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After working for a few years, you might increasingly hear about people attending executive education programs. You might even encounter people suggesting that you should do one.

But, if you’re thinking, “What exactly is an executive education program?,” “Is it really for me?,” “Where can I find one?,” “How do I know which one to do?,” “What happens after I’ve done one?” Then here is everything you need to know about executive education.

What is executive education?

Executive education refers to academic programs specialized for working professionals. They are usually offered by elite and mid-sized universities, as well as business schools and other academic institutions and are targeted at executives, business leaders, and functional managers globally. What is unique about executive education programs is that they are usually non-credit-granting and non-degree-granting. They often are certificate-granting and sometimes grant continuing education units.

The purpose of these programs is to empower participants who might want to upgrade their knowledge, learn new skills, aim higher professionally, switch industries, etc.

Who is it for?

Executive education programs are usually for working professionals with a few years of experience or higher. Geography is not a restriction at all and these programs are offered to professionals globally.

• Executives with just a few years of experience might do it to gain an edge at their place of work, for the purpose of a promotion or a new job, or to enhance their current skill set.
• Entrepreneurs might do it to better understand how to manage their own business, to compete in their market, to expand their businesses, etc.
• Mid-level employees, senior executives, and managers might do it to move up higher into C-level positions or move companies or industries. They might also do it for better exposure and networking.
• C-suite executives and senior executives might do it to update their knowledge of the current skills, best-practices, and intricacies of global business. They might also do it for networking.
• Companies might sponsor their employees to do an executive education program or might even organize executive training at their company.

Why do it?

Depending on where they are in their professional journey, an executive education program can help them achieve different things. There are many reasons why working professionals would do an executive education program; it is usually a combination of some of these aspects.

• Upgrade and update their knowledge and get an edge at their job
• Upskill in order to apply for a promotion or a new job
• Move into senior roles
• Be more adept in their current role
• Gain industry knowledge in order to switch industries
• Gain global knowledge and expertise
• Expand their opportunities
• Start their own business
• Explore new opportunities for their company
• Improve their business acumen and strategy
• Improve their leadership abilities

The jargon

Some of these words are uniquely used in the executive education space, while others are used in other academic areas too. And while you might know some of these and not some others, these are terms regularly used in the world of executive education.

• ExEd or Exec. Ed
  Short for executive education. People within the world of executive education often refer to it as one of these terms, but it is not as popular to others.
• School vs university
  Simply put, a university is a collection of schools. Schools are institutions that provide certain degrees, certifications, diplomas, etc. And many of these schools exist within a university. Eg. UCLA Anderson School of Management is a school at UCLA.
• Program vs course
  A program is made up of smaller courses that each target a specific topic or subject under the broader main program subject matter. Eg. Management programs might have courses on leadership, innovation, strategy, etc.
• Multi-modular
  This simply means that the curriculum of the program is divided into multiple modules and is taught as such.
• Online and offline modules
  Some executive education programs are held only online, while some others are held only offline, and yet others are held both, online and offline.
• In-class learning
  This refers to when the teaching and learning occurs inside a classroom. It asks for participants to be present for the lesson to be taught.
• Self-paced learning
  Executive education programs are usually taught in a modular format. Where every module is akin to a semester and might either cover one broad topic or course. Since these programs are held part-time, often times in-between modules is enough time for one to learn a certain portion of the curriculum by themselves which is assigned as ‘self-paced learning’.
• Blended
  Many programs employ a combination of mediums to disseminate the programs. While some programs are taught in-class, others are taught online, or even live online. And, yet others are a combination of these.
• Capstone project
  The term ‘capstone project’ is not reserved for executive education. It refers to a project that culminates the duration of academic study. Typically it includes the application of various training through the course of the academic program.
• Cohort / Peer group
  The group of professionals you study with during an executive education program is your cohort or your peer group.
• Alumni
  Alumni, alumna, alumnus, or alumnae is a former student of a specific school, college, or university. Together these former members form a group of professionals that sometimes actively involve themselves in events and activities with regards to the university they belong to. It also provides an extended professional network system for all involved.
• Rolling admission
  This is a process of admission that functions on a first-come, first-served basis. Admissions are usually open until all spots are filled.
• Self pay
  Executive education programs have the option to be paid by either the participant, via a loan, or is paid for by the participant’s company. In the event that the participant pays for it themselves, the term used is ‘self pay’. Again this is not reserved for the world of executive education only and is used in other areas too.