Athens University of Economics & Business
“Crisis? What crisis? Athens University of Economics & Business wins AMBA’s MBA Innovation Award 2013.” That was the title of last November’s press release from the Association of MBAs (AMBA) – the international impartial authority on postgraduate business education and the only global MBA-specific accrediting body – announcing the global MBA innovator for 2013.
The MBA International (i-MBA) program of AUEB submitted its candidacy, presenting the e-skills curriculum (on SEO, Web Analytics, Pay-per-Click, Social Media, Conversion Optimization, and Mobile Marketing) that was incorporated into the program in September 2012. Being the result of a fruitful collaboration between industry and academia, this innovative i-MBA component follows the current trends in business education, is delivered 100% online, and adds significant value to its students, as it offers them the opportunity to prepare themselves for more than 20 new high-paid job-roles as well as use online marketing skills to promote their businesses online.
The competition for the Award among AMBA-accredited MBA programs from all over the world was strong, as AMBA accredits just 1% of the world’s Executive MBA programs and currently numbers 204 accredited business schools in 70 countries worldwide.
How can an MBA in Greece achieve a global distinction in innovation during a period of crisis? “This is not impossible,” says Professor George Ioannou, i-MBA Director. “Greece has the potential and the human resources that can lead change. There are thousands of innovative ideas. What is required is the people who believe in these ideas, and support them with all their efforts. That’s what we do at i-MBA.”
Keeping the highest standards for the courses offered, the program enriches its curriculum with new subjects that respond to current market trends and needs. The most recent examples include courses on “Energy Economics & Management” and “Entrepreneurship & Sustainable Energy,” highlighting energy and sustainable development as key areas of interest for Southeast Mediterranean and Europe (the Eastern Mediterranean and Southeastern Europe?).
Entrepreneurship is another focus area of the program. Being the alma mater for hundreds of executives for 15 years, the program is currently developing a number of strategic partnerships to support and promote entrepreneurship as an attractive career choice. Last year, 10 scholarships were sponsored by a major pharmaceutical company for researchers with innovative ideas to attend the program, while the dedicated “Innovation & Entrepreneurship” major has been thoroughly restructured and enriched to offer the most up-to-date education to young entrepreneurs in the form of a hands-on enterprise formation and acceleration endeavor.
For candidates wishing to advance significantly on in their career paths or enter the entrepreneurial world, AUEB’s MBA International program remains the top choice in Greece.
Applications deadline for September 2014 intake: May 31st, 2014. To find out more, visit the program’s website at www.imba.aueb.gr.
