LSE targets top brass for global strategy programme

Is the UK bad at strategy? The London School of Economics (LSE) thinks so and is building on its reputation as a centre for socio-political and business thinking to launch a programme called Strategy in the Age of Global Risk to help address the issue.

The programme is intended for those dealing with international and military affairs, global business and finance. The programme addresses the threats and risks that could arise in the future and techniques for assessing and addressing them

As well as LSE professors, including LSE director Howard Davies and business school dean Saul Estrin, the programme will be taught by high-powered former diplomats and government advisors. These include Tony Blair’s former chief of staff Jonathan Powell, Sir David Manning, formerly Britain’s ambassador to the US, Nato and Israel; and Sir Richard Mottram, former permanent secretary at the Ministry of Defence and Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee.

Prof Davies says the course is one of a kind because “it looks firmly to the future, is grounded in a deep understanding of political, economic and military issues, and based on shrewd insights into how the art of thinking strategically can be revitalised.”

The course will begin in September 2011 and includes four intensive one-week study sessions, 20 evening seminars, two policy weekend discussions and institutional visits spread across the academic year. The programme relies on coaching and other intensive teaching techniques rather that more conventional teaching methods. But such an experience does not come cheap: the cost of the course is £22,912.

www.lse.ac.uk