University of Edinburgh Seeks High-Flying Five: MBA News

By Tim Dhoul Updated Jun 19, 2015

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Introduction
Renewables inclusion in executive MBA scholarships ‘particularly welcome’

Executive MBA scholarships at the University of Edinburgh

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In a move designed to match up with the growth aims of the Scottish government, the University of Edinburgh Business School is offering five executive MBA scholarships to leaders of high potential.

To be eligible for one of the executive MBA scholarships, each worth up to a full program fee total of £27,100 (c. US$43k), applicants must display strong leadership experience or potential in one of five industries earmarked by the Scottish government as being essential to the nation’s future economic development. Applicants must also meet the usual requirements for the University of Edinburgh’s EMBA program, which include five years of prior work experience for a degree that runs over a period of 27 months.

The five targeted industries include three that are currently on the rise in Scotland – renewable energy, digital (technology) and life sciences – as well as the more established sectors of financial services and food/drink. Together, they are said to employ half a million people in a country home to approximately 5.5 million and to contribute roughly £90 billion (c. US$140 billion) to the Scottish economy.

Renewables inclusion in executive MBA scholarships ‘particularly welcome’

The executive MBA scholarships initiative at the University of Edinburgh has been backed by representatives of these five industries in Scotland, including Ian Marchant, the chairman of independent renewables generator, Infinis, and non-executive director of tidal energy company, Nova Innovation. Marchant said that the inclusion of the renewable energy sector in the University of Edinburgh’s thinking was “particularly welcome”:

“Energy is one of the key sectors in the Scottish economy and the nurturing of local leadership skills is an important building block for future success,” Marchant added in a press release.

The need to support and develop leaders with the skills needed to maximize business opportunities in Scotland was also picked up by digital (technology) sector representative, Dr Colin Adams, director of Informatics Ventures:

“One of the main inhibitors to growth like this is the availability of excellent business leadership talent so this executive MBA program comes at an opportune time.”

Dr Malcolm Kirkup, MBA programs director at the University of Edinburgh Business School - the only Scottish institution to feature in this year’s top 10 business schools in the UK - emphasized the school’s responsibility to participate in national debates:

“As a school we have a part to play in the current industry and policy debates that are calling for a boost in the pool of executive talent across Scotland.”

Applicants interested in the executive MBA scholarships can either put themselves forward or be nominated by their existing employer, but will have to do so by July 12 2015.

Written by

Tim Dhoul

Tim is a writer with a background in consumer journalism and charity communications. He trained as a journalist in the UK and holds degrees in history (BA) and Latin American studies (MA).