India In Fuqua B-School's Cross Continent Initiative

New Delhi, Oct 14 (UNI) A leading American business school announced plans this evening to ''establish a presence in New Delhi as part of its global expansion.'' Durham, North Carolina-based Duke University's Fuqua School of Business is committed to ''becoming the world's first legitimately global business school,'' Fuqua Dean Blair Sheppard told a news conference in the Indian Capital.

Besides India, the initiative will include China, Britain, United Arab Emirates, Russia and South Africa.

Enrollment for the Duke MBA-Cross County Program is scheduled to begin in August 2009. The initiative targets high potential junior and middle managers, Duke officials say.

They say the business school is rated by Business Week among top ten in the United States.

''A comprehensive understanding of the new world economy requires expertise in a number of areas that touch upon business,'' Sheppard said.

He said the project would engage such Duke University resources as School of Law, Terry Sanford Istitute of Public Policy, nicholos school of Env ironment, School of Medicine, Pratt School of Engineering and Global Health Institute.

Duke President Richard Brodhead said India, with its size, economic and political strength, and vast pool of talented students and academics, ''is a place from which we can learn a great deal.'' UNI MJ BDP KN2103