AAU signs MOU with China Europe International Business School
AAU signs MOU with China Europe International Business School
Dr. Admasu Tsegaye, AAU President with Annette Nijs, Executive Director of Global Initiative, CEIBS
As part of its mission to develop the next generation of leaders, managers and entrepreneurs who will contribute to the transformation of the Ethiopian economy, AAU is one of the key partners of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) in the 35m Euros European Union funded project, Transformation Triggering Facility (TTF). The TTF project includes the establishment of the Ethio-European Business School (EEBS) and the Business Innovation Centre at AAU’s College of Business and Economics campus.
The Ethio-European Business School has the ambition to become one of the leading international business schools, not just in Ethiopia, but in the world by 2025. To achieve this ambition, AAU has developed partnership with China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) that is based in Shanghai and has branches in Beijing, Shenzhen and in Accra, Ghana. Established under an agreement between the Chinese government and the European Commission in Shanghai in November 1994, CEIBS was the first business school in mainland China to offer a full-time MBA, an Executive MBA and a wide range of Executive Development programs. All three programs are now ranked in the world’s Top 30 by the Financial Times.
To cement the partnership, a special Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony took place at Senate Hal, Main Campus, AAU on 23 July, 2015. The ceremony was chaired by Dr Admasu Tsegaye, AAU President and the guest of honor was H.E Ambassador Chantal Hebberecht, Head of European Union Delegation in Addis Ababa. Madam Annette Nijs represented CEIBS at this special occasion. The event was also attended by over 30 guests from the College of Business and Economics, AAU, Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and representatives of state ministries. Ato. Belachew Beyene, National Authorizing Officer and Deputy Head of National Authorising Office represented Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) as he has been instrumental in securing the EU funding for the TTF project.
Annette Nijs is the Executive Director of the Global Initiative of the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), one of the top 25 leading global business schools. She spends about a third of her time in China. Annette is a former Cabinet Minister for Education, Culture and Science in the Netherlands and a former member of the Dutch Parliament. Before joining CEIBS, she established the Europe China Institute at Nyenrode Business University in her role as Managing Director. She started her international career working for Shell where she gained more than 10 years experience in the energy industry in Europe, US, Middle-East and Asia.
The Ethio-European Business School (EEBS) will be housed, together with the Business Innovation Centre in the state of art new building at CoBE campus. From September 2016, EEBS will offer a range of full-time, part-time and Distance Learning postgraduate programmes in management, leadership and entrepreneurship in partnership with European, Chinese and USA business schools.
The EEBS is currently developing Master of Business Administration (MBA), Executive MBA (EMBA) and Master of Public Administration in partnership with UK and German Business Schools. It will be delivering its first short course for senior executives and managers in leadership and transformation in partnership with China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in November 2015.
Prof. Upkar Pardesi, Director of EEBS with guests at MoU signing ceremony
Prof. Upkar Pardesi, Director of EEBS gave a presentation on AAU’s vision for the new international business School and said, “As Ethiopia is undergoing sustained economic growth and transformation, there is an urgent need for a world class business school that can respond to the needs of the private and public sectors looking for well qualified managers, leaders and entrepreneurs. To do this, we have started the process of establishing partnerships with the leading Business Schools in Europe and China and this MOU signing ceremony with CEIBS is the first among many more planned for the future.” Prof. Pardesi is the former Dean of Birmingham City University Business School in England.