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BRICS MBA - doing business with BRICS+

The BRICS MBA is not a single, unified degree offered by one university. Instead, it is a collaborative educational model pioneered by a consortium of leading business schools from the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). The core idea is to provide a unique, immersive management education focused on the specific economic, cultural, and business landscapes of these emerging economies.
The most famous and pioneering example is the program offered by the Moscow Polytechnic University and University of Rio de Janeiro, a joint initiative of the BRICS+ Universities Association.

Key Objectives of BRICS MBA

  1. Develop "Glocal" Leaders: To create business leaders who can think globally but act locally, understanding the nuances of operating in diverse emerging markets.
  2. Foster Cross-BRICS Understanding: To build a network of professionals and future leaders who have firsthand experience and deep knowledge of the business environments in all five countries.
  3. Address Emerging Market Challenges: To equip students with the skills to tackle common challenges in BRICS nations, such as infrastructure development, income inequality, sustainable growth, and digital transformation.
  4. Promote Intra-BRICS Business: To facilitate trade and investment within the BRICS bloc by creating a pool of managers who can navigate its complexities.
  5. Introduce crypto currency payment solutions and other alternative payment methods.

Core Characteristics of a BRICS MBA

  1. Curriculum Focused on Emerging Markets: Core MBA subjects (Finance, Marketing, Strategy) are taught with a heavy emphasis on their application in BRICS contexts. For example:
  • Finance: Understanding sovereign wealth funds, managing currency volatility, and financing infrastructure projects.
  • Marketing: Strategies for reaching the burgeoning middle class and the "bottom of the pyramid" consumers.
  • Strategy: Navigating state-capitalism, public-private partnerships, and complex regulatory environments.
  1. Geopolitical and Macroeconomic Education: Courses cover the political economy, history, and international relations of the BRICS countries, helping students understand the "why" behind business landscapes.
  2. Cultural Immersion and Diversity: The cohort is typically highly international, with strong representation from the BRICS countries themselves. This creates a living laboratory for cross-cultural management.
  3. Experiential Learning: Program includes study tours, consulting projects, or internships within BRICS countries. This is a crucial component, moving beyond theory to real-world application.
  4. Network: The primary value often lies in the unique network of classmates, alumni, and corporate partners spread across these key emerging economies.

Program Structure and Curriculum

BRICS MBA is a full-time and online, multi-country program lasting 1.5 year. The most distinctive feature is its mobile curriculum.

1. Foundation Module (Core Courses):
The program begins with a foundational module covering core MBA subjects like:
— Economics & Business Environment in Emerging Markets
— Strategic Management
— Marketing
— Finance & Accounting
— Organizational Behavior & Leadership
2. Immersion Modules in BRICS Countries:
This is the heart of the program. Students spend dedicated periods (5 weeks) at a leading business school in each of the other BRICS countries.

  • Brazil focus: Agribusiness, sustainable development, energy, and navigating a complex Latin American market.
  • Experience: Learning about Mercosur, corporate governance in family-owned businesses, and the bio-economy.

  • Russia Focus: Natural resources (oil & gas), geopolitics and business, heavy industry, and digital sovereignty.
  • Experience: Studying the role of state-owned enterprises, logistics in the world's largest country, and the "digital economy of Russia."

  • India Focus: IT & services, entrepreneurship & frugal innovation, supply chain management, and serving the bottom-of-the-pyramid markets.
  • Experience: Analyzing the startup ecosystem, digital public infrastructure (like UPI), and managing in a high-growth, highly competitive environment.

  • China focus: Manufacturing & supply chains, e-commerce and digital platforms (Alibaba, Tencent), international trade, and state capitalism.
  • Experience: Understanding the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the role of the Chinese Communist Party in business, and the scale and speed of the Chinese market.

  • South Africa focus: Financial markets in Africa, infrastructure development, mining, and managing in a context of high diversity and socio-economic transformation.
  • Experience: Learning about pan-African business strategies, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing, and leadership in complex societies.

  • UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia focus: Middle East and South Asia
  • Regional Cluster Model: Students choose immersion tracks based on regional or economic themes (e.g., "Middle East & Energy," "Africa & Growth," "ASEAN & Trade").

3. Capstone Project / Dissertation:
Students typically complete a final project or thesis that addresses a real-world business problem spanning multiple BRICS countries, often in collaboration with a company operating in the region.
DETAILED PROGRAM by COUNTRY
Brazil: The Agro-Industrial & Sustainable Development Powerhouse
  • Host Institution: University of Rio de Janeiro.
  • Core Focus: Agribusiness, Sustainable Resource Management, and Navigating a Complex Latin American Market.
  • Key Themes & Learning Objectives:
  • The Agro-Industrial Superpower: Analyze the entire supply chain of Brazilian agribusiness, from genetically modified crops and precision farming to global exports of soy, beef, and coffee. Understand the economic power and environmental debates surrounding this sector.
  • Sustainable Development & The Green Economy: Dive into the "Bio-Economy" of the Amazon and other biomes. Study renewable energy (Brazil is a leader in hydropower and biofuels like ethanol) and the balance between economic development and environmental conservation.
  • Business in an Emerging Market Context: Learn to navigate Brazil's complex tax system, "Custo Brasil" (the high cost of doing business), and the powerful role of state-owned enterprises like Petrobras.
  • Regional Leadership: Understand Brazil's role in Mercosur and its economic and political influence across Latin America.
  • Immersive Experiences:
  • Corporate Visits: Petrobras (oil & gas), JBS (world's largest meat processor), Vale (mining), Embraer (aerospace), Natura (cosmetics & sustainability).
  • Field Visits: A soybean farm in Mato Grosso, a biofuel plant, or a sustainability project in the Amazon.
  • Sessions with: Commodity traders, policymakers from the Ministry of Economy, and entrepreneurs in the thriving tech startup scene ("Brazilian Silicon Valley").

Russia: The Geostrategic Resource Economy
  • Host Institution: Moscow Polytechnic University and  Financial University
  • Core Focus: Geopolitics & Business, Natural Resources, and Heavy Industry in a State-Capitalist Model.
  • Key Themes & Learning Objectives:
  • The Commanding Heights of the Economy: Understand the dominance of state-owned and state-favored corporations in sectors like energy (Rosneft, Gazprom), mining, and defense. Analyze the intricate relationship between business and the state.
  • Logistics of a Vast Land: Study the challenges and opportunities of managing supply chains and infrastructure across the world's largest country, including the development of the Northern Sea Route.
  • Sanctions and Economic Resilience: A critical case study on operating an economy under international sanctions, focusing on import substitution, financial isolation, and pivoting trade to new partners.
  • Digital Sovereignty & Tech: Explore Russia's efforts to create a sovereign internet (Runet) and its strengths in cybersecurity, mathematics, and software engineering.
  • Immersive Experiences:
  • Corporate Visits: Rosneft or Gazprom (energy), RUSAL (aluminum), Russian Railways, Yandex (tech).
  • Analytical Sessions: With political risk consultants, economic analysts, and leaders from companies that have successfully navigated the sanctions regime.
  • Discussions: On the role of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) as a regional trade bloc.

India: The Digital Leapfrogging & Demographic Dynamo
  • Host Institution: Amity University, CVM University and Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A).
  • Core Focus: Digital Transformation, Frugal Innovation, and Serving a Mass-Market Consumer Base.
  • Key Themes & Learning Objectives:
  • The Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Revolution: Study the "India Stack"—Aadhaar (digital ID), UPI (instant payments), and ONDC (open commerce network)—and how it has transformed business, governance, and financial inclusion.
  • Jugaad and Frugal Innovation: Learn the principles of creating high-value, affordable products and services for the mass market. Case studies in healthcare, automotive, and consumer goods.
  • The Startup Ecosystem: Analyze the rise of India's unicorns in tech, fintech, and e-commerce (e.g., Flipkart, Byju's, Paytm) and the venture capital landscape.
  • Supply Chain & Manufacturing: Assess the "Make in India" initiative and the country's ambition to become a global manufacturing and supply chain alternative to China.
  • Immersive Experiences:
  • Corporate Visits: Tata Group (conglomerate), Infosys or TCS (IT services), Reliance Industries (retail, telecom), a leading fintech company like Paytm.
  • Startup Hub Visits: To locations in Bangalore or Hyderabad to meet with founders and VCs.
  • Field Exposure: A visit to a "kirana" (small family-run store) to understand the heart of Indian retail and the impact of modern e-commerce and B2B platforms.

China: The State-Directed Scale & Supply Chain Epicenter
  • Host Institution Example: Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management (Beijing) or CEIBS (China Europe International Business School - Shanghai).
  • Core Focus: Industrial Policy, E-Commerce & Innovation, and Managing in a State-Capitalist System.
  • Key Themes & Learning Objectives:
  • The Role of the State: Decode China's industrial policy (e.g., "Made in China 2025"), the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in corporate affairs, and the dynamics of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) vs. private tech giants.
  • The Digital Ecosystem: Deep-dive into the super-app ecosystems of Alibaba (e-commerce/finance) and Tencent (social/gaming), and the rise of competitors like Pinduoduo and ByteDance (TikTok).
  • Supply Chain Mastery: Understand the "workshop of the world" from the inside. Visit manufacturing hubs to see the integration of scale, speed, and flexibility.
  • Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): Analyze the business and geopolitical implications of China's global infrastructure strategy.
  • Immersive Experiences:
  • Corporate Visits: Alibaba Group, Tencent, Huawei, a major State-Owned Enterprise (e.g., State Grid), BYD (EVs and batteries).
  • Factory Tours: A visit to a sophisticated manufacturing plant in the Pearl River or Yangtze River Delta.
  • Sessions with: Political risk analysts, local entrepreneurs, and supply chain experts on the realities of operating in and with China.

South Africa: The Gateway to Africa & Socio-Economic Transformation
  • Host Institution: University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (GSB) or Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), Johannesburg.
  • Core Focus: African Markets, ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance), and Leadership in a Diverse Society.
  • Key Themes & Learning Objectives:
  • Pan-African Strategy: Use South Africa as a base to understand the opportunities and challenges of expanding business into the rest of Africa. Study the role of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
  • ESG as a Core Business Imperative: Engage with South Africa's world-leading corporate governance code (King Reports). Study the critical balance between a resource-based economy (mining) and social/environmental responsibility.
  • Financial Markets: Explore Johannesburg's role as the financial hub of Sub-Saharan Africa, including the activities of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and major banking groups.
  • Inclusive Leadership: Learn about "Ubuntu" leadership and managing businesses in a context of profound socio-economic inequality, diversity, and post-apartheid transformation (e.g., Black Economic Empowerment - BEE).
  • Immersive Experiences:
  • Corporate Visits: Naspers (multinational tech investor), Anglo American (mining), Standard Bank (financial services), MTN (telecoms).
  • Site Visits: A township economy project to understand informal and SMME (Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise) dynamics.
  • Roundtables: With leaders in sustainable investment, mining reform, and pan-African trade logistics.

United Arab Emirates
  • Host Institution: Amity University Dubai.
  • Focus: Global Logistics, Trade Hubs, Fintech, and Sustainable Futures.
  • Key Themes:
  • Dubai: Global supply chain and logistics (Jebel Ali Port, Dubai Airport), tourism and real estate economics, a hub for multinational corporations.
  • Abu Dhabi: Sovereign wealth management (Mubadala, ADQ), geopolitics of energy, the transition to a post-oil economy (Masdar City, renewable energy).
  • Fintech & Crypto: The role of Dubai and Abu Dhabi as emerging global hubs for digital assets and financial innovation.
  • Corporate Visits: DP World, Emirates Group, Mubadala Investment Company, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Jumeirah Group.

Saudi Arabia
  • Host Institution Example: Prince Sultan University (Riyadh)
  • Core Focus: Vision 2030, Megaprojects, Energy Transition, and Giga-Corporations.
  • Key Themes:
  • Economic Diversification: Deep dive into Vision 2030, analyzing the strategy behind giga-projects like NEOM, the Red Sea Project, and Qiddiya.
  • The Future of Energy: Aramco's strategy, carbon capture, and Saudi Arabia's role in the global hydrogen economy.
  • Public Investment Fund (PIF): Studying the world's largest sovereign wealth fund as a primary driver of national economic transformation.
  • Corporate Visits: Saudi Aramco, Public Investment Fund (PIF), SABIC, NEOM leadership, ACWA Power.

Egypt
  • Host Institution Example: Cairo University
  • Core Focus: Geopolitical Crossroads, Suez Canal Economics, Population Growth, and Fintech in a Large Emerging Market.
  • Key Themes:
  • Logistics & Geopolitics: The strategic and economic role of the Suez Canal, managing global trade chokepoints.
  • Managing Macroeconomic Challenges: Business strategy in a context of currency fluctuation, inflation, and large public debt.
  • Digital Leapfrogging: The rise of fintech and mobile payments in a nation with a massive, young population.
  • Corporate Visits: Suez Canal Authority, Orascom, EFG Hermes, major Egyptian banks, Fawry.

Iran
  • Host Institution Example: University of Tehran, or through a partner school in a neutral location initially, given geopolitical complexities.
  • Core Focus: The Isolated Economy, Petrochemicals, and Navigating Sanctions.
  • Key Themes:
  • Business in a Sanctioned Environment: A unique case study on supply chain resilience, barter trade, and financial engineering.
  • Resource Nationalism: Managing one of the world's largest oil and gas reserves under international restrictions.
  • Domestic Industry & The "Resistance Economy": How local industries have developed in isolation and the potential for reintegration.
  • Corporate Visits: National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), major Iranian automotive or petrochemical conglomerates.

Ethiopia
  • Host Institution Example: Addis Ababa University School of Commerce.
  • Core Focus: The Next African Giant, Industrialization, and Infrastructure Development.
  • Key Themes:
  • The Manufacturing Hub Strategy: Analysis of Ethiopia's industrial parks and its ambition to become a low-cost manufacturing center for textiles and leather.
  • Infrastructure-led Growth: The role of massive public projects (Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam - GERD, railways) in driving economic development.
  • Challenges of a Landlocked Nation: Logistics, regional diplomacy, and access to ports.
  • Corporate Visits: Ethiopian Airlines (a pan-African success story), industrial park operators, Ethiopian Investment Commission.

Indonesia
  • Host Institution Example: Universitas Indonesia (UI) and IPMI International Business School.
  • Core Focus: ASEAN Leadership, Digital Economy, and Commodities.
  • Key Themes:
  • The ASEAN Digital Giant: Studying the rise of "decacorns" like GoTo and the unique dynamics of the Indonesian digital consumer market.
  • Commodity Powerhouse: Managing businesses in palm oil, coal, nickel, and other critical resources, including sustainability challenges.
  • Infrastructure in an Archipelago: The unique logistics and connectivity challenges of a nation of over 17,000 islands.
  • Corporate Visits: GoTo, Telkom Indonesia, Astra International, Kalbe Farma.
Unique Program Features
  • Unparalleled Emerging Markets Expertise: This is the only MBA that offers deep, on-the-ground exposure to all five major BRICS economies.
  • Powerful Network: Students build a lifelong professional network with peers, faculty, and business leaders across five continents.
  • Cultural Intelligence: The program is a crash course in cross-cultural management, negotiation, and communication.
  • Focus on Sustainability and Development: The curriculum is often tailored to address the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the context of rapid economic development.
  • Language of Instruction: The program is conducted entirely in English.
Who is the Ideal Candidat?
BRICS MBA is highly specialized and best suited for:
  • Professionals aiming for a career in multinational corporations with significant operations in BRICS countries.
  • Entrepreneurs and Business Developers looking to start or expand businesses within the BRICS bloc.
  • Government and Policy Officials involved in international trade and economic diplomacy.
  • Managers in family businesses or local corporations seeking to internationalize.
  • Individuals with a strong interest in geopolitics, economic development, and emerging markets.
Conclusion

The BRICS MBA is a pioneering and ambitious educational program designed for a multipolar world. It moves beyond the traditional Western-centric view of business and offers a truly global perspective from the engine rooms of the 21st-century global economy—the emerging markets. For the right candidate, it provides an unmatched education and a network to build a career that spans continents.
BRICS MBA Universities
Program is organized by BRICS+ Universities Association and implemented in cooperation with following universities
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
Moscow Polytechnic University
Russia
Amity University
India
Financial University of Russia
Russia
Amity University Dubai
UAE
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
China
University of Tehran
Iran
Addis Ababa University
Ethiopia
Outcomes of BRICS MBA
  • Tangible & Credential Outcomes
    A Prestigious & Niche Degree: A credential from a high-profile international consortium, signaling specialization in the world's most critical emerging economies.
    A Multinational Professional Network: A ready-made, lifelong network of contacts across Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and beyond, providing unparalleled on-the-ground intelligence and access.
    Geographic Mobility: The demonstrated experience and cultural fluency to pursue high-value careers in multiple countries and regions, significantly enhancing global career prospects.

  • Cognitive & Strategic Outcomes
    A "Glocal" Strategic Mindset: The ability to formulate business strategies that are globally coherent but locally adaptive, moving beyond Western-centric models to solve problems in diverse contexts.
    Emerging Markets Expertise (EMx): Deep, experiential knowledge of the economic drivers, consumer behaviors, and regulatory landscapes of BRICS nations, making the graduate a subject-matter expert on high-growth markets.
    Systemic Risk Navigation: Advanced skills in identifying, assessing, and mitigating the unique risks (currency, political, regulatory) inherent in volatile and complex emerging economies.

  • Behavioral & Leadership Outcomes
    High Cultural Intelligence (CQ): The proven ability to lead, negotiate, and build trust across profound cultural divides, based on immersive experiences in each BRICS nation.
    Resilience and Adaptability: A heightened capacity to thrive in conditions of uncertainty and constant change, forged through the demanding, multi-country immersion model.
    "Business Diplomacy" Skills: The ability to act as an effective bridge between corporate headquarters and local operations, between Western multinationals and Eastern partners, and between private enterprise and public policy in state-influenced economies.
  • Special Outcomes
    • Not just an MBA, but a Geostrategic Asset: You understand that business cannot be separated from geopolitics, especially in BRICS nations.
    • Not a Generalist, but a Specialized Generalist: You have the broad strategic vision of a traditional MBA, but with a deep, specialized focus on the engines of 21st-century growth.
    • A Value Creator in the New World Economy: You are equipped to unlock value, de-risk ventures, and drive growth in the parts of the world that represent the future of the global economy.
  • Summary
    In summary, reframing the discussion to "Outcomes" powerfully communicates that this is more than a degree—it is a transformative experience that produces a uniquely capable and highly sought-after professional. It's the right term to use when speaking to potential employers, investors, or the graduates themselves.
Mode of study
  • Online Study
    You can study from your home country
  • Hybrid Study
    You can study online and offline (in classroom)
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