Global EMBA Program Launched

The Robert H. Smith School of Business and the Graduate School of Business Administration (GSBA) Zürich in Switzerland, have announced a strategic partnership to deliver a unique  program. The Smith-GSBA Global Executive MBA will be offered to U.S. and international business executives seeking a strong competitive edge in the global marketplace.

The rigorous program will capitalize on the unique strengths of both schools – combining the Smith School’s focus on the integration of business and technology, with GSBA Zürich’s “living case” approach that builds hands-on learning and experience. Students will gain in-depth global knowledge, perspective and skills from experience gained working directly with businesses in three continents – Europe, through GSBA; Asia, through Smith’s programs in China; and North America, through Smith’s main campus.

The Smith-GSBA Global Executive MBA, announced by Dr. Howard Frank, dean of the Robert H. Smith School of Business, in his keynote speech on March 23rd, 2005, at the Zürich MBA Congress, is the first of several planned initiatives to link the schools’ knowledge and best practices. In addition to the Smith-GSBA Global Executive MBA program, students in the Smith School’s domestic part-time MBA and EMBA programs will have the opportunity to take classes at GSBA Zürich, and faculty will participate in joint research, seminars and conferences.

“We’re bringing together the strengths of two of the world’s best business schools to deliver programming specifically designed to help executives succeed in today’s global, technology-driven economy,” said Dr. Howard Frank. “There are differences between businesses and economies in North America and the rest of the world, differences you can’t fully understand by reading a book or exchanging e-mails. Having the opportunity to study and interact with counterparts in Europe and Asia will give students a depth of experience that cannot be replicated in any other way.”

“The Smith School of the University of Maryland is a top-ranked business school and we are confident that the new strategic cooperation with Smith and the Global Executive MBA in particular will help insure GSBA Zürich's leading position in executive degree education in Central Europe,” said Dr. Albert Stähli, dean of GSBA Zürich. “The cooperation will allow us to bring our unique living case method to the Smith School and thereby to the United States and Asia. The living case puts students into the managerial driving seat of the companies they study, in real time.”

GSBA Zürich was ranked No. 1 in German-speaking Europe and No. 3 in Europe by the Financial Times and in a recent book published by the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper.

The Smith-GSBA Global Executive MBA is a 24-36 month program targeted toward mid-to-senior career business professionals with at least eight years of professional experience. The program is designed around two-week blocks – with executives completing blocks in Asia, the United States and Europe. Participants must complete a total of nine blocks (six 2-week blocks and three 3-day blocks) within 36 months to graduate. Courses will be jointly taught by GSBA Zürich and Smith faculty in the three learning locations, and will focus on delivering GSBA Zürich’s unique living case approach, which allows students to work directly with companies as consultants.

Go to the Smith-GSBA Global Executive MBA Web site ◄