Darden School Welcomes First Global MBA for Executives Class

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Sept. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The University of Virginia Darden School of Business welcomed students from as far afield as India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Russia for the inaugural residency of its new Global MBA for Executives program.

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The first term, themed "Understanding and Leading the Global Enterprise," kicked off on Sunday, 28 August and will take place over two weeks in Charlottesville, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The GEMBA students are experienced managers from organizations including Rolls-Royce, BP, Accenture, the U.S. Navy and Booz Allen Hamilton. As members of the Class of 2013, they will earn the Darden MBA through on-the-ground training in five regions around the world while continuing to work full time.

"By joining the inaugural class of Darden's GEMBA, you have demonstrated your pioneering skills," said Darden's Dean Bob Bruner. "The people who master the unique attributes of working in different regions around the world will excel in the global marketplace. I applaud you for taking this step and welcome you to our tight-knit community that spans the globe."

Sara Neher, assistant dean for MBA admissions, shared additional information about the GEMBA Class of 2013:

Average years of work experience: 14
Average age: 37
Percentage with advanced degree: 30
Countries represented: Pakistan, Somalia, India, New Zealand, Russian Federation, UAE, and United States
Industries represented: airlines, consulting, consumer goods, non-profit, financial services, government, military, oil and gas, retail and technology

Darden's faculty -- ranked #1 in the United States by The Princeton Review and #1 globally in Executive Education open-enrollment by Financial Times -- has designed and will deliver the program over the next two years in Brazil, China, India, Western Europe and the United States.

Darden's GEMBA, like the school's other MBA programs, the MBA and MBA for Executives, uses the case study method to immerse students in real-life business situations spanning industries, countries and disciplines.

"Cases bridge the gap between knowing and doing," said Darden Professor Sankaran "Venkat" Venkataraman, GEMBA's faculty leader. "Through cases, we will walk in the shoe of global executives who might contemplate: How should we price our products for different markets? What markets should we enter and in what order? Should we go it alone or find a joint venture partner?"

Darden's professors, through the School's publishing arm, Darden Business Publishing, have developed a series of new international cases for the GEMBA curriculum that they will teach in the MBA program's core courses. They include "Taking a Mexican Company Global - The Cemex Way" and "The Fax: From Next Best Thing to Useless Gadget."

During the first residency, students will spend time in Washington, D.C., for a course called "Global Leadership Explorations." As the GEMBA students travel the world (Brazil, China, India, Western Europe and the United States), this course will present field experiences, company visits and activities that will deepen the learning that takes place in the classroom and impart knowledge about each country and its culture, norms and institutions. For example, in Washington, the students will visit the National Museum of American History and the U.S. Capitol, among other sites. The second residency will take place in Brazil in January 2012.

Darden has begun recruiting for the Class of 2014. Please visit the program website for more information about upcoming events in your area.

For more information, contact [email protected].

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SOURCE University of Virginia's Darden School of Business