Executive Programs Start With On-Campus Teaching

After successful hybrid starts in the Bachelor, Master, and MBA programs at WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management in the new fall term, the new class of the Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA program and the WHU Executive Education programs have now also started - this time mainly on the campuses in Vallendar and Düsseldorf.

On September 12, WHU welcomed 39 students in the new KW24 year of the Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA Program on the Vallendar campus. What makes this year's program so special is its internationality: over two-thirds of the students do not come from Germany, and in total, they represent 16 countries of origin. With an average age of 38 years, the students have an average of 14 years of professional experience and 8 years of management experience in a wide range of industries. The proportion of female students is 20 percent. "We are very pleased that the Kellogg-WHU EMBA program has grown by another such diverse class. The students will benefit personally and professionally from the global Kellogg-WHU network of over 65,000 alumni and will develop their leadership skills," emphasizes Professor Dr. Jürgen Weigand, Academic Director EMBA Program.

The WHU Executive Education Open Programs also started on September 14 with 39 participants, once again on the campus in Düsseldorf. The participants are divided into the following three programs: Management Leadership Program for Non-Profit Organizations, which takes place in cooperation with DSA - Deutsche StiftungsAkademie, Leadership Essentials Program, and Innovation & Corporate Entrepreneurship Essentials Program. The proportion of female participants here is 28 percent. The Leadership Essentials and the Innovation & Corporate Entrepreneurship Essentials Programs are part of the Management Essentials Program, in which participants choose three out of five programs as a package. In addition, programs on financial literacy, brand management, and strategy are offered here. Besides these face-to-face programs, participants receive a Birkman Coaching, which provides a personality profile that highlights personal leadership skills and behaviors and reflects their work in a team and in stressful situations.

To give students and participants from the Executive MBA and Executive Education programs the same security as students from the Bachelor and Master programs, detailed hygiene and path concepts have been developed, especially for the teaching units that take place on-campus. Particularly in the higher education of executives, great emphasis is placed on networking opportunities. "We are observing that the personal exchange at a distance on campus is gaining a new dynamic. Students and participants are motivated to make the most of their continuing education in order to be able to face the future challenged by the corona pandemic with renewed strength," summarizes Professor Dr. Markus Rudolf, Dean of WHU. "In recent months, we have experienced an enormous digitalization boost both at management level and in the area of teaching. We are now implementing these findings in the further development of our managers".