In one’s career there are times when one has to be in a managerial level and execute his/her leadership qualities for the betterment of the organisation and for himself/herself.

Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) is one such programme that provides an opportunity for experienced professionals to obtain a Master’s degree without any interruption in work. The students of EMBA are required to complete their degrees within two years. While studying EMBA, students can gain a wide range of new skills and sharpen their analytical abilities.

Since 1999, Ace Institute of Management affiliated to Pokhara University, and since 2000, Kathmandu University-School of Management (KUSOM) has been producing EMBA graduates in Nepal.

WIDENING HORIZON OF KNOWLEDGE
According to Binod Krishna Shrestha, Associate Professor of KUSOM, an EMBA degree reflects a sophisticated level of knowledge and skill concerning a wide range of contemporary management topics. Shrestha further shares, “It also implies a well-developed understanding of strategic thinking and planning in a globally competitive world. Professional ly, an EMBA provides the skills needed to gain additional management responsibility and become a successful entrepreneur.“

A unique aspect of an EMBA programme is the collective professional experience of its students, which greatly enriches the educational environment. Yubika Bhandari, recently passed out student of EMBA from Ace Institute of Management shares, “Students were from high level managerial posts and as there was diversity in age -late 20's to early 50's - interaction helped to learn various things needed in a practical field of work through each other's experience.“

Underlining a similar experience Rabi Raj Aryal, student of VIth semester at KUSOM informs, “I joined EMBA course to learn about contemporary theory in the market but I got overall knowledge about management skills development and its application as in the class each students are from 30 different organisations working in managerial post.“

About broadening the students' knowledge, Ashish Tiwari, Principal/Director of Ace Institute of Management shares, “EMBA course upgrades and helps polish the managerial aspects of the participants. One develops managerial skills like ability to think analytically, strategy development and more with raising their confidence level as well.“ FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT Those having ambition to be in a lead position in an organisation definitely need to have managerial knowledge and those having their higher degrees in other streams besides management get less opportunity to work in the leading position of the organisation.

And EMBA can be an answer to all those who dream of managing their organisation efficiently.

This is because professionals completing their Bachelor’s degree in any stream can be enrolled in EMBA program. Nishma Bajracharya who recently cleared her EMBA from KUSOM shares, “I did my graduation in pharmacy and currently working as Assistant Product Manager at Nepal Pharmaceuticals Lab Pvt Ltd. I needed to know about situational leadership quality, strategy development, corporate law, checking of balance sheet and more which was not included in my graduate course. And I got opportunity to enhance these skills through EMBA programme and work efficiently in my current post.” Echoing similar view, Deepak Rauniar student of IIIrd semester at Ace Institute of Management said, “According to my academic qualification of post graduation degree in Computer Engineering I don’t meet the criteria to handle the post of Chief Executive Officer as my academic qualification is based on technical field.” However, Rauniar who is working as Deputy Chief Officer at Employee Provident Fund and one of the board of directors at Clean Energy Development Bank opines, “EMBA degree helps one become qualified for the higher-level position and in a leading position of an organisation with much confidence.“

CHALLENGES
Without commitment, dedication and hard work nothing is possible to achieve, likewise the main challenge that students of EMBA face is to give sufficient attention to their studies where they have the pressure to fulfil their work demands as well as academic needs.

Pradeep Rajopadhyay, Programme Director and lecturer at Ace Institute of Management informs, “Time adjustment for the students is a challenge. They have their responsibilities at work and must meet deadlines in the academic field as well.“

Agreeing with Rajopadhyay, Bajracharya shares, “As there must be 100 per cent attendance and the students are from managerial post, to meet their deadlines in work, few of them dropped their studies as they were unable to attend the class regularly.“

Pointing out to the theories taught in course that are mostly of western context, Aryal opined, “There must be inclusion of more theories that can be utilised in Asian or Nepal's context. Theories of western society vastly differ from our context while using them practically.“

Kathmandu University School of Management
Course Duration: Two Years (six Semesters)
Cost of Individual Package: Rs. 3,10,000/-
Cost of Sponsorship Package: Rs. 3,50,000/-
Eligibility: Applicants must have bahcelor's degree or equivalent in any discipline and a minimum three years of full time work experience after completion of the bachelor's degree.
Seat no: 30

Ace Institute of Management
Course Duration:One and half years(three semesters)
Cost for course: Around Rs. 2,00,000/-
Eligibility: Applicants must have a bachelor's degree equivalent in any discipline and a minimum four years of full time work experience after completion of the bachelor's degree.
Seat no.: 30

source: Himalayan News Service(2011),"Producing Promising Managers ", The Himalayan Times,4 Jan 2011