The AmsterdamMBA

‘The Amsterdam MBA represents everything the Amsterdam Business School stands for: high-quality students from diverse backgrounds, studying in innovative courses, and taught in small groups by world-class academics and practitioners.’ Bill Rees, Director ABS

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Introduction

Standing in front of our MBA class of 2006-2007, we see a highly driven and enthusiastic group of people gathered from all over the world. Our students are taught by renowned international faculty staff and have classmates from over 15 different countries. Besides the international character of our MBA programme, we also focus on the personal approach in the interactive workshops and case-based programmes. Our stimulating courses are very demanding for our students and are geared to ignite leader-ship skills. They combine these skills with a solid understanding of the complexity of global business. The personal contact with our international faculty leads especially to constructive discussions. The size of the class makes it possible to offer tailor-made career services. Studying at the Amsterdam Business School means the start of a fascinating journey that will enhance your social and professional life.

The Amsterdam MBA and the city of Amsterdam stand for an international orientation. The Dutch capital is an essential commercial and fi nancial centre for international business today. The central location of Amsterdam is appeal-ing for international companies wishing to establish a European base, as well as entre-preneurs setting out on new and daring ventures. Therefore, Amsterdam is an inspiring backdrop for our MBA pro-gramme and provides us with an open, entrepreneurial and dynamic setting for global business.

Our programme is designed to incorpo-rate three main factors: rigour, relevance and reliability. A multi-disciplinary course such as an MBA has to be taught with academic rigour. Practicalities differ across industry, geography and time and you need to understand underlying theories. We make theories relevant by linking theory to practice, by bringing the business world into the classroom and

Contents

Starting with one small building in 1632, the Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA) has become one of the largest universities of the Netherlands, counting around 24,000 students (more than 10% international students), over 5,000 staff and a budget of approximately 550 million euro. It is one of the major comprehensive universities in Europe. It draws students and academics from all over the world. The UvA is well respected throughout Europe and beyond (e.g. ranked 10th overall in continental Europe and 1st comprehensive university in the Netherlands according to The Times worldwide university ranking, 2006).

The Faculty of Economics and Business at the UvA holds a strong portfolio containing bachelor, master and executive master programmes in Business, Accounting & Control and Finance for the domestic and international graduate and post-graduate market. Two renowned educational institutes of the faculty, the Amsterdam Business School and the Amsterdam School of Economics, manage these programmes.

The Amsterdam Business School (ABS) offers high-quality academic education and research in Business Administra-tion. Building on a successful tradition, its education is characterised by small-scale interactive seminars and workshops and case-based programmes, thus providing graduates with the ability to continue learning through-out their career.

The ABS hosts The Amsterdam MBA and the specialised Master of International Finance. Both serve as fl agship programmes of the business school, attracting top international students.

taking the student into the business world, including a study trip to a well-known business school. Finally, relia-bility is important; students need to be confi dent in their knowledge and at the same time understand its limitations. A business manager must be able to talk to various specialists in their own language but has to know when to defer to their expertise.

We are aware of the importance of focusing on leadership competencies in your personal professional development. Therefore we have initiated the Amster-dam Leadership Programme®. Our goal is to provide you with high-quality business and management education, which will enable you to develop into an effective leader. A leader who conveys what our MBA stands for: highly inter-nationally oriented and with a strong understanding of the importance of a genuine personal approach.

We sincerely invite you to apply for our Amsterdam MBA.

Dr. Willemijn van DolenDirector of The Amsterdam MBA

Choosing an MBA 4The Amsterdam MBA approach 6The programme 10Amsterdam 15Practical information 16Fees and admission 18

Cover: the MBA class of 2006-2007

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Choosing an MBAA Master’s in Business Administration is the classic training for managers, the market leader amongst business qualifi ca-tions, and tends to provide a signifi cant boost to careers and income. It is also a big investment in time and money and the quality of MBAs available on the market is extremely variable. It can be very diffi cult for would-be students to assess the quality of an MBA.

Fortunately, if you are careful, you can identify a MBA that will gain you a reputable degree and where you will learn what you need to take your career forward. The following are signals of good MBAs:

UniversityReputation is almost always one of the ways that quality is identifi ed in a market. If you choose an established and renowned university you have a reason-able chance of getting a thorough education. Even so not all famous universities have experience of business education. It would be wise to be cautious about those.

Faculty If the majority of educators on the pro-gramme are internationally known researchers you should expect a demand-ing and invigorating course. Some younger researchers are also an advantage as they do liven up a programme and make it easier for students to get to know staff.

Location Ideally the school will be in a business centre – for contacts and for post course job prospects. Conversely you have to be able to afford to live and be in a city you can enjoy.

Ranking and accreditations may help.Unfortunately the ranking organisations don’t agree (which implies inaccuracy). If a programme is consistently at the very top it is no doubt a good sign – although these will also be the most expensive. Beyond that there seems to be little agreement. It is also true that new programmes cannot be ranked or accre dited internationally for three years. However, accreditation by a national government (usually also meaning recog-nition of the degree in your country) is a good sign of quality, because these processes(especially in the Netherlands) tend to be very thorough. New programmes may be the most innovative and may, in an effort to become established, be good value.

Course size Your learning environment is an essential consideration. Many renowned MBAs have a cohort of up to 100 or even more (although they may spread them over marginally different courses). Learning, and enjoying it, in such an environment will be diffi cult. You might actually feel as if you are in an ‘MBA factory’.

Entry requirementsIf a programme doesn’t insist on work experience, acceptable English language

skills, good GMAT scores and sound educational background then you should avoid it. Relaxed entry requirements usually mean lower standards.

PricesPrice may help expose poor courses: unless a university has funding from another source a reasonable sized course (say 25 students) cannot be run in Europe or North America, with appropriate faculty and resources, for much less than €20,000. If you are paying over €30,000 you are presumably getting something extra – accommodation, foreign trips or reputation (i.e. the best rankings). That may be a sensible decision but be sure you are getting value for the extra fees.

The Amsterdam MBA is offered by a prestigious university, using internation-ally renowned staff, set in the fascinating and cosmopolitan cultural and business centre that is Amsterdam. We have been offering business education for 75 years, we are strict about entry requirements and we are very competitively priced.

Prof. Bill Rees, PhD, MBA, FCADirector Amsterdam Business School

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The Amsterdam MBA approach

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Drawing on a faculty with wide interna-tional experience in both international business and academia, courses are offered introducing students to under-lying theory, best practice and recent developments in international business. The two MBA groups (part-time and full-time) interact throughout the programme. The ability to work with different specialists and diffe-rent nationalities is one of the most fascinating and useful experiences of an MBA.

In designing the programme we were guided by EQUIS who defi ne an MBA as follows:The MBA curriculum provides broad coverage of the main functional areas in management, namely accounting, fi nance, marketing and sales, operations manage-ment, information systems management, law, human resource management. It is also expected to provide basic instruction in economics and quantitative analysis. The Curriculum will normally be highly integrative and will include courses in business policy and strategy. Beyond the mere acquisition of knowledge and technical skills the curriculum is expected to put theory into practice by focusing on the personal development of participants through such competencies as decision-making, team work, leadership skills, entrepreneurial potential, negotiation skills, communication and presentation skills.

The Amsterdam MBA is continually being developed. The courses on offer may be adjusted to refl ect student demand, changes in the world of busi-ness, both practical and academic, and changes in the available faculty. No change to the MBA ethos, as defi ned above, will be made.

The degree After successful completion of their studies, students are awarded with the title Master in Business Administration.

AccreditationThe Amsterdam MBA’s fi rst class started in 2005. In the same year it received, as one of the fi rst programmes of its kind in the Netherlands, NVAO accreditation from the Dutch government. The Dutch accreditation process is very thorough and recognises The Amsterdam MBA as a programme of the highest academic quality. Our programme is now offi cially accredited as a post-initial (i.e. post-experience or advanced) master’s degree in the Netherlands and will as such be recognised abroad by most Ministries of Education in the world. MBA rankings or international accreditations will be possible after 2008.

Programme committeeProf. Dr. Florencio Lopez de Silanes (Chair)Finance and Governance, UvAProf. Dr. Ans KolkSustainability and International Management, UvAProf. Dr. Joe McCaheryLaw and Governance, UvAProf. Dr. Brendan O’DwyerFinancial Accounting and Social Reporting, UvA Prof. Dr. Hans StrikwerdaOrganisation Management/Nolan, Norton & Co.

FacultyThe ABS has three broad academic groupings; Management, Finance and Accounting.

skills from which students will benefi t once they have graduated. One particular benefi t at The Amsterdam MBA is the different cultural, educational and experiential backgrounds our students have. In the business world such multi-culturalism and differing viewpoints is the norm, and the programme gives our students an opportunity to come to terms with the problems that this can present.

MBA student’s profi leThe student body is one of the most important determinants of good manage-ment education. Our various post-graduate programmes include students from all over the world. All MBA students are carefully selected to ensure the academic background, business experience and general suitability for management education. We ensure that you are taught in an environment that includes other advanced disciplines. This mix of full-time and part-time students representing different cultures, profes-sional experiences and academic skills is both a strength and a pleasure.

Admission requirementsApplicants are expected to hold an academic degree. A minimum of two years professional experience is essential. To ensure that students are well suited to the course, and to maintain the reputation of the programme, we will require evidence of English language profi ciency (TOEFL or IELTS) and general manage-ment aptitude (GMAT). The more prestigious business schools, especially for MBA study, normally require GMAT and we fi nd this helps to identify excellent students. It is also a useful independent guideline for the university when alloca-ting scholarships.

Graduate Management Admission Test GMAT scores provide a valuable source of evidence regarding the suitability of appli-cants for The Amsterdam MBA. The GMAT tests verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills that have developed in educa-tion and work. Every applicant is required to take the GMAT. We have no formal cut-off score for the GMAT as results are evaluated in conjunction with the rest of the application package (TOEFL, CV and recommendation letters). Details on GMAT, how to prepare, the location of test centres and reservation of a test date are available on: http://www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT. Applicants wishing to have their score reported directly to the International Offi ce should enter the UvA institution code number 0500 on the GMAT registration form. Applicants with a PhD or other postgraduate qualifi cation can apply for an exemption of GMAT. Write a motivational letter or email and explain your motivation for the exemp-tion. The Admission Committee will decide whether the request is granted or not. Test of English as a Foreign Language A good working knowledge of English is required. Therefore applicants for the full-time programme are required to submit a recent TOEFL score report. Exemptions are made for those whose fi rst language is English or for those who have a university degree taught in English. Where TOEFL is not available IELTS will suffi ce. A TOEFL score of at least 100 for the internet-based or 600 for the paper-based test will be required. The UvA institution code for TOEFL is 0398. For registration and test locations please visit http://www.toefl .org.

The Management group is rapidly developing and in recent years we have managed to recruit some excellent academics like Professors Neil Anderson, Deanne den Hartog, and Nachoem Wijnberg.

Our Finance group is among the best in Europe and a recent offi cial review graded its research fi ve out of fi ve for quality. UvA was singled out when it was noted that UvA has now taken the lead as regards theory (within the Netherlands), with an interesting strand of analytical and normative work on corporate fi nance and fi nancial institutions. We are proud to have Professors Arno Boot and Florencio Lopez de Silanes among our staff.

The Accounting group has been typical of the Dutch tradition in this fi eld with many professors working in the business world as well as academia. This means we have access to people such as Prof. Dr. Arie Verberk CEO of MartinairProf. Dr. Hans Leenaars CFO of SNS ReaalProf. Dr. Philip Wallage Partner at KPMG.More recently, researchers have further strengthened this team with an inter-national research reputation including Professors Allan Hodgson and Brendan O’Dwyer.

Teaching methodsOur MBA programme is committed to educate students in an active rather than passive way. Educational research has shown that this provides deeper and more lasting benefi ts, and that the methods of active learning – group work, research presentations, case studies and real life cases, etc. – help develop exactly those

Zachary Newmark (1978, USA)

As an award-winning journalist in Chicago, my body of work included stories on the rise and fall of major corporations, land-mark crimes, and key political scandals. Yet, while technological capabilities increased, and the size of the world kept shrinking, I began to feel as though my perspective was becoming increasingly narrow. The Amsterdam MBA proved to be the ideal location to embark on a new stage in my life. Being part of an interna-tional class of 35 students from more than 15 countries, the atmosphere here has provided me the learning environment I prefer. Each professor is knowledgeable in his or her fi eld, and qualifi ed to lead courses at this level. Although challenging, the assigned work is just shy of being overwhelming. While teamwork and personal growth are emphasized in an impressive manner, the students look out for the well-being of their colleagues.All of these attributes fi rmly plant the ABS in the real world, rather than simply trying to emulate the ivory tower of academia.

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Faculty

The notes below identify some of the UvA academics who are expected to teach on the programme during 2007/8. This is an essential consideration for MBA students. Only at universities such as the UvA, staff with international reputations will teach you.

Ans Kolk (Netherlands)Professor of Sustainable Management and Research Director of the ABS. Her areas of research, teaching and publications are in corporate social responsibility and environ-mental management, especially in relation to the strategy and management of interna-tional business fi rms. She has been involved in many international projects on strategy, organisation and disclosure related to social and environmental issues, in cooperation with different private, public and civil society organisations (including the KPMG interna-tional surveys of environmental/ sustainability reporting in 1998/1999, 2001/2002 and 2004/2005). Ans has published in a range of international journals, including Journal of International Business Studies, Management International Review, Journal of World Business, Harvard Business Review, and many others. She is author of Economics of Environmental Management (Financial Times Environmental Management (Financial Times Environmental ManagementPrentice Hall) and one of the founders of the Expert Centre for Sustainable Business and Development Cooperation.

Joseph A. McCahery (United States) Professor of Corporate Governance and Business Innovation. He is also a Research Fellow at the Institute of International Corporate Governance and Accountability, George Washington University and Research Associate at the European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI) in Brussels. In addition Joe is the Leo Goldschmidt Visiting Professor of Corporate Governance at Brussels University (ULB). He serves on the boards of several leading academic journals. Professor McCahery studied for his PhD in Law at Warwick University, where he taught until 1997. He has written widely on banking and securities law, corporate law, corporate

governance, the political economy of federalism, and taxation. His publications have appeared in major academic journals, such as the Journal of Corporation Law, Journal of Corporation Law, Journal of Corporation LawGeorgetown Law Journal, and Journal of Corporate Law Studies. In addition to his academic activities, Joe is a consultant to the OECD, the Centre for European Policy Studies, and several fi nancial institutions and research agencies. His consultancy activities involve corporate governance and securities regula-tion issues and M&A. He is currently co-directorof the Amsterdam Center for Corporate Finance.

Brendan O’Dwyer (Ireland) Professor of Accounting. He previously worked at the Michael Smurfi t Graduate School of Business, University College Dublin, where he lectured extensively on MBA and executive education programmes as well as acting as Programme Director of the Master of Accounting. Brendan’s research interests are interdisciplinary and qualitative in focus and scope: corporate social accountability; social and ethical accounting, auditing and reporting; non governmental organisation (NGO) accounting and accountability, corporate governance, qualitative research methods and professional accounting ethics. He is widely recognised as a leading interna-tional scholar in the area of corporate social accountability and his work has been published in the three foremost international, interdisciplinary, academic accounting journals: Accounting, Organizations and Society; Accounting, Auditing and Account-and Account-andability Journal and Critical Perspectives on Accounting, as well as in other journals such as The European Accounting Review and The European Accounting Review and The European Accounting ReviewThe British Accounting Review. Brendan is an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, a qualifi ca-tion he attained prior to joining academia when he worked as an auditor with Ernst and Young in Dublin.

Jan-Willem Stoelhorst (Netherlands) Assistant Professor of Strategy and Organiza-

tion. He received his PhD (cum laude) from the University of Twente in 1997. Before joining the ABS, he was one of the core lecturers in the MBA programs of TSM Business School for over 10 years. During that time he was also responsible for management training and consulting projects for a number of medium-sized and large companies. Jan-Willem has published on various aspects of strategy and organization, and his current research interests focus on the application of evolutionary principles to competitive strategy and the theory of the fi rm.

Alan Muller (United States)Assistant Professor of Strategy and Inter-national Business. Alan holds degrees from Erasmus University Rotterdam (PhD in Man -a gement), University of Amsterdam (Master’s in International Relations) and University of Washington (Bachelor’s in History), all cum laude. He also studied in Scotland and worked in Austria (as a Fulbright teaching assistant). Alan’s cum laude for his 2004 PhD thesis on regional and global strategies of multinationals was only the second awarded in the history of the Rotterdam School of Management. Alan’s research interests are: internationalisation and international strategy, international trade and investment, corporate social responsibility, business-government relations and bargaining, institutional theory and supranational governance, and development issues. In addition to his academic research on MNE strategy, Alan is affi liated as senior researcher with the Expert Center for Sustainable Business and Development Cooperation. In that capacity Alan has played a leading role in projects for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a Dutch NGO on public-private partnerships in developing countries as well as research into MNEs and development.

Florencio López-de-Silanes (Mexico)Professor specialised in International Corporate Finance and Financial Markets, Legal Reform and Privatisation. He has been an advisor on these topics to many govern-

Abdessamad Laghmouchi (1978, NL)

After working as a Tax Lawyer in Amster-dam I was looking for a change that could give me new energy and a focus on my future. After several talks with practition-ers I came to the conclusion that an MBA would indeed be the ideal way to reach my goals. I wanted a university that would give me a strong set of soft skills and would provide me with the necessary academic knowledge for my future career plans. In addition, I wanted a combination of an MBA course in which not only the commercial but also the ethical and human aspect is an important part of the curriculum. I found what I was looking for in the Corporate Social Responsibility track of The Amsterdam MBA. I was of course also very glad with the scholarship opportunity offered to me by a joined initiative of the Municipality of Amsterdam and Shell. With the solid foundation of knowledge and skills I have obtained in The Amster-dam MBA, I am sure I will be ready for the next step in my career.

ments, international institutions and corporations and has numerous publications in top Finance and Economic Journals. Florencio’s research shows the relevance of law and institutions for optimal functioning of markets and their development. He received Harvard’s Wells Prize for the Best Dissertation in Economics (1995), the National Award for Law and Economics of the National Association of Law and Economics in Mexico (1996), the Brattle Prize for distinguished papers in the Journal of Finance of the American Finance Association (1999), and the Jensen Prize for the best paper published in the Journal of Financial Economics in the Areas of Corporate Finance and Organiza-tions (2000). Florencio has been a professor at Harvard and Yale. He holds a Master’s in Economics and a PhD in Economics from Harvard University.

Hans Strikwerda (Netherlands) Professor in Organisation and Organisational change. He is an international expert on the organisation of multinational and other complex organisations, esp. their internal governance. His expertise especially focuses on re-designing organisations and their corporate strategies due to fundamental changes in their environments, market structures, technologies, consumer prefer-ences. Hans has a solid track record of proven innovative solutions, based on in depth knowledge of both organisation and management theory and on empirical developments in markets and economies. As the director of the Nolan Norton Institute he carries out research in the fi eld of internal governance and other topics of organisa-tional processes. For his publications on internal governance he received the national Professional Publication Price (1996) and on shared service centres the Best Management Book Award (2004). In addition Hans publishes on new developments in the fi eld of new organisations, governance, strategy and management consulting. He is also a member of the Programme Committee of The Amsterdam MBA.

Guest lecturers at ABS in recent yearsProf. Simon Benninga University of Tel Aviv (Israel) and Wharton Business School (USA)Prof. Willem Boeschoten Shell Pension Fund and University of Groningen (NL)Prof. Stijn Claessens World Bank/UvA (USA)Dr. Jo Danbolt University of Glasgow (UK)Prof. Ton Daniels Ernst & Young and Utrecht University (NL)Prof. Adriaan Dorresteijn Utrecht University (NL)Prof. Paul de Grauwe Leuven University (Belgium)Prof. Fred Huibers ING Bank and Tilburg University (NL)Mr. Shridar Kumaraswamy Philips and MIF alumnus (NL)Dr. Luc Laeven World Bank and MIF alumnus (USA)Prof. Anjolein Schmeits Washington University (USA)Prof. Bill Megginson University of Oklahoma (USA)Prof. Raymond Fisman Columbia Business School (USA) Prof. Thomas Buchman University of Colorado (USA)Prof. Dr. Philip Wallage KPMG/UvA (NL)Dr. Teresa Fogelberg Global Reporting Initiative (NL)Dr. Gerhard Mulder ABN AMRO Bank (NL)Mr. Ronald Oort ING Bank and MIF alumnus (Brazil)Ms. Stefanie Miltenburg Sara Lee (NL)Ms. Henriëtte van EeghenTNT (NL)

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The programme What you learn when obtaining your MBA is as important as the qualifi cation itself. An MBA must cover a wide range of subjects in a limited time. We believe our graduates should have a sound understanding of the subjects they have studied. However, the electives on offer may be adjusted to refl ect student demand, changes in the world of fi nance, both practical and academic.

Part-time programmeThe MBA is offered as a full-time, one-year course or a part-time, two-year course. The classes for part-time students take up between 6-8 hours a week. Class preparation, casework and assignments will demand a further 10-12 hours a week. For more information, please refer to our website: www.abs.uva.nl/mba.

CalendarThe exact dates for the programme change from year to year but the introduction days, an enjoyable opportunity to meet the other students, familiarise yourself with the university facilities and get to know Amsterdam, are usually towards the end of the fi rst full week in September, with the academic courses starting the following week. The electives and core courses will fi nish around mid June.

There is usually a break in teaching of about three weeks around Christmas and the New Year and a week in early spring.

Consultancy project and thesisAt the fi nal stage of their MBA pro-gramme students are required to take part in a real-life in-company consultancy project. During the project, the students

Yi-Ling (Anita) Chen (1973, Taiwan)

I had been working at Panasonic for almost 9 years and I realized that it was time to refresh myself and plan a career change. The majority of Asians might choose MBAs in USA, UK or Canada. I chose the ABS because I would like to get a continental European experience, which is completely different from the Asian environment. I am convinced that I can learn about Finance with the solid foundation of knowledge and skills at the ABS even though I do not have a related background. The professors and the staff are friendly and nice to assist me during and after lectures but also in daily matters. You are always treated well without any reserva-tions. The Amsterdam MBA inspires me to innovate, think independently, express myself and fi nd creative solutions. I would like to apply my European experience combined with my Asian background into my future job after graduating. I am sure I will be able to add value to many organisations.

Curriculum*

Block 1September-DecemberCorporate Finance (7)Quantitative methods (3.5)Financial Accounting (7) International Business (3.5)International Economics (3.5)Amsterdam Leadership Programme® (3.5)Block 2January-March Corporate Strategy (4)Human Resources Management (4)International Corporate Law (4)Amsterdam Leadership Programme® (3.5)Elective 1 (4)Block 3April-June Strategic Marketing (4)Information systems (4)The executive process, principles and contemporary issues (4)Amsterdam Leadership Programme® (3.5)Elective 2 (4)Block 4July-AugustConsultancy projectThesis(10 total)

* European Credits between brackets

Introducing the MBA class of 2006-2007The MBA class of 2006-2007 represents everything the ABS stands for: high-quality students from diverse backgrounds, studying in innovative courses, and taught in small groups by world-class academics and practitioners.

An MBA taught in cosmopolitan Amsterdam should in our view be very international and in the class of 35 students we have 20 different nationalities represented from all over the globe. About 30% from the students comes from Asia, 30% from Europe, 20% from North and South America and 20% from Africa.

In other respects the composition of the class is also very diverse. The male:female ratio is just about 50:50 and the average age is 29. In terms of educational backgrounds the majority has either an Economics, Business or Engineering related background. We have a lot of variation on offer which will contrib-ute to lively discussions in class and thus to everybody’s learning experience. Work experience ranges from fi nance, marketing, HR, ICT and law to engineering and televi-sion production and the average student has close to 6 years of work experience. All in all we are extremely pleased with this class in terms of quality and quantity.

can use the broad knowledge, skills and competencies they have acquired during their MBA programme as well as prior to their MBA through work or education. Faced with a real business problem or strategic consultancy issue for the company, the students can show their ability to contribute to the development

of a solution ready for implementation. The students would normally work on a fulltime basis for a period of two months in the summertime (June and July). At the end of the project, they will document their analysis and fi ndings in a manage-ment report and presentation for the host company. Members of the Amsterdam Business School and representatives of the company must judge this document critically. After this group effort, students will write an individual thesis on the same or a related topic with a more academic approach.

Options for specialisation: CSR and FinanceFrom September 2006 onwards the MBA has been enriched with a Corporate Social Responsibility track. This track has replaced the Master in International Management and Sustainability and we believe it has become all the more interest-ing and innovative for that. In the CSR track you can choose courses such as: ■ Corporate Social Responsibility;■ Ethics and Corporate Governance;■ Business and Sustainability.

You will also do your consultancy project in this area and write your thesis on a CSR related topic.

The ABS also runs an advanced Master of International Finance (MIF). MBA studentscan fully benefi t from this through:■ The option to complete the MIF within

one year (part-time) after completing the MBA for half the standard tuition fee;

■ An increased elective choice from the MIF curriculum;

■ Interaction with the MIF students.

ElectivesEven though The Amsterdam MBA is general in nature, you can give it your own twist by following some of the electives. Possible choices are: Operations, Management, Business & Sustainability, Advanced Marketing, Entrepreneurship, International Joint Ventures and Alliances, Corporate Social Responsibility, Ethics and Corporate Governance, Brand Management , Project Management and Innovation, Emerging Markets, Advanced Corporate Finance, and Personal Selling. These courses will be offered according to popular demand.

International electiveIt is also possible to do one of your elec tives abroad. In January 2007 our students will have the option to do a module called ‘Doing Business in India’ (4 EC) in India. IIM Ahmedabad, one of India’s fi nest business schools, designed this module for the Amsterdam Business School as part of a collaborative agree-ment.

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The executive process, principles and contemporary issuesThe subject of this course is what, why and how of the application of the various instruments and processes (for Business Administration) a general manager may deploy to achieve his objectives respectively those of the fi rm or institutions. The goal of this course is to provide students a conceptual and analytic framework to understand the tasks and role of business administration in an integrating way, the roles of CEO and general manager in a changing context, to provide them with a basis for being an effective general manager.

Course descriptions

Amsterdam Leadership Programme (ALP)®

The Amsterdam Leadership Programme of the Amsterdam MBA has been designed to underpin and enhance each student’s MBA educational experience. In our leadership programme we work with three concepts: Values, Purposes and Competencies. In the programme students learn to observe and defi ne these concepts at the fi rm level as well as what these concepts mean for themselves as a person. The course runs in blocks 1 to 3.

Corporate FinanceHere we provide a perspective on the modern theory of corporate fi nance and valuation. The focus is on how companies evaluate investment opportunities and raise the necessary capital, as well as on how investors assess these decisions.

Quantitative methods Good decision-making requires fi rst and foremost, high quality information. For managers and other decision makers it is therefore crucial to understand the quantitative and statistical methods. The Quantitative methods course aims to enable students to become both know-ledgeable and critical ‘consumers’ of the results of quantitative analysis, as well as skilled and competent ‘producers’ of statistical studies.

International BusinessThe process of globalization induces manag-ers to expand their strategic horizons beyond national borders. This course provides studentswith an understanding of the operations of MNEs and the interaction of their activities with national and international economies.

International Corporate Law This course analyzes the nature of the fi rm and the internal and external governance structures. The purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the key issues of corporate governance and the basic legal structure of the corporation. The course will focus on the theoretical and practical dimensions of Corporate Law and Governance.

Marketing StrategyMarketing strategy is concerned with decisions about bringing products and services to market. Such decisions include which products to sell in which markets, how to position these products, and how to organ-ize and manage the marketing function and its links to other business functions effi ciently and effectively. Students will be asked to apply their skills to a variety of cases, with special emphasis on internationally operating fi rms and the marketing of services.

Information systemsIS examines the role of IT and information systems in business process performance and performance improvement, organizational strategic advantage, and industry transforma-tion. New IT applications – enterprise systems, decision support systems, knowledge management systems, and e-business initiatives – entail both opportunities and risks. The central challenge is to maximize the strategic benefi ts of IT investments, while minimizing technical and business risks.

International EconomicsThis course provides business students with an introduction to international economics and covers monetary/fi nancial and institutional issues. It provides a general theoretical framework alongside a topic-based approach to real-world economic problems.

Financial Accounting Financial statements are relevant to the decisions of many individuals including investors, creditors, consultants, managers, auditors, directors, analysts, regulators and employees. This course is a rigorous introduc-tion to Financial Accounting. A key purpose of this course is to deal with the measure-ment of value created (and value creation from the point of view of outside decision-makers) and the use of fi nancial accounting information.

Corporate StrategyCorporate strategy is about the decisions faced by high-level managers in multi-business fi rms, especially those concerning the interaction between the fi rm and its environment. This course discusses and evaluates these theories and practices. Students will be asked to apply the insights offered by the strategic management discipline to the problems faced by inter-national fi rms.

Human Resource Management Managing the employment relationship is an important challenge for managers and the design of strategies for the optimal manage-ment of people has become an issue on the agenda of many boardrooms. The cases used in this course focus on internationally operating fi rms from different continents.

Ankit Sonthalia (1982, India)

During my Bachelor in Commerce, I started to work for Price WaterhouseCoopers as an auditor and then joined a private fi rm to gain expertise and experience in the fi eld of Corporate Taxation. Thereupon I joined Infosys as a Credit Risk Analyst and specia-lized in analysing fi nancial institutions.The ABS is unique in providing a world-class MBA programme in one year. The extremely diverse peer group not only stimulates intellectual discussions but also provides unique global experience. Aspects like corporate inter actions, leadership develop-ment programmes, exchange programmes and student clubs add to the effective learning curve. In my opinion, three factors primarily decide a person’s successful career – knowledge, skills and network. The Amsterdam MBA, with a class of future industry leaders, has been my best decision so far. Upon graduation, I would like to join an investment bank in London. I am confi dent that the MBA learning will further enhance my knowledge and skills to make an immediate impact.

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Sara Solis (1978, Costa Rica)

After my undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering, I became a consultant for an international NGO in Costa Rica. I joined as a permanent employee and I got the opportunity to work in Costa Rica as well as in New York. Coming to the ABS was a deliberate choice for a diverse environment. In a world where boundaries can sometimes come and go you have to be prepared to deal with many cultures and a programme that fosters heterogeneity is a big advantage.

Amsterdam is not only beautiful, but also inviting and inspirational, having a long history in business and social issues. The courses at ABS are very challenging and rewarding, and the other students make the programme interesting and interactive. The professors are encoura-ging and always ready to relate with real world examples. This experience will help me expand my horizons and allow me to work effectively and make integrated decisions that have world impact.

AmsterdamThe capital of the Netherlands is one of Europe’s most frequently visited cities. According to the Lonely Planet: Amsterdam combines a huge case of big city exuberance with small-town manage-ability; it doesn’t take much more than chaining your bike to a bridge to feel like you’ve got a handle on the place.It is this mix which makes the city a pleasure, both to visit and as a home. It is a real cosmopolitan capital, and one of Europe’s most beautiful at that, with an enormous number of attractions. It is also relatively small, peaceful, well ordered and an easy place to fi nd your way around.

The ultimate mixThe historic city centre is famous for its architecture and canals. Amsterdam also has an outstanding, and well-deserved, reputation for the variety of entertainment it provides. If you visit the tourist web-sites, for example www.visitamsterdam.nl or www.iamsterdam.nl, or for a less formal view see the Lonely Planet, Time Out or Rough Guide sites, you will fi nd an unmatched list of possibilities. On top of that, the capital has always been known for its free intellectual environment, which has had a very stimulating effect on the international exchange of ideas and research. Amsterdam has continuously proven itself to be an important centre for cultural, social and fi nancial develop-ments. Perhaps more important for the visitor is its liberal approach to social issues. The city has a mix of cultures and races that are made welcome here in a manner that is probably unmatched within Europe.

Strong city brandAn annual survey conducted by Simon Anholt and marketing research agency Global Market Insite in December 2005 measured the strength of city brands based on the opinions of international consumers. The main criteria for the survey were:

■ Presence (contribution to culture/science);

■ Place (physical aspects);■ Potential (job/education

opportunities);■ Pulse (urban lifestyle);■ People (welcome/diversity);■ Prerequisites (basic qualities).

Amsterdam ranked 6th well ahead of cities like New York, Brussels, Singapore, Geneva, Milan, Toronto and Hong Kong.

Compelling and safeAnother study on the quality of life in major cities world-wide ranked Amster-dam 12th out of 235 (William M. Mercer, 2005) and Time Out has called Amster-dam in a nutshell, one of the most consist-ently surprising, thrilling, intriguing (and) compelling cities on earth. William Mercer’s have also evaluated Amsterdam as one of the safest capital cities in Europe.

International gatewayWith its proximity to the international airport Schiphol, about half an hour from the university, there is easy access to all parts of the world. A few hours’ journey will take you to most other European cities. Barcelona, Berlin, Vienna, Paris, Edinburgh, Geneva, London, and Rome are within easy reach for a long weekend. Public transport around Amsterdam and the Netherlands is also excellent and this is a great help in day-to-day living and for visiting the Netherlands and its neigh-bours.

Cradle of international business The Dutch capital is a leader in fi nance and trade, and lies at the heart of Europe. International fi nance was born in Amster-dam, built on the capital amassed by the merchants of the seventeenth century, known as the ‘Golden Age’. The world’s fi rst public stock exchange was founded in Amsterdam, and served as an example for

stock markets all over the world. Also the fi rst multinational company (the VOC) was established in Amsterdam, showing further evidence of the entrepreneurial spirit of the Netherlands in general and Amsterdam in particular.

Amsterdam today has a broadbased economy but the most important sectors are still business and fi nancial services with over 120,000 jobs. Together, the stock exchange, the central bank and the (regional) head offi ces of numerous Dutch and international fi rms make Amsterdam the fi nancial and business heart of the Netherlands and a prestig-ious international business centre. The Amsterdam MBA benefi ts greatly from this real business environment, which is literally just around the corner of the ABS.

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FacilitiesThe ABS is housed in a modern building in the eastern part of the centre of the city at the junction of the Nieuwe Prinsen-gracht and the Plantage Muidergracht canals, with excellent teaching facilities. The MBA students have exclusive 24/7 access to a computer/work room with wireless internet access, with a limited number of computers and printing facilities, as well as to the university’s usual computing facilities. Of course MBA students may also use the universi-ty’s general facilities (libraries, restaurants and sports).

The International Offi ce, the teaching facilities and work rooms are located in the same building as the academic staff. This aids easy communication between students, faculty members and staff.

Visa requirementsThe International Offi ce will help in securing a visa, which will be needed by some students. On www.nuffi c.nl/immigration you can check whether you need an entry visa. We strongly advise you to start the visa application process as early as possible. This may include obtaining certain documents in your own country. For any questions with regard to the requirements applying to you please contact the International Offi ce.

Practical information

Living costs and accommodationLiving costs in the Netherlands can vary considerably. In general, living costs for a single student are approximately €500 per month, accommodation excluded. International students of the MBA can choose to live in the UvA housing faci-lities. The rent (subject to change) for most single rooms with shared facilities is around €500 per month, so students should be able to manage on less than €1,000 per month. We think you will fi nd this somewhat more reasonable than the living expenses in most European fi nancial centres. For example, the LBS estimates costs in London, including accommoda-tion, at about €1,800 per month.

Career servicesTypical applicants will expect to embark on a career in areas where a thorough understanding of the complexities of international business is essential, such as multinationals, international consultancy fi rms, international fi nancial institutions and banks.

We see it as our duty to help our students in making a sound career choice through our dedicated and tailor made career services. This includes a training pro-gramme to improve cover letter writing, guidance in preparing professional curriculum vitae, and interviewing techniques. We will provide assistance in

seeking out and securing a suitable summer internship or consultancy project, and in co-ordinating job and internship leads offered by companies and institu-tions. We regularly organise company presentations and visits, and have on campus interviews with fi rms and executive search agencies. Our alumni are very helpful in assisting our students to get leads, interviews and good contacts. Last but not least, for those of you planning to stay in the Netherlands after graduation, the Dutch government has relaxed work permit regulations for graduates from Dutch universities (regardless of nationality). This means that each graduate of The Amsterdam MBA can stay and work in the Netherlands for up to 5 years after graduation, without needing a work permit. There are a few conditions (minimum salary, kind of company), but these are normally easily met by our students.

Georgi Vangelov (1980, Bulgaria)

Having worked for more than four years in World Bank and EU fi nanced govern-ment projects, I decided to move to the corporate sector. Amsterdam so far proved to be just the right place, combining the quiet green environment of the small town with the diverse hectic international students’ life of the capital city. The programme with skilled professors and experienced international students provide an outstanding opportunity to learn more about business in 12 months than in 12 years in practice. Also the chance to speak up and defend my ideas to professors, classmates and business executives helps me become more confi dent and convincing in negotiations. Most importantly it equips me with the tools to support those ideas with sound business data. The international diversity enhances my effective work in teams, while being sensitive to cultural differences. The heavy workload not only encourages and motivates me to develop and grow, but also forces me to stay in control and learn how to set priorities.

Chima Omeike (1976, Nigeria)

As I reached the peak of my career in banking, I needed an MBA to make the next major move in my career. I chose The Amsterdam MBA mainly because the ABS provides the best international mix of students and faculty. My fi rst impressions were as good as expected: highly demand-ing courses with outstanding teachers, smart open-minded classmates and many events to get to know each other. I admire the high ethical standards of the various nationalities that form part of the programme, their professionalism and intelligent contribution to the classes, the discussions held, and the effectiveness when it comes to group assignments. Each of us brings a different view of business, politics and the world in general, and that helps to make us all better able to work in international business. Amsterdam is such an exciting place to be. If you are stranded in the city with a map, there is always someone to help. The exciting locations in the city are just a stone throw from the university facility. This creates a good work-life balance.

Our graduates (MIF and MBA) have worked/are working for the following organisations (selection):

ABN AMRO Bank, Associates India (Citigroup), AT Kearney, Banque Bruxelles Lambert, BDO Corporate Finance, BNP Paribas, Commerz International, Buckheissman, Credit Suisse, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank, General Electric, Goldman Sachs, Federal Reserve Bank, FERI, Fortis Bank, Hewlett Packard, Hilti AG, HSBC Asset Management, IFC, ING Group, JP Morgan, Kazkommerz-bank, Kempen & Co, KPMG, Lucent Technologies, McKinsey, Philippines Ministry of Finance, Philips International, Proctor and Gamble, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Provident Group, Rabobank International, Reserve Bank India, Shell International, Siemens Financial Services, Soros Equity Fund, UBS Warburg and the Worldbank.

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This brochure has been edited with the utmost care. No rights can be derived from the contents of this brochure.

ColophonDesign: Total IdentityLay-out: RAADHUIS voor creatieve

communicatiePhotography: Ineke Oostveen,

Henny BoogertEditor: Janine van Zantvoort,

Henriëtte BeukPrint: De Raat & De Vries

‘The Amsterdam Business School aims to offer an inspiring, broadly oriented and thoroughly international academic environment where both staff members and students can develop their capacities to optimum effect. It seeks to emphasise an open-minded and tolerant attitude, a strong engagement between business and society, the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship and, throughout all, a commitment to the scientifi c study of the business world.’

Fees The tuition fee for participants of the full-time and part-time programme is €24,000. The fee covers the whole programme, including courses, use of the ABS facilities, course material, university registration and examinations. The fee does not cover textbooks, living expenses and accommodation.

Tuition waiver schemeIn order to attract the brightest students we have set up a tuition waiver scheme. Selection for these waivers is entirely based on the applicant’s qualifi cations and will be made throughout the year so early application is sensible. In excep-tional cases there might be more substan-tial scholarships available, but this also depends on funding the ABS has man-aged to attract. The three main criteria are: a good fi rst degree, work experience and GMAT score.

UvA alumni automatically qualify for a 25% discount to the tuition fee.

Other scholarships and grantsThe Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science offers scholarships covering costs of living expenses and/or (partial) tuition fee within the framework of cultural agree-ments between the Netherlands and other countries. Information on these programmes and application deadlines is available at www.studyin.nl and www.grantfi nder.nl.

For more information you can contact the Dutch embassy, consulate or a NESO offi ce in your own country. You can also contact your national Institute or Ministry of Higher

Education. Often there are funds and foundations available for students planning to study abroad. More information and the latest news on scholarships can also be found on our website.

Fortis loan schemeStudents who are accepted in the pro-gramme can apply for a loan covering the tuition fee at Fortis Bank in Amsterdam. During their studies students only pay interest and after graduation they will start repaying the loan.

ApplicationApply on-line via www.abs.uva.nl/mba or via a downloadable application form. The following documents should be mailed/attached:■ A completed application form – hard

copy or digital;■ Your Curriculum Vitae;■ Degree certifi cates and/or diplomas

and an offi cial transcript of academic records (reporting the fi nal grade and grades earned in individual exams);

■ Your original GMAT score report;■ Your original TOEFL (or IELTS) test

score certifi cate (if appropriate);■ Two personal reference letters; please

use the reference forms which are included in the application package.

The International Offi ce should receive applications for admission before 1 June (full-time) or 31 July (part-time). Although late applications may be consi-dered, candidates are advised to submit their applications as early as possible, this also with regard to the application of a visa. All application materials should be

submitted in English. You can start applying online or via post from even before you have gathered all your docu-mentation. We will support you during the application process.

International Offi ceThe International Offi ce will process your application, answer any questions you have, help you arrange a visa if necessary, help arrange accommodation for students moving to Amsterdam, manage the day to day aspects of the course, distribute teaching materials and collect in course work. This is your fi rst port of call if you have any questions or diffi culties. They will do their utmost to help you.

Mervin Bakker Manager International Programmes Saskya de Brieder Co-ordinatorMirjam Meijer and Angela Uijtewaal Programme Assistants

Amsterdam Business SchoolInternational Offi ce - MBARoetersstraat 111018 WB AmsterdamThe NetherlandsT +31 20 525 6305F +31 20 525 5092mba@uva.nl www.abs.uva.nl/mba

Fees and admission

2020

Universiteit van Amsterdam Amsterdam Business SchoolInternational Offi ce - MBARoetersstraat 11 1018 WB AmsterdamThe Netherlands

T +31 20 525 6305F +31 20 525 5092

mba@uva.nl www.abs.uva.nl/mba