RBC.ru (Site news), July 31, 2008

INTERVIEW OF PROFESSOR AND RECTOR OF THE STOCKHOLM SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS IN RUSSIA ANDERS LILJENBERG

What is the difference and specific of Swedish and Russian systems of business teaching and methods?

At present, the Stockholm School of Economics is in a more privileged position in comparison to other business schools in Russia that has started carrying out international exchange and integration into the global business community just a few years ago. This fact also gives us a right to approach the "new" ideas appearing both in business and in the process of education from a more critical stance. In the Stockholm School of Economics we follow new trends very seldom before we receive confirmation that they really work. Along with this, if something really valuable appears we are well prepared to get the maximum benefit from this both for ourselves and for participants of our programs.

When we speak about the manner of material presentation, in my opinion, there are two options in Russia. The first option is when the format of education is too academic and contains a lot of theory. However, theory is not all what our students need. Besides, in majority of cases such education takes place in a unilateral manner without interactive communication between lecturers and students. This is what is usually called "traditional education." The second option is when the manner of material presentation sometimes becomes combination of entertainment and education, which helps absorbing the knowledge better but it is superficial and does not constitute a real value for students.

In the Stockholm School of Economics the manner of teaching often acquired the form of the so-called "teaching of methods" and not traditional education. Teaching is based rather on direct interactive dialog between lecturers and students. Such form of communication requires efforts of both parties but this is the only productive way of real education. We usually say that if a lecturer has not learned anything from his students it is very doubtful that they have learned anything from him.

Besides, in the Stockholm School of Economics all classes are taught by foreign lecturers in the English language except for Executive MBA Oil&Gas. Industrial sector program where we have synchronous translation into the Russian language.

All main business schools work with MBA and Executive MBA programs. What are the advantages and unique features of your programs?

Foreign specialists – lecturers represent the main advantage of Executive MBA programs of the Stockholm School of Economics in Russia. Besides academic knowledge they also have a big practical toolkit for fulfillment of vital business tasks and settlement of problems. These lecturers arrive to Russian specifically to teach participants of our programs.

To one of the most important advantages of the Stockholm School of Economics definitely belongs a certificate of international kind that participants of the programs receive after graduation.

The content of Executive MBA programs is our know-how, we develop it independently without participation of outside partners and other schools, which enables us to speak about excellent quality of our educational product.

The Stockholm School of Economics is also the only school in Russia that is ranked on the international level and is in the rating of such well-known international newspaper as The Financial Times.

Are there differences in educational program for Russian and for Western students?

There are mostly no such differences but in the process of education we try to touch on the problems and issues that are really important for the Russian business audience. Russian students are more demanding, they have much bigger expectations but as a result of work with them we receive a much bigger return too.

Which of the programs that you offer is the most popular now and why? How is it possible to choose a program complying with the needs of the students?

This is Executive MBA General Management, the most classic and traditional program. TO choose a program suitable for you we hold consultations with our specialists who determine the necessary areas of knowledge depending on the area of activities together with you. We also provide a possibility to everyone to visit our classes to be able to evaluate the level of teaching in the school at a certain example.