The collaboration will provide the opportunity for CEMS MIM students at Stockholm School of Economics who wish to gain part of their business education from a leading South African university. It is believed that the UCTs expertise of teaching students how to produce excellence in a tough operating environment as well as its entrepreneurial spirit, will benefit the whole CEMS global network.

The UCT GSB joins the CEMS global network of 33 existing academic members, corporate partners (multinational companies) and seven social partners (NGOs), dedicated to educating and preparing future generations of international business leaders, through the top ranked CEMS Master in International Management (MIM).

"It is certainly very exciting that we now can offer our CEMS MIM students a chance to study in South Africa. The challenges in this country will serve as a solid and profound base to further develop their out-of-the-box-thinking and increase their creativity in problem-solving. I am very happy that we are a member of the CEMS Alliance and that our alliance network continues to expand internationally," says Ciara Sutton, CEMS Academic Director at SSE.

Preparing students for thinking on a global scale

Stockholm School of Economics has offered the CEMS MIM for 30 years. The CEMS Master in International Management is a one-year, pre-experience program delivered by CEMS Academic and Corporate partners that offers students the opportunity to be educated in a truly multicultural and boundless classroom. Students with a sound academic track record, who wish to embark on a career in management that spans the globe will find this to be the ideal postgraduate program.

Students enrolled in the program study for one semester at their home university, with study abroad at a different CEMS member school. In addition to completing a home degree, students complete a consulting project and an international internship. Upon graduation, students' careers take a truly international path in a great variety of sectors and in many cases within multinational companies:

• 98% are employed or continuing their studies
• 95% are living outside of their home country
• 74% work for multinational companies

Roland Siegers, Executive Director of CEMS says that modern business education is a developing field - the continuous interaction among CEMS stakeholders keeps innovation at the forefront, making CEMS the ideal choice for future international business leaders.

"The MIM emphasises personal and social responsibility in business decision-making, leadership and citizenship, informed by ethical reasoning, personal integrity, and respect for social diversity. The program helps students understand and navigate the international business environment, whilst equipping them with the knowledge, skills and network to manage people across borders and within multinational teams, tackling real business issues across a range of fields," he says.

Producing excellence in a tough operating environment

The UCT GSB is the first business school in sub-Saharan Africa to join this network and Beverly Shrand, CEMS Academic Director at UCT GSB, believes that it has a particularly relevant contribution to make – especially at this time. "The UCT GSB's recognised expertise in teaching students how to produce excellence in tough operating environments, characterised by high inequality and uncertainty, has made its program internationally sought-after qualifications," she comments.

For more information on CEMS MIM at SSE, please contact Kazune Funato Hallgren, CEMS Program manager.