By Amber Haque, Senior Recruitment & Admissions Manager – EMBA Dubai
This year, London Business School is celebrating 15 years in the UAE. Nestled in the heart of the leading financial centre in the region and surrounded by influential firms, an innovation hub and a burgeoning fintech ecosystem, the Dubai campus offers a part-time Executive MBA programme for mid to senior level executives and entrepreneurs. Designed so you can study while you work, it provides access to a diverse international network, exposure to innovative faculty research, expands career opportunities, and develops strong leadership skills.
Over the years, the programme has grown in strength and impact. In my two and a half years working for LBS, I’ve seen leaders and emerging leaders acquire the skills and knowledge they need to transform themselves, their business or industry. A strong measure of our effectiveness and programme rigour is our recent accreditation in the UAE. In addition to our Triple Crown accreditation (AACSB in the United States, AMBA in the UK, EQUIS in the European Union), LBS gained Institutional licensure and programme accreditation for the Executive MBA Dubai programme by the UAE Ministry of Education in 2021.
Zara Kamileen, Executive MBA Dubai Programme Director, sees this as a critical milestone:
“Although our programmes are Triple Crown accredited, the accreditation by the UAE Ministry of Education is an achievement. For me, this acknowledgement represents the UAE’s trust in LBS as a world-class business education provider. It is a testament to our continued commitment to business school education in the UAE and the Middle East.”
The accreditation has unlocked key benefits for prospective students looking for funding. Federal and national agencies hold their own learning and development budgets, and public sector employees interested in the Executive MBA Dubai programme will now be able to apply for these funds. For those working in semi-government organisations, the business case for company sponsorship should clearly highlight programme content and the development of skills that will benefit the employer. The accreditation can further strengthen the case as proof and recognition of our academic quality.
Scholarships
Furthermore, Ministry accreditation has brought other less well-known scholarship sources to light. UAE nationals seeking to enrol in accredited programmes in the country may apply for financial support to any of the following entities:
- Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Scholarship Coordination Office
- Abu Dhabi Investment Office
- Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Royal Court
- Ruler of Ajman Royal Court
For self-funding Emirati applicants, the availability of these funds is great news. In my role as Senior Recruitment & Admissions Manager, I speak with candidates from across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and further afield. Whether it’s an ER doctor coordinating COVID response in Qatar or an entrepreneur managing an agritech business in Sudan, the diversity of experience is immeasurable. The most rewarding part is building a class that is a microcosm of this diversity and facilitating connections that provide a richer texture to the peer-to-peer learning experience. That diversity includes increasing the number of Emirati students, many of whom are working on large transformation projects in line with the ambitious strategic vision of Dubai and the UAE, scaling family businesses or launching new ventures in the country’s robust post-pandemic recovery. For these individuals, exposure to a diverse cohort of experienced business leaders is as important for their development as the perspective they will bring to the class. The accreditation, and the incredible access to finance resources it has provided, helps to smooth the path that will get them there.
If you’re interested in learning more about the EMBA Dubai programme, or joining the September 2022 cohort, please visit our website.