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Aalto University Executive Education has launched the first globally accredited Executive MBA programme in Iran, Tehran. This initiative is a major milestone for both Iranian leadership development and Aalto University Executive Education's growth strategy in which, alongside the Baltic region, the Middle Eastern and Asian markets play a key role.

 The program being initiated in Tehran this week will involve two years of study – to be completed alongside working life – for 27 Iranian executives, 30 percent of whom are women. The Aalto Executive MBA program in Tehran is delivered in cooperation with the Iranian Business School (IBS), which was founded in 2007.

 Educational activities have not been covered by the international sanctions against Iran. In recent times, the country's key political leaders have viewed the enhancement of international academic relations important.  Iran has major market potential, including in the area of executive education. Despite the fact that Iran's population of almost 80 million is highly educated, particularly in engineering and the natural sciences; the country has so far lacked world-class executive education.

 - In Iran, high-level executive education has had to be sought in the best overseas universities until now. Together with the IBS, we can bring EMBA program fulfilling the full range of international quality criteria to Tehran, says Aalto University's Professor Pekka Mattila, Group Managing Director of Aalto University Executive Education.

- The Finnish embassy regards the cooperation between Aalto University Executive Education and the IBS as an important new departure in the relations between our countries. As in Finland, in Iran education is held in high regard and the level of education has traditionally been high. We have been particularly pleased with the wide interest in the Aalto Executive MBA program among female business executives, says the Finnish ambassador to Iran, Harri Kämäräinen.

 Aalto University Executive Education also intends to provide Finnish companies with the chance to acquaint themselves with the many business opportunities on offer in Iran's emerging markets, and to make contacts with local companies, communities and business leaders. The first so-called Deep Dive program will be organized in Tehran in the spring of 2015.

 The Aalto Executive MBA program is tailored for experienced leaders. Its focus is on developing strategic thinking and operations, and on the leadership challenges of the new age. The Financial Times has ranked the Aalto Executive MBA among the world's 100 best Executive MBA programs for several years.  The Aalto Executive MBA is now running in seven countries.

Further information:

 Pekka Mattila (D.Soc.Sc.), Group Managing Director, Professor of Practice
Aalto University Executive Education Ltd
Tel: +358 40 738 7221
pekka.mattila@aaltoee.fi

 Miia Viitanen, Director, New Ventures
Aalto University Executive Education Ltd
Tel. +358 10 837 3755
miia.viitanen@aaltoee.fi

Aalto University Executive Education Ltd

Aalto University Executive Education Ltd offers high-quality leadership development services (Aalto EE), professional development services for specialists and managers (Aalto PRO) and creative solutions covering the whole life cycle of entrepreneurship (Aalto ENT). Aalto University brings to our offering a multidisciplinary approach, together with innovative learning methods; this provides a unique combination of practical expertise with latest research. Aalto University Executive Education’s strengths lie in its global operating model and diverse offering. In addition to Finland and Singapore, Aalto University Executive Education offers education programs in China, Indonesia, Iran, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Sweden and Taiwan. As a part of Aalto University, it holds three respected business university accreditations: AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS. In this respect, it is representative of the top 0.4% institutions in the world.