17 June 2008
The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business this year celebrates the 65th anniversary of the world's first Executive MBA programme.
In 1943, the GSB's Executive MBA programme became the first of its kind when, inspired by the economy of World War II, Willard Graham, a University of Chicago accounting professor, recognized the need to strengthen the leadership of American business by educating administrators, supervisors and analysts. Today, the programme has expanded beyond Chicago, to Asia (Singapore) and Europe (London), making Chicago GSB the first and only business school with a permanent presence on three continents.
A new philosophy of business education
The Executive MBA programme was based on the belief that "the modern executive achieves success largely in terms of his ability to analyze and solve business problems - problems of business policy, organization, operation and of external relations." Eventually referred to as the "Chicago Approach" to business education, this philosophy still governs the Chicago MBA 65 years after the first class of 23 students began the executive programme. By the 1990s, this approach was summarized by the statement: "At Chicago we teach how to think, not what to think."
One programme
In 1943, classes met in the evening, two nights a week, so that programme members could maintain their regular executive responsibilities and apply what they learned directly to the real world of business. Today, students enrolled in the Executive MBA programme attend classes on a part-time basis, often "commuting" to the campus for a monthly one-week teaching session, while continuing to work full-time during the rest of the 21-month long academic study period. "While it may have been difficult in 1943 to imagine the explosive growth globally for executive education and executive MBA programmes," says Glenn Sykes, Managing Director at the Europe Campus in London, "the need to develop executives remains an imperative for any organization. At Chicago we don't just rest on our distinguished history, but by keeping abreast of new ideas and concepts and teaching our students how to use the Chicago approach in today's business world, we've kept our MBA programme relevant. In 2008 we do this literally around the world."
One faculty
Executive MBA classes at Chicago have always been taught by the same faculty who teach in all GSB programmes; and the faculty in Chicago also teach in Singapore and London. Among them are some of the world's leading authorities in their specialist fields, from Gary Becker, the Nobel laureate in Economic Sciences to Eugene Fama, widely recognized as the "father of modern finance." As top researchers, they are sought after to not only share their insights in the classroom, but in the boardroom, in the media and in testimony before congress and in the courts. Among past Executive MBA faculty are Arthur Laffer, known for the Laffer Curve; Myron Scholes, a Nobel laureate in economics and co-author of the famous Black-Scholes equation; Marvin Zonis, an internationally recognized political economist and Harry L. Davis who developed the first core leadership programme of any top-rated MBA in the US.
Three campuses
In 2008, interest in the Executive MBA soared, confirming that even 65 years on, the Chicago GSB model has stayed relevant and valued by today's business executives. Also, in 2008, plans were announced for the expansion of the Singapore Campus, which the school has outgrown. This expansion will facilitate the school's plans to extend its educational programmes and support for its growing alumni base in Asia. "What will not change is the school's commitment to offering an MBA that is pure Chicago and one based on the same educational philosophy that has been preparing executives for success since 1943," says Sykes.
The 281 students from the June 2008 intake, who have an average age of 36 and have on average 13 years work experience, come from almost 50 countries, representing over 170 companies. With such a high international profile, the Chicago community boasts a global network of over 41,000 alumni in 94 countries.
For more information about the Executive MBA go to: www.chicagogsb.edu/xp65
The Chicago GSB's annual Talent Development Conference will take place at the London Campus on July 9. Guest speakers include Stacey Kole, Deputy Dean for the Full-time MBA Program; Glenn Sykes, Managing Director, Europe Campus; Amanda Felt, Director of Business Development, Europe; Julie Morton, Associate Dean, Career Services.
Richard Thaler, author of the book Nudge: Improving Decisions About Wealth, Health and Happiness will be a special guest speaker, from 6.30pm.
For details go to: www.chicagogsb.edu/gls/schedule/london/2008-07-09.aspx
- Ends -
About the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business
The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business is one of the leading business schools in the world, consistently ranking in the top ten and frequently in the top five. The school's faculty includes many renowned scholars and its graduates occupy key positions in the U.S. and worldwide. The Chicago Approach to Management Education is distinguished by how it leverages fundamental knowledge, its rigor, and its practical application to business challenges. The school offers full- and part-time MBA programs, a Ph.D. program, open enrolment executive education and custom corporate education, with campuses in London, Chicago and Singapore. Current enrolment includes 1,100 full-time MBA students, 1,900 part-time MBA students of whom 90 are studying in London, and 110 Ph.D. students. Six current or former faculty members are Nobel Prize winners in economics. Among the school's many successful alumni are Bart Becht, CEO, Reckitt Benckiser plc, Kateryna Chumchenko Yuschenko, First Lady of Ukraine, and Paul Deneve, President of Lanvin, France. www.chicagogsb.edu
For more information, please contact:
Nolwenn Salaün
Noir sur Blanc
Tel. +33 (0)1 41 43 72 83
E-mail: nsalaun@noirsurblanc.com
The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business this year celebrates the 65th anniversary of the world's first Executive MBA programme.
In 1943, the GSB's Executive MBA programme became the first of its kind when, inspired by the economy of World War II, Willard Graham, a University of Chicago accounting professor, recognized the need to strengthen the leadership of American business by educating administrators, supervisors and analysts. Today, the programme has expanded beyond Chicago, to Asia (Singapore) and Europe (London), making Chicago GSB the first and only business school with a permanent presence on three continents.
A new philosophy of business education
The Executive MBA programme was based on the belief that "the modern executive achieves success largely in terms of his ability to analyze and solve business problems - problems of business policy, organization, operation and of external relations." Eventually referred to as the "Chicago Approach" to business education, this philosophy still governs the Chicago MBA 65 years after the first class of 23 students began the executive programme. By the 1990s, this approach was summarized by the statement: "At Chicago we teach how to think, not what to think."
One programme
In 1943, classes met in the evening, two nights a week, so that programme members could maintain their regular executive responsibilities and apply what they learned directly to the real world of business. Today, students enrolled in the Executive MBA programme attend classes on a part-time basis, often "commuting" to the campus for a monthly one-week teaching session, while continuing to work full-time during the rest of the 21-month long academic study period. "While it may have been difficult in 1943 to imagine the explosive growth globally for executive education and executive MBA programmes," says Glenn Sykes, Managing Director at the Europe Campus in London, "the need to develop executives remains an imperative for any organization. At Chicago we don't just rest on our distinguished history, but by keeping abreast of new ideas and concepts and teaching our students how to use the Chicago approach in today's business world, we've kept our MBA programme relevant. In 2008 we do this literally around the world."
One faculty
Executive MBA classes at Chicago have always been taught by the same faculty who teach in all GSB programmes; and the faculty in Chicago also teach in Singapore and London. Among them are some of the world's leading authorities in their specialist fields, from Gary Becker, the Nobel laureate in Economic Sciences to Eugene Fama, widely recognized as the "father of modern finance." As top researchers, they are sought after to not only share their insights in the classroom, but in the boardroom, in the media and in testimony before congress and in the courts. Among past Executive MBA faculty are Arthur Laffer, known for the Laffer Curve; Myron Scholes, a Nobel laureate in economics and co-author of the famous Black-Scholes equation; Marvin Zonis, an internationally recognized political economist and Harry L. Davis who developed the first core leadership programme of any top-rated MBA in the US.
Three campuses
In 2008, interest in the Executive MBA soared, confirming that even 65 years on, the Chicago GSB model has stayed relevant and valued by today's business executives. Also, in 2008, plans were announced for the expansion of the Singapore Campus, which the school has outgrown. This expansion will facilitate the school's plans to extend its educational programmes and support for its growing alumni base in Asia. "What will not change is the school's commitment to offering an MBA that is pure Chicago and one based on the same educational philosophy that has been preparing executives for success since 1943," says Sykes.
The 281 students from the June 2008 intake, who have an average age of 36 and have on average 13 years work experience, come from almost 50 countries, representing over 170 companies. With such a high international profile, the Chicago community boasts a global network of over 41,000 alumni in 94 countries.
For more information about the Executive MBA go to: www.chicagogsb.edu/xp65
The Chicago GSB's annual Talent Development Conference will take place at the London Campus on July 9. Guest speakers include Stacey Kole, Deputy Dean for the Full-time MBA Program; Glenn Sykes, Managing Director, Europe Campus; Amanda Felt, Director of Business Development, Europe; Julie Morton, Associate Dean, Career Services.
Richard Thaler, author of the book Nudge: Improving Decisions About Wealth, Health and Happiness will be a special guest speaker, from 6.30pm.
For details go to: www.chicagogsb.edu/gls/schedule/london/2008-07-09.aspx
- Ends -
About the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business
The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business is one of the leading business schools in the world, consistently ranking in the top ten and frequently in the top five. The school's faculty includes many renowned scholars and its graduates occupy key positions in the U.S. and worldwide. The Chicago Approach to Management Education is distinguished by how it leverages fundamental knowledge, its rigor, and its practical application to business challenges. The school offers full- and part-time MBA programs, a Ph.D. program, open enrolment executive education and custom corporate education, with campuses in London, Chicago and Singapore. Current enrolment includes 1,100 full-time MBA students, 1,900 part-time MBA students of whom 90 are studying in London, and 110 Ph.D. students. Six current or former faculty members are Nobel Prize winners in economics. Among the school's many successful alumni are Bart Becht, CEO, Reckitt Benckiser plc, Kateryna Chumchenko Yuschenko, First Lady of Ukraine, and Paul Deneve, President of Lanvin, France. www.chicagogsb.edu
For more information, please contact:
Nolwenn Salaün
Noir sur Blanc
Tel. +33 (0)1 41 43 72 83
E-mail: nsalaun@noirsurblanc.com
© Press Release 2008
