IEDC – Bled School of Management

Age: 24

History: The IEDC-Bled School of Management was founded in 1986 as one of the first management schools in Central and Eastern Europe.

Address: The school is in the picturesque town of Bled, described by the school as “the kind of place that can still astonish even the most spoiled and satiated cosmopolitan”. The campus overlooks a tranquil alpine lake and is only 30 minutes from the airport and 50 minutes from Ljubljana.

Ambience: The school encourages participants to think and lead creatively. It has its own contemporary art collection, and regularly invites guest lecturers, including artists, politicians, philosophers, and NGO representatives as well as business people. It's a place where managers and leaders from all over Europe can trade their knowledge and experiences.

Vital statistics: More than 47,000 students have taken part in various educational programmes at IEDC. The school offers three varieties of MBA. The one-year Executive MBA programme is studied in two extended five week modules and two shorter modules altogether 17 weeks in over a year. Potential participants unable to commit to such an intensive schedule can opt for a two-year Executive MBA instead which consists of seventeen residential weeks at IEDC taken in seven modules of between two and three weeks over two years. Finally, the school offers an innovative three-year Presidents' MBA programme, specially designed for senior executives: presidents, vice-presidents, chief executives, and members from managing and supervisory boards. The school also plays host to management summer schools and organises open seminars and forums that address the needs of functional and general managers and leaders as well as customised programs for the needs of individual companies and other organisations.

Added value: World-class professors jet in from leading European and North American business schools including IMD, INSEAD and London Business School. Teaching is highly interactive with lots of group and project work. The school has been one of the world pioneers in holistic leadership development, integrating learning from arty subjects such as philosophy, science and sport. In 2008, the school began a partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, who pledged money to fund research into consumer marketing. Recently, the IEDC was named – as the only school from Central and Eastern Europe - among 100 top business schools in the world, according to the Aspen Institute's 2009-10 edition of Beyond Grey Pinstripes ranking, as it has demonstrated significant leadership in integrating social, environmental and ethical issues into its MBA program.

Easy to get into? For the executive MBA, you'll need a minimum of three years of meaningful work experience, and for the President's MBA, you'll need to have a top position in an organisation. Proficiency in English, with a degree or equivalent, is standard.

Glittering alumni: Damir Polan?ec, Deputy Prime Minister, Croatia, Mariana Durlesteanu, former Minister of Finance, Moldova; Iurie Munteanu, Deputy Economics and Trade Minister, Moldova; Andrey Mladentsev, Deputy Director, Roszdravnadzor (Federal Service for Control of Healthcare and Social Development in the Russian Federation) any many others.

Gurus: Visiting professors include Prof. Derek Abell, a specialist in strategic marketing, general management and leadership in technology-based industries; Prof. James C. Ellert, finance and strategy; Prof. Pierre Casse, Chair of Leadership; world-known speakers such as Prof. Nancy Adler and Prof. Hermann Simon are regular guest speakers in the open programs; the Coca-Cola Chair in Marketing is led by Prof. Colin Egan.

International connections: 80 per cent of students in the main programmes come from outside Slovenia, while visiting professors arrive from institutions spread across 30 countries.

Student profile: On the executive MBA, the average age is 33, with an average of 10 or more years of work experience. Women make up about 45 per cent of the executive students.

Cost: The program fees for the One-Year Executive MBA 2011 program, which cover tuition and classroom materials is €23,000. The Two-Year Executive MBA 2010-2011 program, which cover tuition and classroom materials is €28,500. The Presidents’ MBA program fee, which covers tuition, classroom materials and coffee breaks, is €34,000 (including VAT).

Return on investment: Value for money, a flexible course, broad international network, corporate ties in the CEE region, and a beautiful campus environment.

Who’s the boss? Professor Danica Purg is the school's founding president and dean.

Prospectus: +386 4 57 92 500; www.iedc.si; info@iedc.si