Baltic Outlook December 2018 | Page 132

PROMO / December Publicity photos CAREER ADVICE: EXECUTIVE MBA for experienced professionals Stockholm School of Economics in Riga The Stockholm School of Economics in Riga (SSE Riga) is known for providing world-class education in economics and business for 25 years. SSE Riga not only empowers undergraduate students to become inspiring leaders and innovative thinkers, but also offers an exclusive programme for senior executives and business owners with extensive experience in the field. SSE Riga was the first business school in the Baltics to offer an Executive MBA (EMBA) programme back in 2004. For people in the Baltic region, this meant an international MBA education was finally at their fingertips. The Executive MBA is a two-year postgraduate programme for business leaders looking to develop their global outlook, strategic leadership and analytical skills. SSE Riga has designed the programme in a way that students can easily manage their time and find a balance between studies, work life, and family. Prospective students don’t have to worry about taking a career break – even with a busy work schedule, getting an Executive MBA degree is decidedly doable. It is a rich and engaging learning experience that brings students to the next level. When studying in the Executive MBA programme, students have the opportunity to share their expertise and learn from like- mined people from different industries. 130 / airBaltic.com Peer learning is the core foundation of the programme. SSE Riga has created a dynamic learning environment by enrolling a diverse group of people with academic and professional backgrounds in IT, banking and finance, retail, engineering, production, logistics, arts and entertainment. The programme brings everyone under one roof. In the class of 2019, Executive MBA students hail from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and China. The next application deadline is 1 st June 2019. Applicants are required to meet some criteria to be eligible for the Executive MBA programme. The admission requirements include a number of competences – relevant managerial work experience (minimum of 5 years), a university degree, and English proficiency (both written and spoken). Apart from the careful selection of candidates, SSE Riga focuses on bringing together leaders and executives who are willing to embrace new challenges and inspire change. Studies start in August for those who have been accepted. The Executive MBA classes are comprised of 25-30 students. The class size facilitates meaningful connections and feedback. Students take only one course at a time. In order to help students plan their calendars well in advance, students are provided with a study schedule for the next two years before they start their studies. Students learn face-to-face without stepping out of their full-time employment. The class meets once a month for an intensive four-day module (Wednesday to Saturday) in the heart of Riga’s Art Nouveau District. The part-time Executive MBA programme combines intellectual input with real-world business training and interactions. The module- based programme aims to promote global cross- cultural leadership while broadening on-the- ground knowledge in business and finance. Regular discussions, peer interaction, and group projects are used to integrate real-life business cases into the study process. One of the programme’s greatest assets is its team of international experts and professors with many years of teaching experience, consulting and research work to their credit. They have worked all around the world by focusing on open discussions, peer learning, and taking an individual approach to every student. Around 80% of lecturers are from abroad, representing countries like Lithuania, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, France, Russia, Germany, Hungary, the UK, the USA, Canada and Australia. Aside from the international environment within the study process in Riga, Latvia, the Executive MBA programme offers to challenge its students’ way of thinking in even more unusual settings. The programme includes an international module on Cross-Cultural Management at the Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden, bringing together students from Executive MBA programmes in Latvia, Sweden and Russia, as well as a field trip to Asia, namely, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. These modules provide students with new business contacts and a hands-on experience in the rapidly growing international business arena. The transcontinental study-trip to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia is a particularly eye- opening experience, something completely different from most students’ home and business environments. With visits to startup accelerators and businesses, this trip literally immerses the students in Asia – a hotspot for innovations and new technologies. It is an undeniably unique opportunity to learn about local businesses, economies and industries. Every study programme has a so-called final examination. The Executive MBA students work on a Diploma Project to demonstrate what they have learned from both the local and international modules. They research a relevant business problem that their industry or company faces. Moreover, students can write the Diploma Paper either individually or in teams of two. Perhaps the most valuable part of the Executive MBA programme is the opportunity to acquire new connections and friends that will last a lifetime. The network of alumni has grown incredibly over the years. The extensive network of SSE Riga Alumni, along with those from SSE in Sweden and Russia, are doing great things in business and politics all around the globe. sseriga.edu Baltic Outlook / 2018 / 131