Facts about CBS in the media

In the last few weeks, news about CBS and SIMI has led to a series of questions. We have therefore tried to answer the most frequently asked questions in this brief factsheet:

• The Copenhagen Business School decided to initiate negotiations with Johan Roos regarding his departure as president of CBS because things had become strained between Johan Roos and the organisation in the course of implementing CBS’ new strategy, and Johan Roos no longer had the full support of the University. The CBS-SIMI process was just one element but not the main reason behind the decision.

• Anders Knutsen chose to step down as chairman of the Board of CBS out of consideration for CBS, not because he accepted the criticism put forward by the press. The Board gave priority to CBS’ 18,000 students and our primary task of ensuring first class education and research before considerations for any individual members of the board. On this basis, the CBS Board accepted Anders Knutsen’s decision to withdraw.

• There is no illegal merger between CBS and SIMI.  There is a legal merger between two private foundations, CBS’s Center for Continuing Education (HHE) and Scandinavian International Management Institute (SIMI) which has been accepted by the Danish Commerce and Companies Agency in December 2010. The new private foundation is called CBS SIMI Executive foundation and offers non-degree programmes for companies.

• It was originally the intention for the new foundation to co-operate with CBS on MBA programmes. This would have been at odds with the University Law and was never implemented.

• Two classes of MBA-students from the former SIMI have been placed in a difficult situation because SIMI did not re-apply for their international accreditation. They began their studies with SIMI before any plans for co-operation. There has been found a solution to one class - class 17 – where the students are offered the opportunity to finish their studies at CBS and receive their exam with CBS’ accreditations. For the second class - class 16 – a solution still needs to be finalized. The students will receive information as soon as this has happened. The solutions have been found in co-operation between the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, SIMI and CBS.

• In the summer of 2010 SIMI graduates (class 16) received certificates signed by CBS' president at that time Johan Roos and Dean of Education Jan Molin. This was a clear mistake for which the Dean of Education Jan Molin has apologized. The mistake has also been acknowledged by the CBS board. There are no CBS accreditations on these certificates.

• It has been mentioned that CBS’ own EMBA is not accredited. This is not correct.  CBS has received two international institutional accreditations (EQUIS and AMBA) that apply to the EMBA programme and a specific Danish accreditation (ACE) regarding the EMBA. The ACE-accreditation is a contingent accreditation applied to new educational programs. CBS has one year to clarify and document the contingencies of making the EMBA programme fully operational. Following the negative public attention CBS cannot be certain that the teachers and students from Denmark and abroad will be able to keep up their full engagement and enthusiasm. As a result, the EMBA programme has been put on hold.

Chairman of CBS’ board and the CBS Leadership Team