HEC starts first international Executive MBA in Qatar
On 14 February Qatar’s first international EMBA for senior executives was launched
by HEC Paris. The program is held in the context of the partnership agreement sig-
ned between HEC Paris and Qatar Foundation in June 2010 to offer world-class exe-
cutive education programs in Doha and to carry out research activities.
Executives will now be able to benefit from skills development that will reinfor-
ce their leadership abilities within their own organizations, respond to the chal-
lenges of Qatar’s evolving and growing economy, and to shape business development
throughout the Gulf region.
The EMBA program is a key component of HEC Paris’ ongoing international develop-
ment, and is a cornerstone of its portfolio of programs in Qatar. According to Dr
Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani, Vice-President for Education at Qatar Foundation, “The
EMBA program from HEC Paris will make a clear contribution to the construction of
the knowledge-based economy of Qatar.”
The 31 participants include managers, directors and executives from Qatar, the re
gion and beyond. With an average age of 36, the class regroups a variety of comple-
mentary sectors (energy, industrial production, new technologies, transport, finan-
ce, and the public sector). Leading international corporations, including GDF Suez,
HSBC and Qatar Petroleum are among the companies represented in the program.
A defining feature of the program is the opportunity for participants in Qatar to ac-
cess a network of participants from any of HEC Paris’ other global EMBA tracks.
Throughout the 14-16 month part-time program, beginning with the Fundamentals of
Leadership, participants will complete modules in Business Performance Management,
Marketing, and Corporate Strategy. They will choose one of six majors in such spe-
cialized areas as Entrepreneurship and Innovation or Management in an Energy-con-
cerned Economy.
Qatar Foundation was founded in 1995 by decree of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin
Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, and is a non-profit organization focusing on edu-
cation, scientific research and community development. Under Qatar Foundation’s
umbrella are Education City which comprises elite universities, academic and trai-
ning programmes and Qatar Science and Technology Park which boasts more than 26
world-class companies involved in scientific research and development.
