CBS puts EMBA programme starting 28 April on hold

Press release 

The recent media focus on the change in senior management at CBS and also on events at CBS-SIMI confirms that open dialogue is central to the life of the University - as well as in the outside world. This is an academic value, but it is also disappointing when single cases distract from the big picture.

CBS has 18,000 students and our primary task is to ensure first class education and research.

CBS, together with the Ministry of Science and SIMI, is concerned to ensure that the two SIMI MBA classes which became caught in the complex processes of creating a common EMBA programme will now get what they have been led to expect. We can see the basis for a solution to this challenge which we will discuss with the relevant students.

Professor Robert Austin is the study leader for EMBA education and has for the last several months been director of the CBS SIMI Executive fund on a part-time basis. After questions have been raised in the press concerning Rob Austin’s capacity to combine these two positions, he has decided not to continue on that basis - while also confirming his strong commitment to CBS. In this situation, the CBS leadership has agreed with Rob Austin that he should give up his position with the SIMI fund and continue with his work as professor and study leader.

CBS has over the last months scrutinized the relations between CBS and the SIMI fund. This was done so as to ensure that all working relations are correct and fully documented.

After the media discussion of the planned EMBA, CBS has however decided to clarify and document the contingencies  of making the programme fully operational. It is understandable that students and teachers – from Denmark and abroad – should be concerned about this.

The programme will hold EQUIS and AMBA accreditation, but the national accreditation has been brought into doubt. CBS has a responsibility to ensure that everything is fully documented before  the programme is launched. Therefore the running of the programme has been put on hold.

‘When one offers an exclusive education to almost 40 highly talented individuals, everything needs to be perfect before commencement. Following the media discussion, we cannot be certain that the teachers and students from Denmark and abroad will be able to keep up their engagement and enthusiasm. In this situation it is unfortunately necessary to put the programme on hold. We will of course do all we can to sort things out as swiftly as possible’, says the Dean of Education Jan Molin.