Doha, Qatar - October 7, 2012: HEC Paris in Qatar - the region's leading hub for Executive Education, offering a complete portfolio of management programs including the first ever international Executive MBA (EMBA) in Qatar - has announced the beginning of a series of 'Distinguished Lectures' on a variety of topics related to the impact of business at the global level.

The first of these lectures, entitled 'China's Changing Model and its Impact on the Rest of the World' took place on the evening of October 4 in Doha's Grand Hyatt Hotel. The Lecture was presented by Professor Jaques Gravereau, a world-renowned expert in his field.

Professor Gravereau chairs the HEC Eurasia Institute, a think tank founded by HEC and prominent corporations both from Europe and Pacific Asia. He is an expert on Pacific-Asia and Europe-Asia relations, and the award winning author of reference books on Asia. As such, he is eminently qualified to have given the lecture on one of the most pertinenttopics in the business world today: the emergence of China as an economic superpower.

China has undergone a complete economic transformation over the last 30 years, seeing its nominal GDP of approximately $300 billion in 1981 jump to $8 trillion in 2011. Average per capita income for last year was approximately $6,000, which, while still low by global standards, represents a 2,200% increase on the 1981 figure. China's economy is now the second largest in the world, just behind the US.

The Professor's lecture examined China's emergence as the 'factory of the world', a vibrant market of 1.4 billion people, a major overseas investor but also a market which is swallowing up a huge 40% of the world's raw materials - including oil and gas - for industrial and domestic use. Is the sky the limit for China's growth and ambitions? How are international economic factors and internal pressure challenging the Chinese 'model'? How should we interpret new Chinese geopolitics in terms of threats and opportunities? These questions, and many more, were raised - and answered - during the Professor's address.

The well-attended event also gave attendeesthe chanceto network with Human Resources and Learning and Development Professionals, as well as with current and future participants ofthe HEC Executive MBA and Specialized Master Degree programs.

The Chief Operating Officer of HEC Paris in Qatar, Joshua Kobb, commented: "Professor Gravereau's engrossing address about China's growing economic influence is the first of a new series of Distinguished Lectures that HEC Paris in Qatar is organizing for the business community of Doha.

"We seek to bring the world's best and most knowledgeable speakers to Qatar to share their expertise on a range of business subjects. The lectures will entertain and educate the attendees about global business issues and trends, and we are looking forward to offering many additional lectures in thefuture."The Distinguished Lectures Series" is part of HEC Paris in Qatar's commitment to building international best business practice, in Qatar and the region at large.

According to the influential UK-based Financial Times media group, HEC Paris has been ranked as the number one business school in Europe every year since 2006, and number two in the world for Executive Education in 2012.

HEC Paris in Qatar
HEC Paris joined Qatar Foundation in June 2010, bringing world-class Executive Education programs and research activity to Doha and the region.Qatar's first international EMBA was launched by HEC Paris in Qatar in February 2011. The HEC Executive MBA (EMBA) is a part-time program which provides executives with a set of fundamental skills to expand their knowledge and leadership capabilities. The course is taught in English, and is offered in five different locations, including Doha. In addition to the EMBA, HEC Paris in Qatar provides a Specialized Master Degree in Strategic Business Unit Management. The institution also offers non-degree management programs for executives, in the form of open enrolment programs as well as custom-designed programs for individual companies. HEC Paris in Qatar's programs and research activities build corporate competitiveness within the global economy and are fully aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030 to support the transformation of Qatar into an advanced, competitive and knowledge-based economy. HEC Paris has been ranked as #1 business school in Europe since 2006 and #2 worldwide for Executive Education by the Financial Times in 2012. http://www.exed.hec.edu/locations/qatar

HEC Paris
A leader in Europe, HEC Paris specializes in management education and research. HEC Paris offers a full, unique range of courses to the leaders of tomorrow: Masters Degrees, MBA, PhD, Executive MBA and Trium Global Executive MBA. Founded in 1881, HEC Paris has a permanent faculty of 109 professors, 4000 students on its campus (40% of whom are foreign) and over 8500 managers and executives trained in executive education programs each year. HEC Paris has been ranked as #1 business school in Europe since 2006 and #2 worldwide for Executive Education by the Financial Times.http://www.hec.edu/, http://www.exed.hec.edu/

Qatar Foundation
Founded in 1995 by decree of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, Qatar Foundation is a non-profit organization focusing on education, scientific research and community development. Under Qatar Foundation's umbrella are Education City which comprises elite universities, academic and training programmes and Qatar Science and Technology Park which boasts more than 26 world-class companies involved in scientific research and development. Chaired by Her Highness SheikhaMozahbint Nasser Al Missned, Qatar Foundation also aims to enhance lives through community development initiatives including Doha Debates, Reach out To Asia and Al Jazeera Children's Channel.  Joint venture partnerships in the areas of design, ICT, telecommunications, policy studies and event management contribute to fulfilling the objectives of the Qatar Foundation.http://www.qf.org.qa/

Media inquiries:
Elise Zwein
Country Manager, Action Qatar
Tel: 00974 44361499
Email: elise.z@actionprgroup.com

© Press Release 2012