Dubai, a top recruitment region, say world's top business schools

The QS World Exec MBA Tour, which comes to Dubai on Friday 3 April 2009, spoke with some of the world's top business schools, all of which reported that due to Dubai's growth as the business hub of the Middle East, demand for Executive MBA programs is increasing.

Richard Gillingwater, Dean of Cass Business School, says the Middle East is a growth region for skills, talent and education, particularly in the light of the financial crisis.

"This (crisis) will cause an influx of labour and talent in the Gulf region, but it is a great opportunity. Until now the scarcity of skilled labour was a major drag on development, but this has now eased. As with any emerging market, the need and demand for MBAs is set to grow in line with the development of the region. Dubai will therefore form an important part of our recruitment strategy," Gillingwater adds.

Arnold Longboy, Director of Student Recruitment (Europe) at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, says UAE students offer unique insights into Middle Eastern business culture and their fellow EMBA students can learn from their experiences and recommendations.

"We've consistently enrolled students from the UAE since opening our Europe campus in 1994. UAE students' contribution to the diversity of the EMBA cohort is invaluable. What's also interesting is the insight they offer of working in an environment which continues to produce double-digit growth," he adds.

Hina Gonfreville, Editor of the QS TopExecEd Guide, says the Executive MBA (EMBA) is the ideal solution for experienced professionals who want to pursue a graduate degree without putting their careers on hold. "The EMBA is a top management development tool; the accent is placed on experiential learning, acquiring a holistic approach to corporate issues and sharpening strategic skills. Part of the curriculum focuses on leadership training and excellence."

The QS World Exec MBA Tour is also an opportunity for HR managers in charge of training and development, chief learning and training officers, as well as line managers in charge of the careers of top company talent, to find out more about MBA and EMBA programs.

Ms Gonfreville says it is an ideal win-win situation between the company and the employee. "The Executive MBA ensures both accelerated personal and professional development, as well as enhanced corporate performance so the benefits of the program are felt immediately as participants continue to work full-time and focus on their careers, bringing back new skills and knowledge that they put to use as they go through the program."

The QS World Exec MBA Tour is for candidates with over five years of work experience interested in studying an Executive MBA. Top EMBA programs in Dubai include: Cambridge Judge, Cologne Business School, Duke - Fuqua, Escp-Eap European School of Management, HEC Paris, IE Business School, Insead, Kellogg-WHU, Limak Johannes Kepler Uni. Business School, Trium Global and TU Muenchen.

The opening panel discussion on 'The Full Time vs Executive MBA' will be hosted by a selection of top international MBA and EMBA representatives giving the audience expert insider advice. This will be followed by a Q&A session for candidates and corporate representatives. Those interested in full-time MBAs can meet with representatives from schools including Thunderbird, Warwick, Cambridge, Hult, IE, INSEAD, Vlerick, IESE, Melbourne, Ashridge, Cass and IFM.

The QS World Exec MBA Fair in Dubai will be held on Friday 3 April at the Monarch Dubai from 18: 00 to 21:00.