The FINANCIAL — Julie Martin, professor of Grenoble Graduate School of Business answers questions of the FINANCIAL.
Demands of the modern market are focused on Master’s degrees in Management. How are business schools following these demands and how do they compete with one another for getting the first place? What prospect does Caucasus University of Georgia, which continues collaboration with world’s leading schools, inter alia, Grenoble Graduate School of Business, have in this regard?
Julie Martin, professor of Grenoble Graduate School of Business answers questions of the Financial.
Q. The turmoil in the financial markets over the past few weeks has thrown spotlight on business schools. What are the prospects for those graduating with Master’s degree in management for the next few years? Does this mean this is the right time to study for Master’s degree in management?
A. Of course, nowadays, business education is the demand of the market. Financial market rules the whole world. The world’s business schools compete with one another and Grenoble as well continues struggling for success. This is the direction of modern markets and we try to carefully follow them.
Q. Grenoble is a leading European and French school. How far is Caucasus University of Georgia from Grenoble in terms of the places in the rating of universities?
A. Caucasus University is the best educational center in Georgia and in Caucasus. I always pay attention to their programs, which are focused on perfection. In order to make conclusions about this university, it is enough to talk about their students. I was impressed with the young people devoted to the course they were studying. This year, Caucasus University has 6 graduates from Dual MBA program. Three of them were not present at the ceremony of granting diplomas, as they were abroad working or still studying. I’m sure that these new credentials will definitely benefit international business and particular companies. Caucasus University is increasing the number of students each year, which is a vivid indicator of its popularity. It also has foreign students and I see great potential for this university to become the major educational centre in Caucasus. So, CU is absolutely ready to compete with other universities acquire a place in international rating of universities.
Q. According to the rating data of the Financial Times, there are 6 French schools among the top ten that offer Master’s degree in management. Which study programs does Grenoble University offer that would comply with the current demands of the market?
A. The turmoil in the financial markets over the recent past has thrown spotlight on business schools. We were focused on new demands from the very beginning, as we think that students should be taught all the new tendencies of the market in order to use their knowledge in practice. Building on the strengths of its expertise in Management, Technology and Innovation, to better respond to the needs of businesses and evolution of the business world, the school has developed specific programs that include a wide range of subjects from business intelligence, finance and information systems to management and system, management and research, marketing, etc. Grenoble offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral degrees, based on the examples of the worldwide economic giants.
Q. This year, Caucasus University has its first graduates from Dual MBA program offered by Grenoble Graduate School of Business (GGSB) and Caucasus School of Business (CSB). Is this study program identical to those provided by French schools?
A. All graduates from CU who receive diplomas from Dual MBA program acquire the same quality education as students studying at the central branch. The only difference is in geography. More than that, 70% of study program is comprised of online links with our staff and after graduating the course in Georgia, all of the students spend two weeks in France and join the students’ group working on projects and business cases, conducting analysis, small group presentations, large group discussions, and working on practical scientific projects. At the end, they are given projects to complete all their work.
Q. Grenoble collaborates with a lot of countries from each continent with the potential of market growth. How did the idea of collaboration with Caucasus University of Georgia emerge and how would you estimate Georgian market?
A. Guram Tsanava, graduate of Caucasus School of Business (CSB), who used to study in Grenoble as MBA student, was the first to start talking about this topic. Then this grew into negotiations with the head of CU. Grenoble has developed programs with the partnership of local educational institutions in China, Singapore, Moldova, Georgia, Russia, Malta and the UK. The goal of Grenoble Graduate School of Business in developing these programs is to enter the markets that have a large potential of growth. Another goal is the possibility to use classical examples of their achievements. We are interested with rapidly developing countries which started rebuilding their economies from poor basis. These economies are an attractive illustration for our practice as well as theory.
Q. Most of the leading Universities are watching after their students’ further success and development. How are you trying to keep in contact with your graduates?
A. We observe our graduates’ further work and activities. We arrange meetings with them every year. Recently we had such a meeting in New York. Our graduates themselves keep contact with the university. Some of them return to us as future lecturers and professors. We heard Kakha Shengelia’s (president of CU) appeal to his graduates, in which he ordered his graduators to restore the country’s economy in four years. This means that all of us have good hopes on them and our work is focused at raising young generation and professionals for the country.
Written By Madona Gasanova
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