London School of Economics launches Executive Global Master’s in Management
Japan Herald.Com 17-10-2014
Introducing an alternative to the traditional executive MBA.
According to the latest GMAC report, 79% of MBA programmes are recruiting in South East Asia with the highest numbers of students coming from Japan, China, South Korea and Thailand. The same report shows a decrease in applications for executive MBA programmes.
With a decline in applications for the traditional EMBA, the London School of Economics has launched the Executive Global Masters in Management (EGMiM), as "an intellectual alternative to the MBA." The programme provides the same training in the core areas of management and leadership as an EMBA, but with a much deeper focus on the geo-political and socio-economic contexts which fundamentally underpin the success or failure of businesses across the world.
The programme is specifically designed for experienced working professionals in any industry, providing a route to transition into a high-level senior management career.
With alum that include JFK, Mick Jagger and George Soros, it is perhaps not surprising that the school takes a different approach to the teachings of management. The faculty behind the programme believes that whilst the MBA provides a lot of practical advice and management skills, it does not truly teach participants how to think more deeply for themselves. Instead, they learn what has already been taught and accepted through popular case studies.
On the EGMiM, students learn how management theory and practice has evolved over the years, giving them a thorough understanding of modern practices and the ability to ask ‘why’ certain decisions are made. In short, students learn ‘how’ to learn about management.
The EGMiM prides itself on the diversity of its classes, a crucial factor for those learning how to operate in a global context. As a participant on the programme says ‘’ My cohort, a cosy group of 27, holds a total of 50 passports. Not a single one of us both lives and works in our home country. There are roughly five working languages in our class discussions—more if you count the slang. If you think you are global, think again.’’ (The Economist).
As a worldwide specialist in social sciences, the LSE leverages its academic capital and strength in international relations. Whereas other schools might bring in external professors to teach business students, the LSE’s management students go out to learn in different parts of the world at two international modules, as well as spending five modules at the heart of the LSE community on campus in London.
Sandy Pepper, professor of management practice at LSE says: "The LSE, is similar to Yale University, which also came into business education later than other business schools and is positioning itself differently with a portfolio of business and management masters. Our great selling point is that unlike standalone business schools we can put our understanding of how business operates into geo-political context – in a way they couldn’t dream of getting in a typical business school.”
On the second year of the programme, students get the chance to bring examples of things they struggle with in their current roles, to the classroom. This means that the teaching is dynamic and has a more immediate effect as students can apply the teachings and advice they give on the course, immediately, without having to wait until they complete the programme.