants, emphasizing on the significance of the Doha site visit.

The Doha leg of module four focused on the topics of Managing Human Capital and Doing Business in the MENA region and featured lecturers from the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies and Silatech in addition to Georgetown University. Adding benefit to the program, Doha site visits included Al Jazeera Network, Qatar 2022 Legacy Pavilion and a tour of one of Qatar's major gas plants. 

Prior to their visit to Qatar, the group spent time in Bangalore, India, where the focus of the site visit concentrated mainly on topics related to management of Information Technology and its impacts on international business.  

The successful delivery of this program in Doha highlights Georgetown University in Qatar's pivotal role as liaison between the local and regional community and its main campus in Washington, D.C., as well as GU-Q's commitment to the Qatar National Vision 2030 in understanding the needs and opportunities of their host country and supporting its human, economic and social development.

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© Press Release 2015