“Today, sound legal expertise is no longer considered an additional qualification for managers but is frequently seen as a necessary skill to successfully handle complex tasks. The new Professional MBA with a specialization in European business law (EBL) is a particularly suitable combination of disciplines for experts without a legal background who, irrespective of industry and function, work across country borders both within and in collaboration with the European Union. Moreover, graduates obtain the internationally recognized and attractive MBA title,” says Professor Georg Kodek, the Academic Director of the new program, who is also a judge at the Austrian Supreme Court.

The best of two worlds

Participants in the Professional MBA EBL do in fact benefit from a two-in-one offer: in the Business Core, the first part of the program, they acquire extensive business and economics expertise related to management and leadership. In the course of nine months, they dig deep in key topics including leadership, financial reporting, data analysis, global markets, entrepreneurship and innovation as well as ethics and corporate social responsibility. The second part, the specialization, not only introduces students to legal studies and methods but also contains comprehensive, focused courses covering civil law, tax law, business law, European law, and public law.

“In an increasingly complex world, a sound grasp of law is getting more and more important. The Professional MBA EBL offers the very combination of practical user know-how and a scientific foundation that people working at the intersection of law, business, and technology need. Not only major organizations but especially small and medium enterprises which do not have their own legal departments benefit from employees who can offer expertise in legal topics on top of their primary qualifications,” says Barbara Stöttinger, Dean of the WU Executive Academy.

Special focus on European business law

The new specialization covers all legal fields relevant for business activities in Europe as well as when working with the EU. There is no particular focus on a single national jurisdiction. Instead, the curriculum aims to foster a thorough understanding of issues arising in various legal systems, especially with regard to European business law.

“Cross-border purchase and service agreements are naturally the most important topics. Transnational labor law is also gaining importance. An even more complex task is establishing and intensively operating a branch or subsidiary abroad. In such a case, not only foreign tax law but also foreign civil law, trade law, environmental law, and further regulations applicable to the country in question come into play. All of this has to be considered in such business endeavors. And that is exactly what we prepare our participants for,” Professor Kodek says.

Welcome to the club

Through their membership in the WU Executive Club, the alumni community of the WU Executive Academy, participants in the Professional MBA EBL can start extending their professional and personal network from day one of the program. This professional community currently counts 4,500 members from 85 countries and is made up of highly qualified and educated managers, executives, and experts who regularly gather at annually more than 40 events, further education programs, and networking events to engage in an exchange of experiences.

Read more about the MBA European Business Law