CHINA EUROPE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL

May 19, 2009. Accra, Ghana -- The China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) today held the Inauguration Ceremony for its Executive MBA Programme in this capital city, along the coast of Africa's western region. Classes for the first intake class of 42 EMBA students began in March.

Students and members of the audience.

Among the VIPs who participated in the ceremony were:
- Ghanaian Minister of Education Honourable Alex Tettey-Enyo, who was representing the country's Vice President John Mahama
- H.E. Former President of Liberia Amos Sawyer, an education specialist and a member of the CEIBS Africa Programme International Advisory Board (IAB member)
- H.E. Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, Julia Olmo
- CEIBS Executive President Prof. Pedro Nueno
- Founder & Managing Director of Chengwei Ventures LLC, Mr. Eric X Li (IAB member)
- Executive Director of the CEIBS Africa Programme, Prof. Kwaku Atuahene-Gima
- Human Resources Director of Heineken International David Wightman (IAB member).

Other dignitaries who attended the ceremony included:
- Mr Amara Essy, Former President of the UN Security Council; Former President of the UN General Assembly; Former Secretary General of The African Union and
- H.E. Eleih-Elle Etian, Former Dean, Diplomatic Corps China; Former Ambassador of Cameroon to China.

CEIBS President Zhu Xiaoming, although unable to attend the event, sent a hand-written calligraphy artwork to convey words of encouragement to the students on their “lifelong journey of learning.”

Today's event was chaired by Prof. P.K. Nyame, Rector of the Ghana College of Physicians & Surgeons. The ceremony also featured a speech -- by student representative Barbara Ackah-Yensu -- on behalf of the 42 participants of the inaugural class which began on March 4. Certificates were also presented to the students to mark their historic participation as pioneers in the CEIBS Africa Programme inaugural class.

Students and guests arriving for the ceremony.

In his keynote address, the Education Minister pledged the Ghanaian government's full support of the CEIBS Africa Programme, which he described as timely and vitally needed as the country moves forward in educating skilled managers who can boost its economic growth. As a result of "inadequate infrastructure and teaching personnel," 40% of qualified applicants are turned down by the country's public universities each year, the minister explained. "The development of this country hinges very much on the development of its human resource base, and I believe that the CEIBS Africa Programme is here to do exactly that," Minister Tettey-Enyo said. "Economic development and social progress demand innovative and self-confident leaders in Africa. With such a high calibre of staff and academic content, it is my belief that your programme will deliver exceptional executive business education to enable your graduates to meet the global challenges that confront them. The government of Ghana shares this view, and no doubt, recognizes the fact that education is key to the national development plan."

CEIBS Africa EMBA programme's inaugural class consists of executives primarily from Ghana and Nigeria, including a Ghanaian Parliamentarian and a High Court Judge. As CEIBS Africa Programme Executive Director Prof Kwaku Atuahene-Gima explained during the welcome address, the majority of the students (50%) have a background in the category of sciences and engineering; 21% come from a business management background, while the remainder of the class have an art and languages academic background. 36% are employed by foreign owned enterprises, 31% are from private enterprises, while 3% are government employees. The inaugural class includes 20% female students. With CEIBS professors coming from China to teach courses, CEIBS Africa-based EMBA students will receive the same EMBA programme offered to CEIBS students in China.

As emphasized by CEIBS Executive President Prof. Nueno, CEIBS Africa-based students will become a part of the school's 7,000-plus-member global alumni network after they graduate from the two-year programme. "Strong business schools are those that establish life-long relationships with their alumni; we take care of our alumni," he said. Prof Nueno added that by pursuing an EMBA at this point in their careers, programme participants are equipping themselves with the tools needed to become better managers and entrepreneurs. The programme, he added, offered participants an opportunity for reflection and personal growth and would help build the increasingly important tri-pronged bridge between Africa, China and Europe. In his concluding remarks Prof Nueno said: "Congratulations on your decision to join the EMBA programme. On behalf of the CEIBS Management Committee, the faculty and staff, I wish you success in the programme and in your career."

Heineken International's Human Resources Director Mr David Wightman also addressed the audience and explained how as part of their emphasis on employees' personal and professional development, Heineken and their partners helped establish the Osei Tutu II Institute for Advance ICT Studies in Kumasi in 2002. Heineken, their partners and the institute are now eager to collaborate with CEIBS as Mr Wightman explained: "We see CEIBS as a serious partner for ourselves, for other companies committed to Africa, and for educational institutions and governments, in developing the skills that we and Ghana and Africa need to become even more successful in the coming decades." He then added: "We and our partners look forward to working with CEIBS, and the students of CEIBS, in the future."

Former President of Liberia Mr Amos Sawyer, speaking in his capacity as a member of the CEIBS Africa Programme's International Advisory Board, also pledged his full support for the programme. He highlighted the wisdom of choosing Ghana -- a trailblazer in terms of democratization and economic development -- as the location for CEIBS Africa Programme, saying it would serve as a launching pad for the rest of Africa's participation. "It is a great pleasure to participate in an effort that has the potential to spur more robust economic development in our continent," said former President Sawyer who is now a Professor at Indiana University in the US and Chair of Monrovia's Governance Committee.

The wise choice of selecting Accra, Ghana as the location for the CEIBS EMBA Africa programme was also emphasized by Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, Julia Olmo. "(This choice) is a consequence of the image Ghana is earning and the role it is playing in the regional and continental context," she said. Pointing to the long and successful historical relationship between CEIBS and Spain, the ambassador described the CEIBS Africa Programme as "a new window of opportunity to cement bilateral relations" between Ghana and Spain.

In her speech on behalf of the inaugural class, student representative Barbara Ackah-Yensu said the offering of the CEIBS EMBA Programme was "apt" in an era of globalization which makes geographical barriers meaningless. In today's high tech environment, a world full of both challenges and opportunities, she said, those who wish to succeed must keep abreast of new technologies and management strategies. The challenge, she said, was to remain relevant. "It requires taking a step we have taken in being a part of this programme," she said. "What we will receive is not an ordinary education; it's an education for life."

Also among the day's guest speakers was Founder & Managing Director of Chengwei Ventures LLC, Mr. Eric X Li who was speaking both in his capacity as a member of the International Advisory Board and on behalf of the Chinese Business Community in Shanghai. He took a look back at CEIBS' growth and contribution to China's development over the past 15 years, and expressed confidence that the CEIBS EMBA Africa Programme would play a vital role in the long-term development of both CEIBS and Africa. Mr. Li expressed: "I have watched in amazement how CEIBS has developed into what it is today -- the premier institution for management education in China and a leading player in the world. Most importantly it is a beacon for entrepreneurship, by the example of its own development and the education it provides. Entrepreneurship, we believe, is the driving force and most viable and sustainable path to prosperity for all developing countries."

The day's final speaker, Ghana College of Physicians & Surgeons Rector Professor P.K. Nyame, emphasized the vital role that business plays in all aspects of life. He told the audience that it was the right time for the launch of the CEIBS EMBA Africa Programme, and expressed his continued support for the initiative.

In explaining the context behind the CEIBS Africa Programme, Executive Director Prof Kwaku Atuahene-Gima highlighted the role that a world-class management education has had on the transformation of China's economy, individuals, organisations and overall society over the past 15 years. "It is in this context that I believe the project we are launching is so significant to Africa. CEIBS is widely recognized as instrumental in bringing the benefits of management education to China. Our innovative learning model has allowed us to make a strong contribution to human capital development and thus to the emergence of China as an economic superpower. We are in Africa to change the face of management education and contribute to its development as we have done in China," he said.

The CEIBS Africa Programme is part of the China-based business school's roster of EMBA programmes. CEIBS also offers an MBA programme and an Executive Education Programme. CEIBS is the only Asian business school to have achieved global ranking for its MBA, EMBA and Executive Education programmes. Based on the Financial Times global rankings for 2009, CEIBS MBA programme is ranked #8, the EMBA programme ranks #23 and the Executive Education Open Programme is #19.

CEIBS Africa Programme International Advisory Board
• Mr. Amara Essy: Former President of the UN Security Council; Former President of the UN General Assembly; Former Secretary General of The African Union
• H.E. Amos Sawyer: Former President of Liberia
• H.E. Eleih-Elle Etian: Former Dean, Diplomatic Corps China; Former Ambassador of Cameroon to China
• Mr. Bimbo (Michael) Siyanbola: CEO MD, GNI Plc
• Mr. Adama Gaye: Author of China-Africa & Founder of Africa China Consulting Group
• Mr Eric Li: Founder & Managing Director, Chengwei Ventures
• Dna Cristina Orpinell: VP IBSA Foundation
• D. Jose Pedro Sebastian de Erice: Secretary General, Técnicas Reunidas Internacional; Former Ambassador of Spain to China; Friendship Ambassador between the People of China and the People of Spain
• Ms. Razia Khan: Regional Head of Economics, Africa, Standard Chartered Bank
• Professor Alfredo Pastor: Government of Spain Chair Professor of Economics, CEIBS & Professor of Economics, IESE
• D. Mario Rotllan: CEO, Cobega SA
• Mr. David Wightman: Human Resources Director, Heineken International
• Mr. Zéphirin Diabre: Chairman Africa and Middle East, Areva
• H.E. Emmanuel Mba Allo: Ambassador of Gabon in China
• Mr. Kolapo Lawson: Director, Ecobank