June 12, 2008 • Milan - Targeting travel management professionals from around the world, the Worms University of Applied Sciences in Germany this fall will initiate an English language-based Masters in Business Administration program for business travel management. The application deadline is July 15 for classes beginning Nov. 3; Worms on June 14 is holding an "information day" about the program.
The two-year postgraduate program "combines essential knowledge in general management with industry specific know-how and the tools necessary to manage successfully a position of responsibility in business travel management," according to the school. "The program takes a unique approach to covering all relevant disciplines of general management and specializes in the specific characteristics of the business travel industry in a unique way. Participants are prepared to take over management positions in the field of business travel and to effectively deal with the challenges of a rapidly growing and constantly changing industry."
Speaking here at the Paragon Business Travel Conference & Expo, Worms University department of tourism professor Dr. Klaus Fischer said the premise is that "corporations acknowledge that it's necessary to improve education in the area of business travel management, and our university is focused on business travel in distinction to leisure travel. We got this feedback from many corporations."
The University said the program is the first of its kind in Europe. An official with the National Business Travel Association noted that NBTA offers a two-year, "master's-level program" through its Foundation and the Wharton School of Business. Participants do not earn an MBA, but rather a Global Leadership Professional designation.
The Worms program is designed for "professionals, employees and entrepreneurs" who currently are or are planning to become business travel managers, transport and mobility professionals, or supplier professionals with airlines, hotels, travel management companies or credit card firms.
It includes four terms that each requires 12 days of in-class lectures and additional electronic learning. It costs €19,600 (US$30,889 as of June 10), or €4,900 (US$7,722) per semester. Scholarships are available.
Industry professionals and Worms' professors--who Fischer said have travel industry, information technology and other business backgrounds--will deliver lectures.
Ten "modules" are covered, in two parts. Modules one through four deal with general management issues: international management, marketing/e-business, accounting/finance/controlling and human resources. Part two addresses "all relevant aspects, characteristics and trends of this industry," and focuses on the core issues of communication/negotiation, purchasing/distribution/TMC, travel technology/credit cards, international business travel management and the final "master thesis."
Candidates qualify through a mandatory personal assessment and testing, and must have an academic degree and two years of professional experience; or a Certified Travel Manager status as awarded by Germany's Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement (VDR) professional association and four years of professional experience; or "a comparable relevant professional experience of five or more years," according to the university.
Worms is in the process of applying for the new MBA program's accreditation with the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation.
Related resource
www.mba-btm.com 
