The Graduate School of Management of St. Petersburg State University (GSOM SPbU) and the Skillbox Online University have developed a joint MBA program “Leaders of Change”. The one and a half year program offers a flexible blended learning format: the classes will be conducted on the campus of the business school and online. The program will start in May 2021.

  

   

GSOM SPbU and Skillbox have developed a program that combines the principles of classical education and new learning technologies. MBA "Leaders of Change" is a program for the development of professional competencies and leadership qualities for business owners, top managers and middle managers. The program will take place in a mixed format: online and offline. 50% of the time will be spent on synchronous online classes, 20% - face-to-face studies on the GSOM SPbU campus, and 30% of the time will be devoted to video materials, assignments and projects. The hybrid format will increase the availability of the academic MBA: the program can also be held in other regions of Russia, with participants coming to the GSOM SPbU campus in St. Petersburg four times for full-time modules of four days each. Being present on  the campus will provide the opportunity to engage in networking with teachers and other students.

 

In creating the new program, GSOM SPbU and Skillbox took into account the demand for modern leaders and added a leadership track and personal development to the classic MBA program: coaching, career support, and digital disciplines. Education involves a lot of practice: a large amount of group work and case studies from Russian and Western companies.

  

The program will be enhanced with electives. Students will furthermore have the unique opportunity to complete one of the modules on international exchange for free and receive a certificate from the participating SPbU international partners — ESIC Business & Marketing School (Spain), Kingston Business School (Great Britain) and other international schools.

  

The program consists of three stages with a constant increase in the complexity of the disciplines. Based on the results of the initial testing, the amount of basic information is individually determined for each listener. Group interactive and business simulations will become an important area of ​​the first and second stages. At the second stage, students will have to create and defend their own innovative project. At the third stage students will create a consulting project based on the cases of real companies. Graduates of the Leaders of Change program will receive a professional further education diploma with a Master of Business Administration qualification from St. Petersburg University.

 

Dmitry Krutov, CEO and Co-founder of Skillbox Online University: “The creation of joint MBA programs for universities and EdTech platforms is a logical development of the educational ecosystem that will raise business education to a new level by combining academic expertise and real business practices. We are pleased to enter the MBA market by creating a program with a recognized Business school in Russia, which is well-placed in international rankings."

  

GSOM SPbU is one of the most recognized Russian business schools in the world, a member of the international associations AMBA, EFMD, AACSB, CEMS, PIM. It is the only Russian business school that is included in the top 100 best European schools in the Financial Times ranking and at the same time has two prestigious international accreditations AMBA and EQUIS. In addition, it is a member of the international associations AMBA, EFMD, AACSB, CEMS, PIM.

 

Olga Dergunova, Deputy President and Chairman of the Management Board of VTB Bank, Director of the Graduate School of Management, St. Petersburg State University: “Lifelong learning programs and the digital educational environment are main focal points of the development strategy of the Graduate School of Management, St. Petersburg University until 2025. These are the growth points of our Business School and the opportunity for productive cooperation with leading companies. The main focuses of our new program are the future, the basic, consistency. This approach continues the mission of GSOM SPbU: We create knowledge. We develop leaders. We are changing the world for the better. The entire program is built in such a way as to consolidate and structure the knowledge gained. Leadership end-to-end track and group project work will help students develop management skills in remote teams, communication and soft skills. "

  

GSOM SPbU and Skillbox invite managers and entrepreneurs with completed higher education and work experience of at least 5 years to the program, and at least 3 years — in a top management position. Participants enter the program following a three-stage selection.