Economic transition involves more than the introduction of laws and institutions to support the functioning of a free market; successful transition is driven by skilled people capable of managing and growing businesses in the new environment. FIT contributed to Romania’s transition in the late 1990s through a partnership with the Graduate School of Management within the Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest.
FIT provided training and technical assistance to the GSM, helping to build its capacity to design and deliver a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program based on western models and at North American standards. The FIT-GSM partnership focused on building an internal management capacity that would enable the School to operate on a sustainable basis.
The project focused on addressing institutional capacities in the areas of governance and organizational effectiveness. FIT worked with the GSM to develop an Advisory Board to provide oversight and guidance in areas such as budgeting, financial planning and growth. FIT worked with the GSM to develop a viable strategic and business plan that emphasized realistic objectives for financial self-sufficiency following the conclusion of Canadian support to the MBA program. Training and coaching support was also delivered to GSM faculty, designed to develop their skills in training and consulting with a view to expanding the range of GSM’s offerings to the emerging business community in Romania.