The American University in Dubai proudly welcomed its inaugural Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) cohort recently. The class convened on AUD campus for their first module on Leading in Organizations which was taught by an adjunct faculty member affiliated with Columbia University in the United States.

Maryke Luijendijk, EMBA Program Director, stated that they were delighted with the composition of the first class. “Our class consists of sixteen students comprising twelve nationalities reflecting an average of fourteen years of work experience. This makes for a great in-class dynamic," she said. “The mix of students ensures that we can have the level of conversation in class expected in an EMBA program of this caliber.”

The students will attend classes on average once per month during extended weekends (Thursday afternoon, Friday and Saturday) and complete the program within two years. Upcoming subjects will cover all basic business disciplines to ensure that students get the academic grounding they need to move forward in their careers. They will also undergo an integrated leadership trajectory that embeds skills building, self-reflection and coaching in their EMBA experience. Courses will be taught by a combination of stellar AUD faculty and international faculty from renowned institutions. The program includes an international study trip.

Imad Hoballah, Provost and Chief Academic Officer of AUD, commented that “the EMBA inauguration week marks a great milestone for AUD, for excellence in executive education, and for superb leadership in the UAE and the Middle East.” He added that AUD is proud of this great achievement that represents the first step in the journey of a great educational experience for the participating executives, the contributing faculty and the institution. “Through this achievement, AUD reaffirms and reinforces its leadership position of the UAE higher education market with a unique world-class offering that inspires executives to lead through, and not to be disrupted by, disruption,” he concluded.