Getting ahead in the globally competitive business arena is the focus of a new executive MBA programme designed to combine five international cultures. The Chinese University (CUHK) has joined with four business schools from Brazil, Mexico, the Netherlands and the US to form a partnership to design and deliver the new programme, called OneMBA. CUHK has initially decided to offer the course as an option to its existing MBA programme. Organisers say OneMBA differs from other MBA programmes because it focuses on multi-culturalism and gives participants a chance to study abroad. 'They will get all the skills they need as part of a regular MBA program but the focus will be on being able to manage, source, sell or compete anywhere in the world,'' said Professor David Ravenscraft from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He said he expected the programme to be popular despite the global economic downturn as executives felt the need to improve their skills in lean times. 'That is what allows them to differentiate themselves within their own company and gives them an edge, or if things don't go right at that company, it gives them an edge in the market. During a downturn, education is even more important.'' The programme will involve a 21-month schedule to begin in September 2002 with a class of around 100 senior executives who will study in each country by turn. The executives will study together in four one-week experiential learning modules. Local professors will teach the modules in their own regions with core courses co-ordinated across all OneMBA campuses. Graduates will receive MBA degrees from their home university and from OneMBA. The course is designed for global managers of multinational companies as well as managers in regional and national companies that are operating globally. The international focus aims to provide executives with knowledge of how best practices are applied around the world, and how developed and developing economies work together on each continent. Core courses deal with global and regional issues specific to leadership, operations, marketing, finance and strategy while specialised courses are geared more towards each executive's needs. Participants should have seven to 15 years' full-time work experience and a degree or equivalent. Executives from Hong Kong and other Asian countries can apply to CUHK from December for the course, which costs $288,000. For details visit www.onemba.org . Hong Kong has featured strongly in Business Week's annual executive MBA rankings. The October 15 edition named Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in the US top of its EMBA rankings. In Asia, the course is offered in partnership with Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's business school. Also in the US magazine's top 35 was the Chinese University, the highest-ranking regional university.