Duke Puts UAE Program On Hold

Oops.

Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business’ efforts to launch a one-year degree program in the United Arab Emirates has been put on hold just days before its scheduled start, the school announced yesterday (May 30).

The school’s first program for working professionals in the finance industry in the UAE, dreadfully called the MMS:Finance, had been approved by Duke’s board of trustees last year and was supposed to launch this June. “Working through the logistics with our partners and sponsors has turned out to be more complex than originally anticipated,” said Jennifer Francis, Fuqua’s senior associate dean for programs, in a statement.



“We remain in ongoing contact with the ministry and other organizations in the region,” Francis added. “While we will not be able to launch MMS:Finance on our original timetable, we remain optimistic about starting the program in the region at a later date.”

The one-year program would have offered coursework in finance, management and related topics that would have been offered under a license granted by the UAE Ministry of Education.

Fuqua said it will continue with its ongoing activities in the United Arab Emirates, which include program residencies for its Cross Continent and Global Executive MBA programs and a full-time resident staff in Dubai dedicated to marketing, admissions and program delivery.

“To be a globalist and understand the world’s challenges, Fuqua needs to have a presence in the key locations around the globe that influence the way business is done,” said Fuqua Dean Bill Boulding in a statement. “The United Arab Emirates is one of those key regions.”



In December 2011, Fuqua launched the Dubai Duke Leadership program, the first time this popular leadership program has been tailored for a region and delivered outside the U.S. The program was well received, and the school continues to explore open-enrollment executive education offerings in the region.

Questions about this article? Email us or leave a comment below.