EIT RawMaterials has launched a call for proposals to establish a Global MBA in Materials Management. This program aims to cultivate the next generation of business leaders within the raw materials sector, equipping participants with advanced business administration and leadership skills tailored specifically to the raw materials and advanced materials industries. This call invites consortia from academia, research, and industry to collaborate on designing and delivering this unique program, contributing to global leadership and innovation within the raw materials value chain. 

The goal is to develop a Global MBA program that provides:

• Advanced business management and leadership skills tailored to the raw materials industry.
• Professional pathways for industry specialists and employees transitioning into business development, management, or entrepreneurship roles. 
• A program with global reach, combining in-person learning experiences in relevant international locations with flexible, remote, or hybrid online learning options to accommodate a diverse and global audience.

The MBA program should be designed for professionals with at least four years of industry experience, especially those looking to transition into senior leadership roles. The program will emphasize hands-on, practical learning through an industry practicum component, which will allow participants to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts. 

The Global MBA will have two pathways for study:

• A 12-month full-time program, or
• A 24-month part-time program, allowing working professionals to continue employment while pursuing their studies.

The program will feature in-person residencies in key global locations within the raw materials sector, supported by flexible online learning components. The curriculum will include a mix of practical case studies, real-time assessments, and mentorship from industry leaders.

Key Curriculum Pillars:

The proposed MBA curriculum is built around six key pillars:

1. Responsible Practices and Stakeholder Management: Focusing on ESG criteria, the Critical Raw Materials Act, and Social License to Operate (SLO). 
2. The Role of Raw Materials in the Global Economy: Understanding global sourcing, supply chains, and the macro/micro-economic impacts of raw materials. 
3. Practical Application and Hands-on Experience: Partnering with leading companies for real-world challenges and networking opportunities. 
4. Business Skills and Wealth Creation in Raw Materials: Covering topics such as entrepreneurship, financing, valuation, and sales. 
5. Business Strategies for the Modern Technological Age: Embracing innovation, digital skills, circular supply chains, and sustainability. 
6. Leadership Management and Organizational Success: Addressing C-level leadership, employee management, and risk assessment.

Industry Practicum and Partners:

A central component of the program is the industry practicum, where participants will work on consultancy projects or internships with leading companies in the raw materials sector. This hands-on experience will be integrated into both the full-time and part-time pathways, with flexibility for working professionals to align practicum work with their existing employment.

Financial Sustainability:

EIT RawMaterials expects the MBA to become financially sustainable by the end of 2026. The proposal must include a financial plan with detailed budget breakdowns, pricing models, and revenue projections. A revenue-sharing model between the participating entities and EIT RawMaterials is required, with the MBA becoming self-sustaining by the end of the funding period. Tuition should be competitive yet profitable, with benchmarks and rationale provided in the proposal. 

Consortia must include representation from at least two of the EIT Knowledge Triangle pillars (academia, research, and industry) and must be active in at least three countries associated with the EU’s Horizon Europe program or the Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS). The proposal should demonstrate the consortium’s experience in developing business education programs, particularly MBAs or similar leadership programs. 

The proposal must include:

• A detailed course design covering content, learning outcomes, target audience, delivery format, and duration.
• A robust marketing and communications plan to attract students globally.
• A strategy for integrating entrepreneurship education, with a particular focus on supporting startups and fostering innovation within the raw materials sector.
• Quality assurance frameworks to ensure the academic and operational quality of the MBA.
• A plan for obtaining the EIT Label, a quality seal awarded to master and doctoral programs within the EIT community. 
   

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

1. Excellence and Quality of the Consortium: Relevant experience in business education and raw materials sectors, demonstrated by consortium members. 
2. Impact and Industry Value: Potential to meet industry needs and contribute to career advancement in raw materials. 
3. Project Management: Clear work plans, timelines, deliverables, and risk mitigation strategies. 
4. Financial Sustainability: A viable financial plan for achieving self-sustainability by the end of the funding period. 
5. Marketing and Communication Strategy: Effectiveness in reaching target participants and enrolling students globally. 
    

• Call launch: 7 October 2024 
• Application Start Date: 14 October 2024
• Proposal submission deadline: 24 January 2025 
• Evaluation period: January 27 – 10 February 2025 
• Project start date: 24 February 2025

This call presents an opportunity to contribute to the development of a world-class Global MBA program that addresses the raw materials sector’s need for business leaders with specialized knowledge in managing materials and their supply chains in an increasingly complex global economy. 

• Global MBA in Materials Management Call Guidelines
• Application Guidance and Template
   

About EIT RawMaterials

Minerals, metals, and advanced materials are key enablers to achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal. Today, only a fraction of the most relevant raw materials is produced in Europe. This can be changed through a circular economy approach, through innovation in recycling, substitution, processing, mining, and exploration. The objective of EIT RawMaterials is to secure a sustainable raw materials supply by driving innovation, education, and entrepreneurship across European industrial ecosystems.

EIT RawMaterials, initiated and funded by the EIT, a body of the European Union, is an Innovation Community which provides a collaborative environment for disruptive and breakthrough innovations by connecting business with academia, research, and investment. It also invests in future generations of innovators for the raw materials sector through initiatives ranging from education of school students to higher qualifications for industry professionals, through the EIT RawMaterials Academy.

About EIT RawMaterials Academy

EIT RawMaterials Academy is the overarching brand of all the education activities of EIT RawMaterials. These range from innovative education projects launched via calls and run by the Innovation Community’s partners to a number of centrally operated projects. Activities across the entire ecosystem of learners – PhD students, Masters’ students, industrial partners, professionals within the raw materials sector, and wider society – foster new ways of learning and teaching by connecting academia, industry, and research organisations.