ISU launches a new Executive MBA: interview of Prof. Walter Peeters, Dean of ISU

Dear Walter, welcome to the ISU-France website. A new ISU Executive MBA is being launched and - as you can imagine - the alumni community is curious about it.

Why a new Master programme at ISU?

At the request of many ISU alumni, we have developed an Executive MBA that is adapted to the needs of space professionals and their colleagues from other dynamic sectors. It will allow professionals to continue their occupation and at the same time over a 18 months period to get operational tools coming from economics, accounting, marketing, policy, law, and modern management for their career progression. The first session is scheduled for June 2009.

How this Executive MBA differs from the others available?

This MBA has a unique focus on the space sector, with a programme of six tailored modules addressing management, leadership and strategic development. Student are expected to spend 9 residential weeks in the programme within a period of 18 months. This residence time will take place in multiple locations we selected via strategic partnerships to offer an exciting international experience to students, in academia but also in key places of space business: ISU (Strasbourg); George Washington University (Washington DC); International Business School (Isle of Man); Colorado University (Colorado) and SES Global (Luxembourg).

Above all, the students will benefit from the ISU specificities and achievements in training space professionals. Since its founding in 1987, ISU has graduated more than 2700 students from 100 countries, with hundreds of ISU faculty and lecturers. The ISU alumni network keeps growing, and many of our graduates are now instrumental in most space programmes of the world.

Who should be interested?

The executive MBA is ideal for professionals already active in the aerospace sector who want to boost their career prospects. Another group concerns experts in finance, investment banking, law, government, insurance, and communications, who are finding that their careers is interwoven with dynamic developments in space applications and activity. In the context of the economic crisis, this is the right time to build up new competences professionally and academically.

How much is it?

The tuition fees for ISU’s Executive MBA are very competitive, compared with other -less international- programmes. For 2009-2010, it is 33 000 Euro covering teaching fees, all academic material, access to the school library and computer labs, lunches and selected dinners. Many applicants can be sponsored by their organization’s human resources department. And it some countries, additional support is provided by agencies: this is the case for French applicants. Note that this support is in addition to a 10% discount which is offered to ISU alumni in view of ISU's efforts to strengthen the links with alumni. Interested candidates should contact ISU to learn about the many existing sponsorship agreements they can benefit from.

Walter, thank you for this information. To learn more: MBA brochure.