The new programme is aimed at providing Irish graduates with an understanding of the dynamic Asian region, both in terms of its culture and in doing business in Asia.
The programme has been endorsed by the Irish government, with its Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin, pledging partial state funding for the project, due to begin in the final quarter of this year. Mr Martin made the announcement during the first meeting of the Asian-based members of the Global Irish Network at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai on May 27th 2010.
The Farmleigh Fellowship programme was developed by members of the Irish business community in Singapore who participated in last year’s Global Irish Economic Forum held at Farmleigh House, Dublin. The result is that two leading universities on different sides of the globe, NTU and UCC, have come together to create the new MBS Asian Business programme. This new course will be conducted by UCC’s School of Asian Studies and UCC’s Faculty of Commerce in collaboration with the Nanyang Business School, the only business school in Singapore to be ranked in the top 27 of the Financial Times Global MBA 2010 rankings, and fourth in Asia. The pioneer batch will have 25 participants, all from Ireland.
The programme aims to foster greater business skills and understanding amongst Ireland’s future business leaders who look to Asia as the world’s fastest growing region. Nanyang Business School was a natural choice, given its strategic location in Asia and its global standing.
Dr Michael Murphy, President of UCC, says the new initiative marks an important development in the university’s continuing engagement with Asia. “As educators, our aim must be to ensure that our graduates are equipped to become mobile and confident citizens of the world who can make a real contribution in any environment. The Farmleigh Fellowship Programme and our cooperation with Nanyang Business School, is precisely the type of strategic initiative that is tailored to meet this need. We are delighted that the Irish business community in Singapore has brought the project forward and that the Irish government has supported it and we look forward to working closely with Nanyang Business School which has a well deserved reputation in this area.”
Professor Gillian Yeo, interim Dean of NTU’s Nanyang Business School, says: “We are delighted to work with University College Cork, Ireland's top research university, on this exciting initiative. The Nanyang Business School is consistently ranked among the top business schools in Asia and the world. Students undergoing this programme will benefit immensely from our faculty who have extensive teaching, consulting, and management experience in Asia. Being strategically located in the heart of the Asia Pacific, which is thriving with opportunities, we are well placed to give students in-depth understanding about the fast-growing markets in the region.”
The Fellowship will provide the participants with the opportunity to study in Singapore and work in an Asian country over a 12-month period. The study programme will be coordinated by the two universities, while selected companies from the more than 70 Irish-owned businesses operating in Singapore, will offer practical work experience. Each participant will prepare an actionable Asian business strategy for the sponsoring companies who will help to guide and support the programme.
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