November 4, 2013

Mayor Rahm Emanuel And Purdue University Announce Purdue University's Weekend MBA Will Be Offered In Chicago To Train Leaders For Companies Of Tomorrow

First university from outside Illinois to launch Chicago-focused MBA program, Sixteen month program to equip STEM professionals with analytical and managerial skills, foster digital economy and startup growth

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

Today Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Purdue University announced that Purdue will launch a weekend MBA for STEM professionals, offered exclusively in Chicago. The program primarily seeks professionals with degrees in STEM disciplines, four to six years of work experience in a STEM industry, and talented leaders in STEM companies from greater Chicago and the tri-state region.

“Chicago is a city with many talented STEM professionals, and Purdue University has chosen to locate its Weekend MBA here in Chicago as a result of the opportunities and talent that the City of Chicago has to offer such an exceptional program,” said Mayor Emanuel. “This program will help some of the most talented engineers and computer scientists in Chicago gain the skills they need to start their own tech companies and become business leaders in the new economy.”

The sixteen month MBA program will give individuals the managerial tools and the strong analytical skills to become highly successful business and global leaders. The program will start with a ten day orientation in late summer on the Purdue campus in West Lafayette and then will meet every other weekend in Chicago. Organized in a modular structure, students will complete a pair of courses in six week modules allowing for flexibility and mobility during their higher education endeavors.

"Our MBA for STEM Professionals gives Purdue and Krannert a unique opportunity to combine our strengths in business education with Purdue's world-class programs in Engineering, Technology and Science, among others,” said Christopher Earley, Dean of Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. “Through an integrated curriculum and experiential learning, peer-to-peer learning and a STEM industry context, we will transform individuals having technical backgrounds and work experience into global business leaders.  With the efforts of Mayor Emanuel and the City of Chicago's move toward becoming the new 'silicon prairie' we think this is a tremendous opportunity for us to work with one of the nation's world recognized and admired cities."

The integrated curriculum combines business curriculum essentials with elective and immersion courses offered by Purdue’s Colleges of Engineering, Science, and Technology. The program seeks to enable students to focus their curriculum in the following specializations: business analytics, integrated product design, global supply chain management, and customized specializations in areas such as biotech, pharmaceuticals or next-generation manufacturing.  The underlying idea is that those with a background in STEM efforts will get the training they need to launch successful businesses.

The weekend MBA program transforms people with technical backgrounds and experiences to successful leaders through interactive classroom learning and newly-available interactive technologies that allow for online course work. The MBA curriculum will also include an active-learning project connected with a STEM firm in the Chicago area or in connection with Purdue’s Discovery and Research Parks.

Purdue University’s Weekend MBA will continue to expand the opportunities and development for STEM professionals, while preparing these professionals to be business and global leaders.  

The program will start in 2015, in the West Loop.

 

 

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