The Executive MBA Class of 2015 got under way on September 10! The group met at an initial first four-day, jam-packed residential session at MiLgårdarna outside of Klippan. The program was nearly full with eager and excited participants from large and small businesses, ready to take on the challenge of expanding their mindsets businesswise and finding new cutting edge business models. The start this fall was a little extra exciting for EFL and the Lund University School of Economics and Management, because in the run-up to this fall’s start, a great deal of work was done to further develop and refine the program.
“With our extensive experience delivering Executive MBA programs as a basis, we’ve worked hard over the past year and a half to refine and redevelop our concept. We had a lot of thoughts and ideas for teaching and content, and we were eager to incorporate them into the program and find a good way to package them. It feels incredibly inspiring now that we’ve really gotten started,” says Henrik Lundgren, Director of the Executive MBA at EFL.
The Executive MBA is an 18-month long program delivered by EFL in cooperation with the Lund University School of Economics and Management. The ideas that have been made concrete and put into action in conjunction with the start of the program this fall include refining EFL’s teaching model, a stronger connection between theory and practice, and a focus on skills for finding sustainable business models for the future.
Henrik Lundgren expanded on this idea, saying, “Economic development is in an interesting phase right now. Old rules are being questioned. The whole world is coming together to face the challenges and opportunities that new technology and the effects of globalization present in terms of business models. Many companies are currently facing a situation where they need to review, develop, or in certain cases, radically change their business models. These days it’s not hard to get satisfied customers; the real challenge is making money off of them.”
The brand new concept for EFL and the Lund University School of Economics and Management’s Executive MBA addresses these challenges. There is a heavy emphasis on developing participants’ creative thinking skills in regards to business models and finding new ways to progress. To form a basis for this way of thinking, the program provides a solid foundation in leadership, business intelligence and financial analysis. The icing on the cake is that EFL is the first program in Europe to offer an Africa perspective.
“We’re proud to be leading the way with a focus on Africa in the international parts of our program,” says Henrik Lundgren. “Besides the fact that Africa is an exciting continent where much of the world’s economic development will be in coming years, it’s also an excellent environment to learn to identify and make the most of new business opportunities. We think it’s important for European companies to get on board before the train leaves the station, and we want to use our focus on Africa to signal that we want to take the lead,” Henrik continues.
Henrik Lundgren, Director of the Executive MBA at EFL
Henrik Lundgren and his colleagues at EFL and the Lund University School of Economics and Management are pleased that the new ideas for the Executive MBA have been met with open arms by the market.
“In these times, when many of our competitors have been forced to cancel or postpone the start of their programs, it feels like a tremendous confidence booster that we’re starting with a full line-up. The fact that the market is giving us such a good grade inspires us to continue to be on the cutting edge and develop our ideas,” says Henrik.
The next EFL Executive MBA program in partnership with the Lund University School of Economics and Management will start in September 2014. Applications to the program will be received starting on October 1, 2013.
