The global economic downturn has affected most areas of life and, for executives across the world, it is a pressing concern. To address students' needs for a deeper understanding of macroeconomics, Steven DeKrey, senior associate dean and EMBA programme director, has added a tailor-made course to the Kellogg-HKUST (KH) Executive MBA curriculum.
'Students asked for a course on macroeconomics, so we created a four-hour session to help them keep up-to-date with what is happening around the world and how it might affect them. This was in response to a specific request. As a general rule, our faculty are well read and tie macroeconomic issues to their teaching as a matter of course,' Professor DeKrey said.
He said on average two of the 28 course modules changed each year in response to the changing business environment. One of the new courses next year, for example, will be on building brands on the mainland.
The KH EMBA, founded in 1998 through a partnership between the United States-based Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology business school, was in 2007 ranked by the Financial Times as the No1 EMBA programme in the world.
'We are very selective, and a particular feature of our programme is the seniority of the students. We have the most diverse, most senior and highest earning students of any EMBA programme in the world,' Professor DeKrey said.
Kellogg is partnered with other institutions around the world. It offers programmes in Tel Aviv, Toronto, Frankfurt, Miami and Chicago, with a total enrolment of 500 students.
One of the benefits of the partnerships is that students are able to take part in exchange programmes, which will give them insights into business in other parts of the world. The exchange programme started in Asia, and KH students can now swap places with students in Tel Aviv, Toronto and Miami, in addition to a two-week stint in Chicago. Students enrolled at other Kellogg programmes can also come to Hong Kong and share knowledge and experience with their counterparts at KH.
