STRASBOURG, FRANCE and WASHINGTON, DC – Dr. Michael Simpson, President of the International Space University (ISU), announced that 12 participants from 10 different countries have completed the first stage of ISUis new Executive MBA program at its central campus in Strasbourg, France.

“We were very impressed by the quality, diversity, and enthusiasm of the first group of participants.” Simpson said. “The way they came together as a class, supporting each other while drawing on their respective areas of expertise, was remarkable. It will be a pleasure for us to continue working with them towards our mutual goal, graduating the first class of ISU’s Executive MBA program.”

The new course merges the specificities of a traditional MBA with space applications. The dozen participants, who took part in the first of four residential imodulesi from June 1 to June 13, came from a variety of backgrounds and employers. They include large aerospace companies, government space agencies, small and medium size space-related organizations, as well as consultancy firms.

The first module was designed to provide financial and economic baseline concepts as well as an overview of the space sector, technically as well as from an organisational perspective.

Three other two-week residential modules, at various locations in Europe and the U.S., combined with distance-learning during this 18-month program, will provide the participants with more in-depth knowledge in such space-related areas as financing, economics, business law, policy and project management. Afterwards, the participants will apply this knowledge in a thesis which they will defend in the last module to occur at ISUis Central Campus.

The remaining modules of this inaugural class will take place in partnership with the International Business School on the Isle of Man, The Space Policy Institute of the George Washington University in Washington, DC, and the Space Foundation in Colorado Springs, Colorado (USA). The first participants are scheduled to graduate in December 2010.

This MBA was created at ISU to respond to a need expressed by the space sector, as with the increasing commercialisation of the space sector there is an equally increasing demand for space professionals having sound knowledge in the varied aspects of space business. It is Dr. Simpsonis perspective that “space business is rapidly becoming big business. The inauguration of this new MBA is a natural step forward in preparing managers to thrive in this complex and growing field.”

The International Space University, the egold standard in interdisciplinary space educationi, is a graduate school that conducts programs at its central campus in Strasbourg, France, and at locations around the world. ISU offers a unique core curriculum covering all disciplines related to space programs and enterprises n space and earth sciences, engineering, satellite applications, policy and law, business and management, and space and society. ISU also provides short courses for professional development and life-long learning.

Since its founding on the campus of MIT in 1987, with noted author and visionary Sir Arthur C. Clarke as its first Chancellor, ISU has graduated more than 2700 students from 100 countries, many now in senior positions with commercial and government space-related organizations throughout the globe.

For information about ISUis Executive MBA program, see: www.isunet.edu/emba

For general information about ISUis programs and activities, see: www.isunet.edu

Caroline Schwob or
Marie Fernbach
International Space University
External Relations
extrelations@isunet.edu
Tel: 33-3-88-65-5430

Geraldine Moser
International Space University
Program Coordinator
moser@isu.isunet.edu
Tel: 33-3-88-65-5430

Steven Brody
International Space University
Vice President,
North American Operations
brody@isu.isunet.edu
Tel: 1-202-997-4910