Monday, April 3, 2006

Executive Education: Now More Than Ever

Continued from Page 3

By Carol Hilderbrand

Making a Choice

There is a wide range of executive education programs available to those seeking to boost their career profiles. Each has its advantages, and a quick rundown can help narrow the decision-making process.

One-topic certificate programs. These range in length from one week for a course such as Wharton's Finance for Non-Financial Executives to Harvard's eight-week Advanced Management Program. They generally explore one particular topic, and by definition require less of a time investment than a full-blown executive MBA.

Custom-designed programs. Many of the top schools will work with a corporation to custom-build executive education programs tailored to fit the needs of that company. Custom programs have become increasingly popular, according to BusinessWeek; the magazine says that the top 20 schools earned an estimated 43 percent of revenues through custom work, with programs costing anywhere from $6,000 to almost $6 million. Robert Mittelstaedt, director of executive education at the Wharton School, says that custom programs are the growth engine at Wharton, accounting for 65 percent of executive education revenue.

Executive MBAs. The classic MBA, offered on a part-time basis for mid-career executives. Programs generally range in length from one to two years. For example, MIT, in conjunction with its Sloan School of Management, offers a one-year management of technology course that helps technology-oriented executives learn broader management skills.

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