Chicago GSB’s Asian campus offers an executive M.B.A. program taught by the same faculty who teach at the school’s Chicago and Barcelona campuses. The program is taught in 16 one-week modules spread over 20 months to allow business executives to continue working full time and travel to Singapore for classes.

The pioneer class began the program in September 2000. This cohort, which is at maximum enrollment with 84 students, includes top executives from 15 countries throughout Asia, including Japan, China, and India. Some of the students are United States or European citizens who are living and working in Asia.

“This represents the first time a business school is offering a globally integrated executive M.B.A. program on three continents taught entirely by its regular faculty at permanent campus locations, ” said Hamada.

More than 300 business leaders, dignitaries, alumni, students, faculty members, and administrators gathered for the festivities, which began with a traditional dragon dance and ribbon cutting at the House of Tan Yeok Nee, the newly renovated historic house that serves as the Asian campus. Singapore’s President S. R. Nathan addressed the crowd, as did U.S. Ambassador Steven J. Green.

At the ceremony, Hamada acknowledged several alumni who supported the Singapore program, beginning with Jack Wadsworth, ’63, chairman of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Asia Limited and chairman of the W.L.S. Spencer Foundation. “His generosity, and that of his wife, Bette Sue Pendery-Wadsworth, was pivotal in defraying the cost of outfitting the House of Tan Yeok Nee for educational purposes, ” Hamada told the crowd.

In addition, Hamada welcomed Cheng Wai Keung, ’73, chairman and managing director of Wing Tai Holdings Limited. “He heads the consortium that acquired this magnificent building and made it available to us, ” Hamada said. “He has also been a tireless advocate of our program throughout Singapore. ”