NDU holds first symposium on Executive Master Program

11 July 2008

BEIRUT: Notre Dame University's (NDU) Business Graduate Division, in collaboration with the University of Bordeaux's Management School, held the First Executive MIB Symposium on the joint Executive Master Program in International Business between the universities at Le Royal Hotel in Dbayyeh last week.

The Dbayye symposium, during which graduates presented three global business plans, was attended by professor Rock-Antoine Mehanna, director of NDU's Business Graduate Division; professor Elie Yashoui, dean of the Faculty of Business Administration; and professor Cesar Baena, director of the Bordeaux Program; as well as Lebanese and foreign faculty members within the program.

The jury consisted of Nabil Itani, chairman and president of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon; Diaa al-Behbehani, a renowned Kuwaiti businessman; Vincent Battle, former US ambassador to Lebanon; and Carlos Adem, president of the Wines and Spirits Producers Union.

The 10-month masters program is followed by a specialized training session that ends with the submission of a thesis before a jury.

"This program is dedicated to professionals holding a university degree in business administration, engineering, banking, social sciences, law, humanities and arts, and is affiliated with the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce and Industry," Mehanna said.

He also listed amendments introduced to the program, namely the fact that at the end of the learning period, the program members are divided into groups that will each submit a global business plan to a jury consisting of businessmen and investors. These amendments also include holding a Business Simulation Competition, he added. The program covers new courses, including Doing Business in the Middle East, Islamic Banking and Finance, E-business, Supply Chain Management, as well as other materials relevant to Lebanon and the region.

The three global business plans included several new initiatives and were put forth for discussion by the jury members. The "Best Global Business Plan" prize was awarded to the winning team, and a "Best Team" prize was given away for the Business Simulation Competition which consisted of managing a virtual online company during the program's period. Students in the program had competed with their counterparts from prestigious universities in America, Europe and Australia. The winners also received certificates of appreciation from NDU and the University of Bordeaux. - The Daily Star

Applications can be submitted until July 30 at the NDU campus. Please see www.ndu.edu.lb to obtain all the relevant information on the program.