This unique Executive MBA programme combines business education with unmatched insight into Russian culture, the political and economic particularities of the High North, and business opportunities in Russia. 

The programme is developed by the High North Centre for Business (NOS) at Bodø Graduate School of Business (Bodø, Norway), in cooperation with the Norwegian Institute of international Affairs - NUPI (Oslo, Norway) and the International Institute of Energy Policy and Diplomacy (MIEP), at MGIMO[1] University (Moscow, Russia).

NOS and Bodø University College have extensive and unique experience in the study of the High North and in cooperating with Russian institutions, having developed joint Master programmes in Energy Management and Sustainable Management.  Professor Frode Mellemvik is in charge of the MBA and Adviser Lill Hilde Kaldager is programme coordinator.

The programme is designed to provide business managers with the economic, managerial and legal knowledge necessary for operation of trade and industrial relations with Russia in general and in the Russian North in particular.

The course is designed to provide students with in-depth knowledge on trade regulations, natural resources, environmental issues, consumer and industrial markets, investment possibilities, and logistics, as well as an understanding of Russian enterprises and Russian federal and regional authorities.

The programme includes workshops, lectures, seminars and group discussions. There will also be visits to / from enterprises with extensive experience in the Russian market and advisory and regulatory institutions from various business sectors engaged in the High North.  In addition several Norwegian and Russian business cases will be presented, analyzed and discussed throughout the programme.  Some of the cases may be changed during the programme in accordance with the background and interests of the students.

Russia and the High North are in a phase of rapid industrial development related to oil and gas resources. The Barents region receives significant political attention from both the EU and the USA as a politically stable region for energy supply. The area contains significant natural resources, but is also assumed to be sensitive to industrial activities (including risk related to transportation) and environmental issues are high on the agenda. Moreover, regional development requires value creation on land related to the oil and gas resources.

The programme is organized in intensive sessions taking place both in Russia and Norway.  The focus is on communicating and developing knowledge about business opportunities especially in the regions of Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Russian High North. The goal is to give the students an opportunity to achieve knowledge about a large range of relevant issues, as well as to build networks with industry and institutions in both countries. It is our vision that this executive MBA programme will strengthen students' understanding of Russia and business opportunities in Russia and enable the graduates from the programme to operate with confidence in this complex environment.

The programme consists of 6 unique modules.  Each module must be passed in order to receive the degree. Different forms of evaluation are used; papers, casework, presentations and school exams.  The evaluation form for each module may be changed during the programme. The submission of a  master's thesis (in English or Norwegian) concludes the programme and all modules will devote some time to assisting students in thesis planning. Each session lasts a minimum of one week (up to 9 days including travel).  The workload of each session will be equivalent with 10 ECTS-credits, totally 60 ECTS, and the Master thesis - 30 ECTS.  The whole programme will give 90 ECTS-credits.

The programme starts in October 2010 and ends in March 2012

Application date: 1st september 2010.

[1] Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the MFA of Russia