With the constant advancement in technologies and rapidly changing environment, businesses across the world are facing growing challenges which can be addressed through 'solid education' and 'entrepreneurial spirit', said a top official at HEC Paris in Qatar.
“Throughout the region and the world, there is a growing number of challenges in business. This highlights a clear need for leaders and those with entrepreneurial spirit to shape development and we must make sure we are at the forefront,” said Dr Nils Plambeck (pictured), Dean and CEO, HEC Paris in Qatar, in an exclusive interview with The Peninsula. Plambeck noted that innovation, and constant refinement and enhancement in management skills, can help address the current needs and future developments.
He said that in such a fast-changing world, one needs to test on a small scale to know “what works and what does not work”. Business leaders need to explore and generate own data and feedback. “Our motto at HEC Paris in Qatar is: ‘The more you know, the more you dare’ and leaders need to be equipped with the right knowledge and skills to steer their business forward”, added Plambeck.
In this regard, he noted that HEC Paris in Qatar has made significant achievement since its inception in 2010. HEC Paris was the first European Partner to join Qatar’s Education City with a mission to bringing the finest Executive Education to Qatar and the region. It is one of the world's top three providers of Executive Education. “The programme and research activities of HEC Paris in Qatar build corporate competitiveness within the global economy, but are fully aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030 to support the transformation of Qatar into an advanced, competitive and knowledge-based economy,” Plambeck said.
“HEC Paris is helping to meet the needs of Qatar’s current and future labour market by training and developing the skills of its business leaders. It is also contributing to the economic diversification that is necessary to build a sustainable economy,” he added.
To date, HEC Paris in Qatar has graduated 252 participants, of whom 185 are Qatari nationals, and the percentage is growing year-on-year. All these graduates hold top executive management positions in public, private, and governmental organisations in Qatar and in the region. He said that the organisation has attracted participants from a wide range of nationalities, including Qataris and other GCC nationals. Students have come from other Arab countries, Europe, Australia and as far afield as Colombia, Venezuela and the Philippines. Now, typically more than 75 percent of the participants attending a course at HEC Paris in Qatar are Qatari nationals.
Plambeck highlighted that graduates from the institute are contributing more or less directly to the society. “We also created bespoke executive management programme for Family Owned Businesses (FOB) that are designed to meet the specific and individual needs of each client and are aimed at key decision makers, from board members to middle management,” he said.
