McCreevy to launch WIT business programme

ONE of the country’s most popular former Finance Ministers will be in Waterford today to launch a business programme at the county’s Institute of Technology.

The EU Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, Charlie McCreevy, will launch an MBA (Masters in Business Administration) degree in International Business at WIT.

Offered on a full-time basis over 12 months and more flexibly for suitably-qualified and experienced candidates, the programme will equip graduates to occupy senior executive roles in an increasingly global business environment.

According to Dr Tom O’Toole, Head of School of Business at WIT, it is a course which is set to attract phenomenal interest.

“Ground covered by the new MBA programme will include consideration of EU-US trade relations - particularly important with two-way trade between the US and Europe employing, directly or indirectly, over 12 million people on both sides of the Atlantic.

“Participants will also consider the potential provided by the enlarged EU which offers a market of almost 500 million people in 25 countries to sell to and invest in.

“Strategies for maintaining global competitiveness will be another vital part of the MBA in International Business, where we will concentrate on the need for greater innovation and more entrepreneurial thinking.

“Countries like China, India and other emerging nations represent both an opportunity and threat to Irish and international businesses and how we respond will determine how our economy and society develops in the years ahead.

“Competition may bring anxiety but it can also spur innovation and creativity and deliver wider choice and better service to consumers.”

Dr O’Toole said it is appropriate that Mr McCreevy should launch the programme, given his role as Ireland’s EU commissioner and his specific responsibility for promoting a more efficient internal market in Europe - something that is tremendously important to Irish business.

According to course leader Gerard Arthurs, the new MBA will build on the success of Waterford’s executive MBA programme which has been running for 10 years.

“The MBA in International Business is an innovative recognition of the growing international dimension of the business environment and is aimed at highly motivated individuals looking to develop and orient their careers internationally. This will no longer necessarily require them to leave Ireland as it probably would have done up to a decade ago.

* Further information on the MBA in International Business at WIT is available from Gerard Arthurs at [e-mail] or [phone].