Manchester** Business School** calls for entries from Emirati nationals

Duba, UAE: 27 September 2009: Manchester Business School Worldwide (MBS Worldwide) is calling for Emirati nationals to submit their innovative business ideas as part of the inaugural 'Manchester Innovation Award' in the UAE. The School is running the Award, in coordination with the Abu Dhabi based Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, to support and encourage the development of Emirati business entrepreneurs. The deadline for submissions is 31st October 2009.

The Manchester Innovation Award is open to all Emiratis aged 20 and over, and the winner will benefit from an all-expenses study tour to MBS in the UK, a cash award and trophy, as well as ongoing support in the development of the winning business innovation idea with advice and guidance from the Business School faculty and the Manchester Enterprise Centre. In addition, Khalifa Fund will consider providing further support as per their availed programs and services.

Innovative business plans will be judged by a panel of professors, academic directors, Khalifa Fund Executives and selected MBS alumni. The winner will be selected based on the innovation and creativity demonstrated by the business idea, as well as its commercial viability.

Earlier in 2009, MBS ran the Manchester Innovation Award in Asia Pacific (through the School's Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai centres), where it attracted over 350 high quality entries. Consequently, it was decided to offer two winners awards this year to 'Take Mandarin Easy' and 'HABS Tech Air Bearing', won (respectively) by a young, Hong Kong based undergraduate, Miss Trista Hung Wing Yan, and a group of six (6) undergraduates from South China.

Mr Chris Higgins, Director Middle East, Manchester Business School Worldwide, said: "The Manchester Innovation Award will encourage young Emirati businesspeople and create opportunities for Emirati entrepreneurs to realise their potential and demonstrate the level of innovation in the country. We have over 600 MBA students in the region and we have been very impressed by the business skills here and believe this award will help nurture them. We can all see the high degree of entrepreneurship and innovation in the UAE and so we are hoping to see a strong response to the Manchester Innovation Award. The Innovation Award in Asia was very successful and we hope to replicate this across the Middle East, in future."

The deadline for the submission of business proposals is October 31st 2009 and the winner will be announced at a gala dinner in Abu Dhabi, on November 15th 2009.

Details are available at: http://www.mbs-worldwide.ae/innovation/

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About Manchester Business School
Manchester Business School (MBS) is UK's largest campus-based business and management school. It provides a comprehensive range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes as well as customized executive programmes for organisations from both the private and public sectors. It was also the UK's first business school, established in 1965.

MBS Worldwide - Middle East Regional Centre
Manchester Business School Worldwide Middle East Regional Centre was established in Dubai in 2006. The centre currently runs MBA programmes for Financial Managers and Finance Professionals; Engineering Business Managers; and Construction Executives; as well as the Manchester Global MBA. The centre currently supports more than 600 part-time MBA students from across the region, all of whom are experienced managers or professionals/specialists. The degrees are awarded by The University of Manchester.

About Khalifa Fund
The strategic objective of this program is to help Emiratis participate fully in the private sector through projects that they own and manage.

This will result in the expansion of the economic base. The main aim of Khalifa Fund is to promote good business opportunities for Emiratis in a variety of sectors. The Fund will target capable, young graduates as well as young businessmen and businesswomen with creative business ideas, coupled with strong administrative and managerial skills. In addition, the Fund will assist early retired uniformed services personnel that enter into business through guidance, support and training. Women with home based businesses will also be supported. The efforts of the Fund will serve to nurture the many talented and capable Emiratis who wish to enter the world of business.

For more information, please contact:
Jonathan Walsh
mob 050 4588610;
email - jon@wprme.com

Beibars Abdi
mob 050 5705531;
email - beibars@wprme.com

WPR Limited
Dubai

© Press Release 2009