As one of the flagship international programmes at CEIBS, Global EMBA has thrived as CEIBS has expanded internationally in the last 24 years. In October, CEIBS Global EMBA was ranked #5 in the Financial Times’ 2018 ranking of the world’s top 100 EMBA programmes, which places it as the highest-ranked stand-alone programme. The ranking showed that CEIBS Global EMBA offers a world-class education and an increasingly international and diverse experience.

CEIBS Global EMBA programme has operated with two tracks since 2016. The new programme design allows greater flexibility for the busy participants. Applicant numbers have increased strongly in recent years which has resulted in more than 100 participants for the first time in Global EMBA, further enhancing the diversity of the GEMBA family. 

About the New Class

1. A Diverse International Classroom

The 102 participants come from 21 countries across five continents, covering a variety of key industries in the global economic system. They work across the spectrum of different functional positions. The result is a vibrant classroom dynamic of experienced and high-achieving executives.

2. More Fly-in Students

As China is playing a key role in the global economy, more and more world business leaders are shifting their focus to China with expectations to build a China connection. CEIBS offers these people the chance to participate in a top EMBA programme with a mission of China Depth, Global Breadth, to expand their understanding of China, while plugging into China’s largest business school alumni network.

This year, there are more fly-in students in the Global EMBA cohort. 48% of the participants are based outside Shanghai, while 25% are located outside of Mainland China. The longest distance to travel for the Opening Module was from a participant based in Cape Town in South Africa. This further enhances the CEIBS footprint around the globe.

3. More Chinese Participants

It’s been 40 years since China’s Reform and Opening up Policy was begun. China has achieved great economic and social development in that time. With the Belt and Road Initiative and China further pushing the approach of opening-up, China’s economy will continue to become more integrated into the world economy. In such a new stage of globalization, business elites in China need to equip themselves with systematic business knowledge, and also an international business perspective to become top cross-cultural management leaders. As a result, CEIBS Global EMBA programme is the best choice for Chinese top managers who wish to pursue a global insight and study experience.

Among the Chinese participants, 25% come from private enterprises in China, and many of those are founders or second generation leaders of a family–owned enterprise. More and more Chinese business elites start to study actively beyond their business careers and are open to embrace different challenges on the international stage. 

4. Broad Industry Distribution

Retailing & Consumer Goods and Healthcare industry continue to occupy the top two places in the industry distribution among this year’s students. It shows that the two industries are on a rising trend but also seeing competitive pressures.

One significant change this year is that the Technology/Media/Telecom industry is now one of the top 3 industries. It demonstrates that there’s still space for these companies to expand in China’s market. Additionally, 6% of the participants are from the education industry. Although it’s not a large number, it is still solid evidence to show the expanding education market in China. More talents with a global mindset are needed given China's education industry is growing and starting to connect international resources.

The Opening Ceremony

Hosted by Nikos Tsikriktsis, CEIBS Associate Dean of Global EMBA, the Opening Ceremony and Welcome Banquet was held in the evening to welcome the new class. Prof. Tsikriktsis pointed out that the Class of 2018 is the biggest class in CEIBS Global EMBA’s history.

Dr Zhang Weijiong, Vice President and Co-Dean of CEIBS, expressed his heartfelt welcome to the class and stated that what CEIBS can offer is a learning platform, a multicultural platform and a sharing platform. He encouraged all the students to learn from the faculty, and to learn from each other.

Ori Schnitzer, who spoke as class representative of the Global EMBA Class of 2017, challenged the new class to look at the classmates around them and to be humble, to listen to what they have to say and to think deeply about where they want to be in two years time. He told them to seize the opportunity, and not to be afraid to be exposed and to make mistakes.

Lilian Yang and Ato Sarpong spoke as class representative of the new class. Lilian Yang works for a Chinese health consumer products enterprise named Zhejiang Weijian Technology. As Executive Director, she is responsible for allocating international resources, building distribution channels and developing global partners. She spoke of business leaders’ challenges of decision-making in a highly competitive business environment, and hoped that the systematic learning at CEIBS can help her understand the current complex political and economic situation and make wiser decisions.

Ato Sarpong, from Ghana, is the Executive Director of African Life Assurance. He discussed Africa’s development in now becoming the “new frontier” with great opportunities, and wished everyone to enjoy the learning journey in CEIBS and challenged them to be the best.

The opening module will take place over the next 7 days. It is an intensive one week module that focuses primarily on developing the participants’ leadership capabilities. Professor Jack Wood, who has a background in psychology and 5 years’ experience in the US Air Force, has designed the module specifically for Global EMBA students.

Each year, Professor Wood invites leadership consultants from all over the world to assist his teaching for this module. The module guides students through a reconstruction of the concept of leadership through a range of activities, such as outdoor teamwork sessions and 1 to 1 coaching sessions. At the conclusion of this module, participants should have a clearer understanding for what kind of leader they are, which is the key platform for the next two-years of study and personal development.