OREANDA-NEWS. January 28, 2016. Today, on the Campus of the Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO, the educational process begins for the students of the seventh class of the Practicum for Directors—the intensive programme for managers of small and medium businesses, for whom it is important to systematise knowledge and develop a unique model of company management.

49 people will begin their studies this year, the largest number in the programme's history. They include managing owners, operational directors, General Directors and Deputy General Directors of small and medium businesses from various industries. The average management experience of the group is 8 years.

This year, the students come from 17 cities of Russia and the CIS countries: Moscow and Moscow Region, Belgorod, Ekaterinburg, Elabuga, Irkutsk, Kaluga, Kazan, Kokshetau (Kazakhstan), Kursk, Naberezhnye Chelny, Omsk, Sochi, St. Petersburg, Surgut, Veliky Novgorod, Volgograd, and Voronezh.

The companies introduced to the students represent several industries: microfinance, construction, consulting, trade, and food industry. The absolute leader among the industries presented to the students is the services industry.

The key management task on which the participants plan to work during the studies is improving business efficiency in an unstable economic environment. The students are focused on building models for the development and modernisation of their companies' current activities.

"While two years ago managing directors of companies came to us for development trying to keep up with the market and business growth, during the last year everything has changed significantly. Now we see a demand from managers to rebuild and reorganise a business according to the economic situation, and the most ambitious managers try to understand how to grow even in falling markets. One of the major changes that we see is the fact that the crisis offers many opportunities for partnership, when people from different areas and industries are starting to share their experiences and possibilities for interaction," – says Elena Bondarenko, Director of the Practicum for Directors Programme at the Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO.

The students became involved in active work from the very first day of study. The traditional school greeting and acquaintance between the participants and with the School were followed by a strategic business game, meetings with professors of the Business School and guest experts.

Four intensive modules including a number of workshops, exercises and business games, practical work on project development, meetings with interesting people, key figures in Russian business, and many other things still lie ahead. Upon completion of studies, the participants will undergo the final stage in the format of presentation of their own projects to an expert council, alumni, and representatives of the investment community of the Business School.