Nigel Banister is the chief global officer of Manchester Business School. Pawan Singh / The National
Nigel Banister is the chief global officer of Manchester Business School. Pawan Singh / The National
Nigel Banister is the chief global officer of Manchester Business School. Pawan Singh / The National
Nigel Banister is the chief global officer of Manchester Business School. Pawan Singh / The National

Taking the measure of an Executive MBA


  • English
  • Arabic

Working professionals pursuing a master's of business administration (MBA) degree are typically about 27 years old, while more the more established Executive MBA (E-MBA) student is 37 years old on average. On a recent visit to the Dubai campus of Manchester Business School (MBS), the school's chief global officer, Nigel Banister, spoke about MBS's programme.

Q: How are E-MBAs different from regular MBAs?

A: The fundamental difference is that E-MBAs are flexible, part-time programmes for experienced, working professionals which allow them to continue their careers whilst studying, as opposed to the traditional full-time programmes which are taught on campus.

Q: Schools often get criticised for following trends in the marketplace rather than being at the forefront. How is MBS trying to stay head of the curve with its curriculum?

A: MBS does not follow trends, but the global economic crisis has given the business world and business schools a lot to think about - from governance to social responsibility and leadership - and we need to be responsive but also proactive.

Q: The way businesses operate here is sometimes different from elsewhere. What has helped to localise the programme?

A: We do not localise programme content, which is already very international, and which is delivered by a very international team of faculty members. However, localisation takes place on the ground at workshops where faculty use local case studies and look at local companies as part of the highly practical learning approach in workshops. And, of course, our students localise their learning by applying their own very diverse local experience of the business practices of the region.

Q: What drawbacks are there of E-MBAs these days?

A: There are very few drawbacks, but students must commit a large amount of personal time. A sympathetic and supportive family and employer are helpful, [as is] a school that provides student support 24/7 from a local office.

Q: Your school recently passed the milestone of having 1,000 part-time E-MBA students in the Middle East. Isn't there a concern that too many people will end up with this degree, thereby diminishing its value?

A: Not all MBAs and schools are the same. The 2011 Financial Times survey ranks our MBA fourth in the UK, 11th in Europe and 29th in the world. MBS applies the same high standards of MBA student entry criteria worldwide. Our Middle East centre in Dubai has done a fantastic job of recruiting over 1,000 MBA students in less than five years. We do not expect our overall student numbers to continue to increase and our objective will be maintain quality by recruiting high-quality students and provide them with world-class support, a career-transforming experience, and a lifelong relationship.

* Neil Parmar

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'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

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Sustainable Development Goals

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

10. Reduce inequality  within and among countries

11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects

14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development

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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
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UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
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Founder: Ayman Badawi

Date started: Test product September 2016, paid launch January 2017

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Software

Size: Seven employees

Funding: $170,000 in angel investment

Funders: friends

TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

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Rating: 5/5

Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
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Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar

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1987

1954

1921

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Jetour T1 specs

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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.