Cass Business School Welcomes Sixth Executive MBA Class in Dubai

Four day induction weekend kicks off two year course

Sir John Cass Business School welcomed the sixth intake of its Executive MBA (EMBA) programme in Dubai.  The class of 2014 comprises more than 50 students of 26 nationalities, all of whom will study at the Cass Dubai Centre in DIFC.  Students will be flying in from countries across the region including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Egypt, and also further afield from Georgia and Singapore.

The EMBA programme began with a four day induction at the Cass Dubai Centre in DIFC, including an introduction to the faculty, the unique Cass virtual learning environment, Moodle, team building and professional development workshops and a social reception hosted by the school at the Capital Club.  The students will also enjoy a formal welcome to the course from Edward Hobart, HM Consul General.

During the two year programme, students are taught a range of both compulsory and elective modules by Cass Business School academic staff who fly out from London on a monthly basis to teach at DIFC over a long weekend.  Cass Business School continues to be the only business school in Dubai to offer streams in Islamic Finance, Energy and Entrepreneurship.  It is also one of the few business schools in Dubai whose students benefit from having the same teaching staff as their peers in London, regardless of whether they enrol for the EMBA programme in London or Dubai.   

Edward Hobart, HM Consul General, said: “The Cass Executive MBA programme in Dubai brings the world’s first EMBA programme to offer specialist Islamic Finance and Energy modules together with the business school of the City of London, the world’s premier financial centre. This provides today’s new intake of students with unique opportunities in areas of increasing importance in international finance.  It is also an example of the close and mutually beneficial ties between the financial sectors in Dubai and London”.

Jeff Singer, CEO, DIFC Authority, said: “DIFC’s strategy is to develop and grow the financial sector in the UAE and the wider region. Key to this strategy is the development of knowledgeable and talented financial professionals, which is achievable through supporting educational programmes such as Cass.  These professional education and development programmes are more critical and important in this dynamic and fast changing world that they have ever been. We are proud to play a part in bringing this programme to the region and ensuring that professionals here have the skills and tools required to remain at the cutting edge of innovation in their respective sectors.”

Professor Roy Batchelor, Associate Dean MBA programmes at Cass, said: “It is fantastic to be able to welcome the Dubai EMBA students of 2012-2014 on behalf of Cass Business School.  These are not just students, but professionals who are dedicating four days a month over the next two years to build on the skills that they have, and to give themselves the tools necessary to develop their ambitions through the range of modules and electives we offer.”

Ehsan Razavizadeh, Regional Director for Middle-East and North Africa said: “I’m extremely pleased to welcome the sixth intake for the Executive MBA programme in Dubai.  Year on year we’re seeing our network of current and former students grow and take what they have learnt from the EMBA programme back out into the market – whether that market is the UAE, the MENA region more broadly, Europe or Asia.  Our students continue to benefit from the expertise and exposure that the staff at Cass Business School in London provide.”