News

Business School nurtures Jordan’s business leaders of tomorrow

(27 July 2006)

Durham Business School’s reputation as a top international business school has led to a joint partnership with The University of Jordan to develop the country’s business talent.

Senior managers within key industries, including finance, pharmaceuticals and engineering are being taught in Jordan by Business School experts on the School’s overseas Enterprise Management Programme. The Business School won an EU contract to help tackle Jordan’s deficit in management development and boost the country’s business SME infrastructure following the difficulties in the Middle East. Durham has built a partnership with the university of Jordan based in Amman to co-accredit the qualification through their Higher Education Ministry. The partnership has also led to the creation of the European Jordanian Advanced Business Institute (EJABI) based in Jordan. Students initially study for a Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in Enterprise Management and an Executive Diploma in Management from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). In addition, students have the option to continue studying for a Masters in Enterprise Management after completing the Postgraduate Diploma. The students study research methods, management theory and practice, business analysis, strategy and culture. Modules include topics such as the nature of work, change and society, employee relations and reward, leadership, finance, business and operations and supply chain management among others. Students finish the course equipped with a range of skills including an improved understanding of how organisations work and relate to the outside world, the ability to acquire and analyse data and better oral and written communication abilities. The first cohort of 25 students recently visited Durham Business School to give their final presentations before completing the Postgraduate Diploma early next year. Shadi Anaotawy, 29, an operations manager for Universal Paints in Amman is an industrial engineer by training and will complete the Masters in Enterprise Management in May 2007. He is already applying his newly acquired skills in his day-to-day work. He sees the experience gained on the course as vital in helping him play a key role in taking the business forward. “This is the ideal course for me as it mixes management theory with practice. It is helping me to improve the way I work and cope with specific tasks. “The course structure is ideal, I can work full-time and as the assignments are work-based, I’m applying my learning instantly, which is beneficial to me and my employers. “It is also giving me the management skills needed to improve my chances of gaining a promotion and moving up the career ladder with Universal Paints.” He opted for the Programme because of Durham’s worldwide reputation, and the excellence of its management courses. Dr Bill Snaith, director of programmes at Durham Business School, is delighted with the success of the Jordanian Enterprise Management Programme, he said: “The Jordanian Programme is still in its infancy in comparison to our Gibraltar and UK Programmes but it is proving to be just as successful. “The traditional method of teaching in Jordan is very formal, whereas the Durham Business School method is highly interactive, with lots of group work and debate which is proving very popular with our first cohort. “The Jordanians are wonderful people and very highly educated it is a real honour to be working in partnership with EJABI at the University of Jordan and we hope to work with them to introduce more professional development programmes in the future.” Dr Ibrahim Rawabdeh, director of European Jordanian Advanced Business Institute, said: “The students presentations have demonstrated how much the programme is benefiting both themselves and their employers in their day-to-day operations. “The Durham programme adds a new dimension and value to the participants learning that can enhance their career paths significantly. Durham Business School has an excellent reputation for delivering effective, quality programmes and we are delighted to be working in partnership with them. We already have 25 new students preparing to start the second cycle of the Enterprise Management Programme in September.” For more information about the overseas Enterprise Management Programme at Durham Business School and the Executive Masters in Enterprise Management contact Richard Whittaker on +44 (0) 191 334 5281.

• Durham Business School