Hong Kong, 1 April 2009 … With the inaugural class commencing in May 2009, EMBA-Global Asia, the premier partnership programme of London Business School, HKU Business School and Columbia Business School, has attracted a diverse cohort of students from around the world.

Admitted students come from various industry sectors, office locations and nationalities. A wide range of industry sectors include finance, business services, construction, consulting, environment services, IT, travel/tourism, upstream oil/gas, etc. A majority of the students are currently working in the Asia Pacific region while some others even travel from the Americas and Europe for the programme. Nationalities from all over the world are represented in the inaugural class.

Despite the economic downturn, employers are supportive of the EMBA-Global Asia programme. Approximately 30% of the candidates will receive full or partial financial sponsorship from their employers. Over 60% of the students have already obtained advanced degrees and believe this is the perfect time to equip themselves with the latest business knowledge to prepare for future opportunities as economic conditions improve.

Three of the EMBA-Global Asia admitted students who are based in Australia, Hong Kong and India willingly shared their motivations to pursue the programme and their expectations. In addition to bringing unsurpassed learning experience back to their organisations, candidates generally expect personal and professional transformation; career acceleration; business network expansion; and global career mobility upon completion of the programme.

Pierre-Abel MAILLARD (French) Risk Manager, Fund Compliance Services Perpetual Limited Australia

“EMBA-Global Asia allows me to adjust my skills base to fit a more senior position that might be offered in my company. The alliance among Columbia Business School, the London Business School and The University of Hong Kong will bring credibility to my past international experience in financial services. Working in small groups will contribute to building relevant networking. I expect to develop strong professional relationships with my classmates and professors. Profound discussion addressed in the classroom will add on to the solid management tools taught in the programme.”

EMBA-Global Asia Admissions Office HKU Business School, Room 104, Level 1, Block B, Cyberport 4, 100 Cyberport Road, Hong Kong http://www.emba-global.com/asia

Matthew PINE (American) Logistics / Operations Manager Ma Wan Park Limited (Sun Hung Kai Properties) Hong Kong

 “My short-term objectives are to build on my experience in NGO management by gaining management experience in the corporate sector and to maximize my capacity to manage and lead by utilizing academically learned knowledge to shape and inform my daily decision making. The EMBAGlobal Asia programme is the best fit for this purpose as it holds me accountable to the academic excellence and varied world-views of three acclaimed universities, allows me to learn synergistically with others seeking the same caliber of excellence, and encourages me to immediately apply what is learned.”

Paul BERESFORD (British) Actuarial Director and Appointed Actuary Canara HSBC Life Insurance India

 “I believe that in future financial services will see the boundaries between banks, asset managers, brokers and insurers eroded as ultimately they are seeking to meet similar needs of the same customers. I intend to develop my current (bancassurance) expertise so that I am well placed to take advantage of these changes, either in a senior executive or consulting capacity. EMBA-Global Asia meets these needs best, with superb flexibility in electives including the International Assignment /Seminar and the independent research project. Further, the links to the alumni of the three schools would be the basis of an outstanding international network of contacts that would be invaluable in making the most of future developments in the financial services environment.”

Admission of the EMBA-Global Asia programme is on a rolling basis. Various open days and walkin/coffee sessions will be held in April 2009 at the HKU Cyberport campus in Hong Kong. Details of the events are available online at http://www.embaglobal.com/asia/nextsteps/informationevents.html.

About EMBA-Global Asia EMBA-Global Asia represents the expansion to Asia of EMBA-Global, the top-ranked executive MBA partnership programme offered by Columbia Business School and London Business School, and now joined HKU Business School as the Asian partner. It is the first and only programme to offer learning and networking opportunities across the three cities that drive global business: Hong Kong, New York and London. The programme is specifically designed for high-potential students, primarily based in Asia, who seek to deepen their understanding of cutting-edge Western and Eastern business theory and practice and who are passionate about the opportunities offered by Asia’s rapid economic development. EMBA-Global Asia is an intensive, 20-month programme commencing in May 2009.They will receive, on completion, a joint MBA degree awarded by Columbia University, London Business School and The University of Hong Kong.

For enquiry, please contact: EMBA-Global Asia Admissions Office (Asia Pacific) Tel: +852 3962 1262 Email: asia@emba-global.com Website: www.emba-global.com/asia

Media contacts: Susan LEUNG - Director of PR and Marketing Faculty of Business and Economics, The University of Hong Kong +852 2219 4466 leungsue@hku.hk

Amy WONG - Assistant Director of PR Faculty of Business and Economics The University of Hong Kong +852 2219 4461 amysw.wong@hku.hk