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Companies today are increasingly introducing executive education initiatives to increase the knowledge-base and enhance the skill-set of their employees.

Executive education is an effort by companies to train their employees according to the organisation's needs and thereby, augments their productivity in everyday business activities. Customised programmes are especially tailor-designed for this purpose in collaboration with business schools. However, execution education is not only helpful for the organisation, but also the employees, for it aids them in developing invaluable professional skills and also holds a high market value in terms of future prospects.

Seema Arora Nambiar, director, people resources, Hardcastle Restaurants (McDonald's India), shares the intricacies of executive educational programmes, "The very concept of executive education – that of updating one's knowledge in terms of acquiring latest training in leadership, economics, management and industry-specific skills as a professional – is more apt at present than it was ever before. Working adults benefit from the leverage of enrolling for a relevant course depending on the time they have at hand. For example, at McDonald's, we have recently started with our very first batch of Executive Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Management (EPGDBM) programme with Symbiosis International University. Symbiosis will be providing our employees a two years' post graduate programme in Business Management (equivalent to an MBA) to an exclusive batch of McDonalds employees. The programme will cover an extensive syllabus, which teaches the students about business strategy, management, marketing, etc. This focused programme will help employees to sharpen their skills and knowledge and prepare them to be efficient business managers."

Such initiatives can provide a company with many long-term benefits in the context of employee training, exposure and profit-making. Shitanshu Jhunjhunwala, director, Turtle Limited, explains, "Such training programmes help develop a talent pool and retain your most valuable employees and increase their involvement towards the success of the organisation. Executives also learn to strategise/implement better, enhance the organisation's innovation quotient and keep up with the best practices in the industry. The employees nominated for these courses also get motivated and remain with the organisation for longer stints."

But what does executive education offer to the career prospects of the respective employee? Raghavendra K, VP and head HR, Infosys BPO, answers, "Today, a robust executive education system can have endless benefits of longevity, loyalty and development. They also help build careers for life through constant learning, especially through application of business concepts, competitive industry acumen and business application. However, a long-term focus should be the aim for any employee development programme, which in turn, helps to increase the employee's self-worth and value resulting in a long-term career benefit. For employees who think long-term, programmes like the executive education act as an anchor to enhance their professional qualifications and help them move up the corporate ladder to assume greater responsibilities. Diverse courses, differentiated methodologies like case studies/project work give students a greater exposure to people, process and policy in the organisation. The value proposition of these courses motivates employees to put in extra efforts after working hours to meet the course expectations and grow in the organisation."

Thus, executive education can take employee training to new levels and can greatly enhance their performance in the company.

- Palak Bhatia