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New Programs

This fall, the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and the School of Computer Science at the University of Guelph in Canada are jointly launching a new Master of Cybersecurity Leadership and Cyberpreneurship degree. The program will incorporate both technical expertise and business strategy, equipping students to lead the human side of cybersecurity. The program is designed to teach the complex operational, legal, compliance, and fundraising challenges that are unique to the field. It will prepare participants to develop their own startups and manage cybersecurity programs at existing companies. The 12- to 24-month program is offered in a flexible hybrid format that blends synchronous and asynchronous coursework with one annual in-person course.

Next September, Durham University Business School in the U.K. will offer a new MSc in Islamic Finance, a redesign of the former finance program. The new degree will broaden the scope beyond financial decision-making to provide participants with increased exposure to sustainable development, climate risk, fintech, and other complex factors that impact work in the Islamic Finance sector. Students joining the program will be able to tailor their education by taking elective modules alongside the core curriculum. Elective modules cover topics like Islamic capital markets, risk management, climate finance, private equity, and wealth management, among others. The adaptations to the curriculum aim to future-proof students to not only navigate a rapidly evolving sector but also prepare them to lead it. The original MSc was established at the business school in 2009.

The University of Colorado at Boulder’s Leeds School of Business is amping up its investment in data analytics with the launch of two new master’s programs. The Master in Supply Chain Analytics degree draws on discussions with industry partners to inform core principles of logistics and sourcing and incorporates new technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, and advanced technical skills. The new MS program will replace the school’s current supply chain management degree. In addition, the Master in Marketing Analytics degree will expand on the breadth of Leeds’ marketing courses to prepare students for roles that require translating data into actionable insights, understanding customer behavior, and optimizing marketing effectiveness. The programs are tailored to both working professionals and full-time students attending the school’s Colorado campus.

The University of Southampton Business School in the U.K. has announced a , with the first workshop scheduled in March. The series is designed to foster a culture of continuous innovation through a variety of one-day interactive sessions, focusing on artificial intelligence and digital transformation topics. Additional workshops in the series are scheduled for April, June, and July.

London Business School will begin offering its international Executive MBA that provides students with in-person and hybrid choices. The hybrid EMBA courses will start in January with 40 percent taught from the school’s London or Dubai campus, 40 percent live online sessions, and 20 percent self-paced modules. The program’s in-person students will have 80 percent of courses on campus and 20 percent self-paced modules. Students can also choose to complete the program in 22 months on the standard track or in 17 months with select elective courses.

The Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada, has redesigned its MBA program to improve the student experience, enhance its existing curriculum to meet evolving market demands, and introduce new courses. Through the program’s three new courses, students will learn techniques to foster engagement and build relationships with local stakeholders, facilitate the use of emerging digital technologies in strategic planning, and develop essential accounting and finance skills. The latter financial analytics course will also be a featured course in the Edwards School’s new three-course program.

The Mitchell E. Daniels Jr. School of Business at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, is introducing an online version of its Master of Business and Technology (MBT) degree. The flexible online modality features the same faculty and curriculum as the residential MBT program on Purdue University’s flagship campus. The announcement of the residential program was previously featured in our February 2024 People and Places posting.

Collaborations

The University of Derby’s Business School is partnering with British aerospace and defense company to launch an accelerated BSc in International Business and AI. Starting in September, the two-year program provides students with a foundation to apply advanced technological solutions to today’s business problems and drive innovation. Core courses cover topics including big data management, global sustainable business, and the fundamentals of business analytics and AI.

ESSEC Business School in France has partnered with Accenture to launch the AI for Responsible Leadership initiative, which marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the ESSEC Accenture Strategic Business Analytics Chair. The initiative aims to encourage leaders to use artificial intelligence in ways that are responsible and ethical and that lead to high levels of professional performance. By leveraging the extensive expertise of partner organizations, including the , the program bridges the gap between academia, industry, and technology. The initiative will include workshops and talks designed to promote the exchange of best practices, a barometer to help track AI’s implementation and overall impact on responsible leadership, and an annual Grand Prix to recognize projects that explore the subject of AI and leadership.

Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford and Infosys have launched Springboard StartSmart: Foundations for Entrepreneurs, a course that promotes a strong culture of innovation and entrepreneurship by providing access to resources and mentors in the U.K. By leveraging , a free online learning and reskilling platform, the course will equip participants with the skills to embrace digital transformation, apply fundamental business concepts, and leverage the potential of emerging technologies—including AI tools. The collaboration is tailored to the specific needs of young entrepreneurs, aiming to empower them at all stages of their entrepreneurial journey.

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sambalpur’s new collaboration with Breakout Learning Inc. will give IIM Sambalpur’s students and faculty access to Breakout Learning’s AI-enabled platform designed to help improve educational quality and encourage global academic standards in India. The platform will get exclusive access to case studies from global business schools, including Harvard University and Ivey Business School at Western University in Canada, which can be incorporated into existing curriculum to encourage critical thinking and peer engagement. The partnership also opens new avenues for co-creating innovative management cases. The tool will be available in IIM Sambalpur’s MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral programs.

Centers and Facilities

The entrepreneurship center at the University of Maryland in College Park has received a significant gift from the widow of a late dean of the Smith School of Business, Rudolph “Rudy” Lamone. In honor of Linda Lamone’s generosity, the center will be renamed the Dingman-Lamone Center for Entrepreneurship. Rudy led the school from 1973 to 1992 and established the center with a gift from founding donor Michael Dingman in 1986. Dingman died in October 2017 at the age of 86. The center helps launch 50 to 100 ventures—and entrepreneurs—every year. Its year-round programming staples include Pitch Dingman, a “Shark Tank”-style pitch competition; Dingman Center Angels, a university-run angel investor network; and the eight-week Terp Startup Accelerator summer program.

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