The German Economy Foundation Initiative is planning to open the European School of Management and Technology, ESMT, in Berlin in October 2002. This was announced in Berlin today by the coordinator of the foundation initiative, Dr. Gerhard Cromme. Dr. Cromme: "Our aspirations are high. The ESMT aims to achieve a leading position among the European business schools. Within ten years it will rank among the continent`s most important teaching and research institutes in its field."

Broad range of programs

The school`s programs will include ･ a Master of Business Administration program, MBA
･ an Executive Master of Business Administration program, EMBA
･ a Master of Public Administration program, MPA
･ specialized education programs
･ so-called Executive Programs and
･ a PhD program

The MBA program is targeted at young executives and trainee executives aged under 30 with professional experience and a first degree. Participants will study at the school for a full year as full-time students. The curriculum will include both classic topics such as finance, accounting, human resources management, marketing and business strategy, as well as specialist subjects such as corporate governance, information and technology management.

The EMBA program will be a two-year part-time course for executives aged 30 to 40. In its aims and scope this program will be equivalent to the MBA program.

The postgraduate Master of Public Administration program is directed at executives and trainee executives from the public sector and high-caliber participants from industry, the non-profit sector and the media.

In addition, the school will offer several specialized education programs. These will be one-year part-time courses culminating in a specialized degree. Various areas of specialization will be possible, for example finance, marketing or technology management. These programs are targeted at specialists and executives of all age groups.

The Executive Programs will offer high-quality four to five-day seminars on all areas of international management, particularly in the school`s areas of expertise.

The PhD program will expand the school`s research capacity and produce highly qualified graduates. The school and its professors will take part in international research programs. For this, Centers for Advanced Studies will be set up at which professors from all over the world will work together on specialist topics. As a school of science, the ESMT aims to be granted the right to confer doctoral degrees.

Distinct profile

The school will be characterized by a European perspective. The aim is not to copy the American model but to combine American and European experiences and so maintain and expand a distinct European profile. The European School of Management and Technology will have two features distinguishing it clearly from other schools in Europe.

One of the school`s specialist areas will be questions of technology management and market opportunities for new technologies. This is not about technology research but about managing the use of technology in a competitive marketplace. Herein lies a highly attractive field of research and executive education, which is so far not covered in this form in Europe.

A second unique selling point of the school will come from the work of the Hertie-Institut für Europäische Integration (Hertie Institute for European Integration). In its research and teaching, the Hertie Institute will focus on the changes in public administration and the reforms needed to improve administration management in Europe (good governance/best practice) taking into consideration the special problems of Central and Eastern European countries.

The ability to acquire a Master of Public Administration alongside the traditional business school qualifications will provide a unique educational perspective and play a decisive role in improving the dialog between business and public administration. The integration of public administration subjects in the curriculum of the ESMT will help create new and useful networks between business and governments and public authorities in the future. The meeting of minds between East and West will also form an important axis with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

To ensure the internationality of the European School of Management and Technology, it is intended that after roughly three to five years the majority of the participants and professors will be from outside Germany. The teaching language at the ESMT will be English.

Capacities at the ESMT

Each year around 500 graduates will leave the school with degrees in the various programs. With a further 2,500 participants attending management seminars and up to 1,000 participants at specialist conferences, altogether some 4,000 people will visit the ESMT each year. Candidates applying for the academic programs will be required to sit an entrance examination based on international standards.

When operating to full capacity, i.e. in around five to ten years, the ESMT will have at least 60 full-time and 20 guest professors. In research and teaching the school will cooperate with leading German and international universities as well as research institutes in North America and Asia. The initiators of the school are currently preparing the appointment of the president/dean and are holding initial exploratory talks with various academic institutions.

Financing

The European School of Management and Technology will be a privately operated state-approved university. The ESMT will be operated by a non-profit limited liability company (GmbH), which for its part will be financed mainly by a non-profit foundation. The endowment capital will total 100 million euros. In addition, the Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung (non-profit Hertie Foundation) will secure the financing of the Institute for European Integration with an amount of 25 million euros. Dr. Cromme: "The companies and the Foundation are furnishing the school with substantial funds. They are thus making a considerable contribution toward strengthening Germany as an educational and academic center at a time when funds are tight."

Locations

The European School of Management and Technology will be based in Berlin. Representatives of the Berlin Senate and the German government have held out the prospect of using the former Staatsrat building. Some of the teaching activities will take place in Munich. For this purpose the Bavarian state government has offered the use of a building complex in Munich.

One of the school`s five faculties will be based in Munich. While a significant share of the executive programs will also be held in Munich, the majority of the faculty will be in Berlin. The use of two locations underlines the school`s integrative efforts to make the best use of the respective locational advantages in Germany.

Act of foundation

The official act of foundation attended by high-ranking representatives from the spheres of politics, business, industrial associations and academia is scheduled for the end of October 2002 in Berlin.

Teaching in the form of management seminars can commence immediately after the school is officially founded. The MBA and MPA programs and other courses will be available from 2004. Candidates can apply for places from 2003.

"Overview of the European School of Management and Technology"

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