The decision to partner with the Kellogg School in 1997 was one of the most significant that the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's Business School has ever made. Within a decade, the Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA has grown from an innovative idea to a global success. Indeed, The Economist has described it as "the world's most successful EMBA partnership program."

Benefits from the program's success are evident not only within the curriculum itself, but they also filter through the program to impact many other aspects of the school. On an even wider level, they also influence the city in which the school is based.

Obviously much of the excitement first came about when the program made a debut appearance in the Top 10 on the Financial Times global rankings. Behind the publicity, however, the key affirmations from such recognitions actually reflect the core beliefs that we have as management educators.

First, we espouse the pursuit of excellence. This belief is manifested in the Kellogg-HKUST EMBA program through the combination of the two schools' strengths, an alliance of the best from the East and the West. With a first-rate faculty and curriculum, as well as a global perspective on business, the partnership is well positioned to deliver on its promise of an outstanding academic experience.

Second, we endeavor to create a unique learning experience for our students through the careful construction of the curriculum, the modular learning format and the Live-In experiences. The Live-In Weeks at the Kellogg School's Evanston campus, where our students immerse themselves in the global village composed of students from all the Kellogg international partnership programs and from the Kellogg home campus, are highlights of their learning experience.

Third, we embrace the importance of innovation. The creation of the partnership program was an innovation a decade ago. Thanks to the visionary former deans of the two schools, Donald P. Jacobs and Yuk-Shee Chan, the program not only got off the ground but received the highest levels of support from both institutions. This spirit is carried on in the various aspects of the program, from renewal of academic content, to new student activities, to the community projects sponsored by graduates. Founding and current director of the program, Steven DeKrey, who is also a Kellogg alumnus, has played a very important role in the program's success.