The School of Business Administration (SBA) at American University of Sharjah (AUS) has introduced an Executive Education Office that aims to contribute to the economic development of the UAE and the Gulf. The programs offered will also meet the needs of the UAE business community and bridge the gap between the Higher education and the industry.

With the largest resident full-time business faculty in the region, the AUS SBA provides modern management ideas applied to the local context in a state-of-the-art setting, as part of the university's strategic initiatives to contribute to the development of the knowledge economy in the region."The programs we offer may combine leadership training with any combination of managerial skills and professional education in strategic management, corporate governance, leadership, marketing, operations and finance. Each of these topics can in turn be specialized by sector for industry and government, including the various industries such as airline, transportation, tourism, logistics, telecommunications, banking and government," said SBA Dean Dr. Robert Grosse.

In addition to allowing Gulf businesses to succeed at a global level, SBA will offer these Executive Education programs, with superb academic training, the latest business knowledge and industry-specific expertise, to cater to the needs of experienced professionals in business and government. The programs prepare professionals to lead organizations beyond their current challenges. They combine management knowledge and research with practical leadership skills to give each participant new perspectives and capabilities that result in a more fulfilling and successful career.

From corporate, business and functional strategy formulation to detailed process design, product brand enhancement and specific investment strategies, AUS faculty facilitators lead a variety of professional development programs for executives and managers in the most successful companies in the region. They are also able to deliver solutions tailored to the needs of start-ups, family businesses, public enterprises and international corporations.

Each of these programs is based on a careful needs assessment to identify specific requirements and challenges. Some of the companies who have benefited from our program include DP World, Price Waterhouse Coopers, RTA, KPMG, Etisalat, Securities and Commodities Authority, Mobily, Sharjah Tatweer Forum, AW Rostamani Group, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, Bukhatir Group and Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

"The Executive Education Center combined with the accommodating, flexible staff and the highly qualified enthusiastic faculty, made AUS the obvious choice for us," said Majid H. Jafar, CEO, Crescent Petroleum and Vice-Chairman of the Crescent Group.

Clive Reed, HR Advisor, DP World said, "Our partnership with AUS in facilitating our Leadership Development Program has been an excellent investment and has made a significant contribution to managerial and leadership performance within DP World. This 15-month program combines a series of two-day modules conducted by AUS faculty with on-the-job experiential learning within DP World, which has broadened and deepened our candidates' knowledge and generally increased their managerial and leadership capability." With a new state-of-the-art building, SBA is one of the premier business schools in the region. Its highly qualified faculty is engaged in practical research, and has authored a number of books including Mergers and Acquisitions and Executive Compensation, co-authored by Dr. Virginia Bodolica, Professor of Management, and Dr. Martin Spraggon, Director of Executive Education and Professor of Management; Emerging Markets written by SBA Dean Dr. Robert Grosse; and The Triumph, Tragedy and Lost Legacy of James M. Landis written by Dr. Justin O'Brien, Professor of Management.