Now in its sixth year, the 2012 winners include: BAE Systems, Goldman Sachs (Foundation), Leeds University Business School, Lonza, Merck, Saïd Business School, Siemens & Siemens Learning Campus, the Wharton School, University of St. Gallen.

There were also highly commended cases coming from BSH Bosch and Siemens Home Appliance Group & Axialent Europe, Nexus & Newcastle Business School, Airbus &  AirBusiness Academy & The Open University Business School, DTEK & DTEK Academy & Kyiv-Mohyla Business School (KMBS), UBS & UBS Business University and Novartis International & Novartis Corporate Learning.

"Developing people, enhancing skills and providing a learning environment are essential components for any company and all of the winning cases and highly coommended cases show that investing in people is not a luxury; it is a key asset for business success if done well," said Dr. Richard Straub, Director of Development at EFMD.

The 5 winners were short-listed by an international jury-panel and the winning partnerships will be presented during EFMD's Executive Education conference hosted by the Instituto Internacional San Telmo in Seville, Spain on the 3-5 of October.

Excellence in Practice Award Winners 2012

Category: Organisational Development
Lonza AG & University of St. Gallen (Executive School of Management, Technology & Law)
“Business Unit Strategy at Lonza - Linking Executive Education and Strategy Development”

Category: Executive Development
Merck & Co., Inc. & The Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania)
“Merck Global Human Health Executive Development Programme”

Category: Talent Development
BAE Systems Inc & Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
“Trusted, Innovative, Bold - Building Global Mindsets for a Global Future”

Category: Professional Development
Siemens AG & Siemens Learning Campus
“Senior Siemens Production System (SPS) Expert Program”

Category: Others
Goldman Sachs (Foundation) & Leeds University Business School
“Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses in Yorkshire & Humberside”
 

Highly Commended Cases 2012

Category: Executive Development
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH & Axialent Europe Ltd
“BSH Leadership Development Program”

Nexus (Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Executive) & Newcastle Business School
“Meeting Strategic Challenges through Partnership”

Category: Talent Development
Airbus S.A.S &  AirBusiness Academy & The Open University Business School
“Ju’MP - Creating a partnership for Engagement, Innovation, Integration & Internationalisation”

DTEK & DTEK Academy & Kyiv-Mohyla Business School (KMBS)
“«Energy of Knowledge» Programme:  Developing Future Executives”

Category:  Professional Development
UBS AG & UBS Business University
 “Client Leadership Experience: A Learning Initiative to Enhance Cross-Business Culture and Business Impact at UBS”

Category: Others
Novartis International AG & Novartis Corporate Learning
“The Novartis Entrepreneurial Leadership Program - Real World Learning to drive business and social impact”

A special supplement of EFMD's magazine Global Focus featuring observations and trends on the 2012 awards, articles on the 5 winning cases and the Executive summaries of the highly commended papers will be published in October. The winning cases will soon be available via the EFMD website and webinars featuring all the winning cases will be run later in the year. For more information visit www.efmd.org/eip.

Quotes from the winners

• “Winning this award is testament to the relevance and importance of expanding the global mindsets and horizons of future leaders in any business”.
  Prof. Allyson Stewart-Allen, Programme Director, BAE Systems Global Early Careers Programme

• "We are delighted to learn that this joint initiative with Goldman Sachs has been recognised.  An award such as this demonstrates how our research into how entrepreneurs learn can be put into practice to support the small business community.  Our partnership with Goldman Sachs has shown how both the academic and the corporate world can work together to create an impact on society."
  Prof. Peter Moizer, Dean of Leeds University Business School

• "We are very proud to have won this prestigious competition. It is a great recognition for our whole team, for our approach and the program participants. Lonza's open-mindedness and the mutual trust made this program a tremendously rewarding journey for everybody involved."
  Dr. Philipp Guthof, Executive Vice Director, Executive School of Management, University of St. Gallen
  
  
• “The fact alone that our renowned partner the University of St. Gallen choose to submit our joint project for the “Excellence in Practice Award”, was already a big compliment to us. Having now been awarded by the EFMD for this joint project is the “icing on the cake” and a great recognition for the approach: linking strategy training with the operational business. Involving all top 150 managers of Lonza allowed not only to drive leadership and organizational development, it also helped generating commitment and induced sustainable influence on the  Lonza culture.”
  Dr. Uwe H. Böhlke, Member of the Management Committee, Chief Officer Human Resources/ Integration Arch,  Lonza
  
  
• "We could not be more honoured and delighted that EFMD has chosen to recognise our collective achievements. We accept the award on behalf of everyone who has worked so tirelessly to make 10,000 Small Businesses a success and every small business and social enterprise that has participated in the programme. This is recognition of your important efforts.”
  Michelle Pinggera, chief of staff for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Goldman Sachs