Manchester Business School Worldwide presents MBA programmes for the region at the MBA World Tour in Dubai

The School, which is currently ranked 22nd in the world by the Financial Times, launched three distance learning MBA programmes in the region, in January 2006, and already supports over 100 students from more than 20 nationalities following MBA programmes through its new Middle East centre in Dubai.

Programmes on offer from the triple MBA accredited School include the unique MBA for Construction Executives, which MBSW launched in the UK and the Middle East, earlier this year. The other programmes available are the MBA for Engineering Business Managers and MBA for Financial Managers and Finance Professionals. The 30-month MBA programmes equip managers with the skills to address the challenges facing their industries whilst retaining the broad management focus that defines an MBA, allowing students to tailor their programmes.

Dubai is MBSW's third international centre, joining existing centres in Hong Kong and Singapore. The centre in Dubai provides local support, coordination and resources to students, as well as support to visiting faculty. All the business school's MBA programmes are delivered through a blend of self-study, face-to-face workshops and web based support systems. The number of face-to-face hours within the distance learning programme is close to that for students on a full-time MBA programme.

Randa Bessiso, MBSW Middle East Director, comments: "In January 2006, Manchester Business School Worldwide launched three MBA programmes in the Middle East, in finance, engineering and construction; in fact, MBSW chose the Middle East for the international launch of its unique MBA for Construction Executives because of the vibrant construction sector in the region."

After two student intakes, MBSW already has over 100 students from across the Middle East following distance-learning MBA programmes.

"A distance learning MBA offers professionals all the advantages of an internationally recognised post graduate qualification - personal development and new career opportunities, financial reward and an international network of contacts - without the potential inconvenience of a career break. All our distance learning MBAs combine self-study and face to face residential workshops and they are all full Masters degrees, equivalent to those awarded to students studying on campus," adds Ms Bessiso.

"Because our distance-learning programmes lead to precisely the same qualification as our campus-based programmes, maintaining quality is vital," says Ms Bessiso. "All our faculty who have been to the region have been impressed with the quality of students from the Middle East, who compare very favourably with those at our other international centres and the Manchester campus. "