Glossary / Executive Education Lingo

Business Certificate Series / Program

A collection of certificates that are granted upon a completion of several executive education courses related to an industry or topic, thus constituting a “program” or “series”

Certificate Programs

Program or courses in executive education that grant certificates to the executives upon completion of the program

Corporate Partnership

While the types of partnerships differ, all leading business schools have ongoing relationships with their alumni, clients and major corporate sponsors. Corporate partnership usually involves some type of activity where input and work in involved with the faculty and corporate employees to develop something new. (I.e. new program)

Continuing Education Units

Upon completion, units or credits from an executive education course that can apply or be transferred to an eMBA or MBA degree

Corporate Relations

The group / division of the business school that cultivate, grows and maintains key corporate contacts and relationship development. This is usually intended for new business development, knowledge sharing, partnership opportunities, and career development opportunities

Custom Programs

AKA Tailored Programs in the EU, or Company Specific Programs. These are the programs executive education centers develop to suit the client’s specific need. Custom Programs can be tailored around a specific business problem, or specific industry depending on the client’s need. For example, a custom program involving mergers and acquisition and change management as the subject matter, for HP and Compaq during the acquisition under HP’s Carly Fiorina

Custom Solutions

Another name for “Custom Programs”

Distinguished Faculty

Notable Faculty members well known in the business circles for their research, academic careers, PR, business experience, or a combination of all of the above. Notable faculty members in the executive education world usually possess some key business experience or publication of significant work in the area of business management

Executive Development

Another word for executive education that better describes the ongoing development of an executive over the course of his/her career

Executive Education

See website for details

Executive MBA / eMBA

A MBA program structure developed to deliver MBA learning and a MBA diploma to mid-high level senior executives

GMAT

The Graduate admissions test that is usually required for regular MBA entry

International Programs

International schools that are top ranked, competing with US based schools for executive programs. Sometimes refers to study abroad or partnerships between schools of different countries working together to deliver a global experience in their executive education programs

Open Enrollment/Open Programs

Programs designs prior to any specific company request and offered usually throughout the year to participants that want to enroll in specific courses.  Open programs usually focus on a specific subject matter such as Finance or Marketing, and can also be industry specific (i.e. public policy / new market development in biotechnology)

School Partnerships

The partnership among top leading business schools. These usually involve faculty, student, and program exchanges between schools

Regional Development

Development of a school’s presence and new business locally, usually in a new country

Residences

The area/location of on site executive education programs where the students stay. For top business schools these residences are usually hosted by the school in high class facilities, or a local hotel of high calibur