EFMD and GMAC to hold MENA conference at Abu Dhabi University in April

Organized by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), with the support of the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) the conference is one of the most important management education events in the region and will bring together business schools, companies, NGOs and the private sector to share and exchange ideas and best practice examples. The conference will address topics such as the role of business schools in society, business education for employment, family business, entrepreneurship in the region and the role of women, managing country risk perception, research and executive education among others.

"Better management, managers, graduates, business schools and companies can only help the MENA region with its future development and this events bring together key stakeholders to network, share ideas and develop partnerships for the future", said Prof. Eric Cornuel, the CEO and Director General of EFMD. "We are delighted to be working with Abu Dhabi University and GMAC in staging this important event."

"The MENA region is becoming extremely important markets for graduate management education. While there are challenges, tremendous opportunities already exist for both schools and students," remarked David Wilson, President and CEO of GMAC. "As with other world regions, we hope this conference will provide key stakeholders with an opportunity to work together to develop their potential and build the necessary foundations on which to grow strong programmes that will benefit graduate management education for generations to come."

On his part, Dr. Jacob Chacko Dean of the College of Business at Abu Dhabi University expressed the University's keenness in playing host to such a unique event, that will bring together experts from the different business schools throughout the MENA region, to shed light on the best practices in business education. "We are looking forward towards our participation in the conference, as it represents a platform of communication for all participating universities to exchange views and experiences, as well as discuss the prospects of future collaborations in curriculum development, research, and faculty and students exchanges. Furthermore, with our pursuit of international accreditation from the European Foundation for Management Development as the leading accrediting unit in Europe for business programs and schools, the conference will give us some insight to achieve our goal".

The conference will be chaired by Prof. Tawfik Jelassi, Dean of the ENPC School of International Management (FR) and includes a distinguished list of speakers coming from Business Schools and the private sector from different countries in the Middle East, Northern Africa and Europe, such as:

- Raed Charefeddine, First Vice Governor of the Lebanese Central Bank
- Amin El Kholy, Head of Asset Management at Arqaam Capital, UAE
- Zeina Sleiman, Director Institutional Relations and Alumni Affairs at INSEAD Abu Dhabi
- Christopher Abraham, Head of Dubai campus and Sr. Vice President at S P Jain School of Global Management
- Denise Johnsen, Regional Assistant Director, London Business School.