Kiev International Institute of Business

Age: 15.

History: Originally founded in 1993 as the International Centre for Privatisation, Investments and Management, it was created as a non-profit, independent training and educational institution to promote economic reforms in Ukraine. In 1999 it was renamed the International Institute of Business. Today it offers a full range of educational programmes for national and international students and companies, from MBAs to undergraduate degree programmes.

Address: In Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.

Ambience: Sitting on the Dnipro river, Kiev is a bustling capital which only gained independence (with the rest of the country) in 1991: it's still something of a hidden gem, but is slowly becoming a popular tourist destination. The baroque Cathedral of St Sophia is well worth a visit.

Vital statistics: 450 students are enrolled on the MBA and diploma programmes, and around 3,000 opt for the executive course. There are 67 faculty members, and alumni of more than 50,000.

Added value: Lifelong learning and personal development are key areas, says the school.

Easy to get into? For the MBA, you'll need an undergraduate degree and at least three years of managerial experience, and preferably hold a middle or senior management position. International applicants need a good TOEFL score, and every candidate is interviewed.

Glittering alumni: Igor Solntsev, deputy chairman, Bank Forum; Nikolai Fabro, executive director, YUG-Contract; Gennadiy Maidaniuk, director general, May Tea; Marina Mosinevich, head of HR, Bayer Ukraine; Anna Niederlander, director, Yamaha Europe.

Gurus: Wiktor Askanas of the University of New Brunswick; Mark Narovliansky of AIG; Alastair Nicholson of London Business School; Krzysztof Obloj at the School of Management, University of Warsaw; Alexander Paskhaver of the Centre for Economic Development; and Paul Marer of the Central European university.

International connections: A double-award is offered with the University of New Brunswick in Canada, and the institute also has connections with other business schools all over Europe.

Teaching: Based around case studies, practical learning and "business simulations".

Student profile: The average age on the MBA is 35, with a male to female ratio of 3:1 and an average of 10 years of work experience (five in a managerial capacity). Students hail from Eastern Europe as well as Pakistan, Canada and Brazil.

Cost: The executive MBA is €17,000 (£14,200); the international option is €14,000 (£11,700).

Return on investment: The vast majority of IIB graduates either launch their own businesses or are promoted.

Who's the boss? Alexander Mertens is the president.

Prospectus: +380 44 456 3700; www.iib.com.ua; mba@iib.com.ua