New Delhi, With the pandemic fuelling demand for new skillsets, there has also been an increasing demand for Executive MBA (EMBA) degrees to accelerate as well as in many cases reinvent careers of working professionals.

While India has no dearth of full-time MBA programmes, there is scarcity of programmes catering to experienced professionals, who started their professional journey in roles especially in the IT industry which did not require an MBA education.

Most of the participants in these programs have achieved success in a functional area and would like to accelerate their careers by focusing on managerial and strategic roles or would like to become entrepreneurs. Educational institutions are also introducing specialised courses to cater to the increasing demand.

The most recent entrant in the space is Hyderabad based Mahindra University. The University has launched an Executive MBA (EMBA) Programme, designed for experienced professionals and business owners in partnership with the reputed Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, Germany.

As the first post-graduate offering of the University's School of Management, the programme is targeted at people with 5 to 15 years of work experience. It also allows students to continue to work while pursuing the two-year programme. The applicants will have to undergo a mandatory two-week international residency in Germany at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. The residency will include teaching sessions by faculty at the partner school, industry visits, guest speakers, cultural experiences etc.

Dr Yajulu Medury, Vice Chancellor, Mahindra University states that the Executive MBA program with its fine blend of theoretical and practical knowledge will provide an opportunity for functional experts to lay down strong managerial foundations enabling them to graduate to senior managerial roles and C-suite positions.

Dr Ramakrishna Velamuri, Professor & Dean, School of Management, Mahindra University is of the opinion that the EMBA programme will enable experienced professionals to obtain rigorous management education without having to leave their jobs or business, representing a huge saving in terms of opportunity costs.

The fee for this course is Rs 24 lakh. Application deadline is June 30 with classes beginning on September 3. The university is also offering several scholarships valued at 25 per cent of the fee for Officers from the Armed Forces, Police, Para-military forces, Central and State Government Employees, Domicile of J&K and North-Eastern States and for women.