Posted on Oct. 9: Strategic business studies institute opens in McMaster’s new AIC wing

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/AIC_1.jpg” caption=”AIC wing opens”]McMaster University announced the official grand opening of the AIC Institute of Strategic Business Studies at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business today. Michael Lee-Chin, chairman and chief executive officer of AIC Limited, was on hand for the ceremonies.

“The importance of instilling within business leaders a sound intellectual framework to allocate capital prudently has become even more apparent in today's environment,” explains Lee-Chin. “AIC is proud to play a role in educating the business leaders of tomorrow through the AIC Institute for Strategic Business Studies.”

In June 2001, Lee-Chin announced a $5-million gift to the DeGroote School of Business on behalf of his company, AIC Limited, to establish the specialized institute. Although he graduated from McMaster with an engineering degree, Lee-Chin soon discovered he possessed an inherent business savvy. A classic success story recognized in Forbes and other media, Lee-Chin has gone from enterprising student to one of Canada's wealthiest men. AIC Funds commenced operations in 1985 and has grown to become Canada's largest privately held mutual fund company, servicing more than one million investors. Assets under management total more than $11 billion.

McMaster University President Peter George hailed the establishment of the institute and the creation of the AIC wing as a generous investment in the future of outstanding teaching and research in the business school.

“This exciting partnership with AIC allows the University to pursue a new direction in business studies,” says President George. “It contributes in a significant way to McMaster's ability to deliver exceptional educational programs and research in the field of investment management and ensures our students will continue to be recipients of innovative, interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship.”

The AIC gift will help support the creation of a chair in Investment and Portfolio Management, an MBA program with specific focus on strategic business studies and a certificate program on business valuation in continuing education for industry professionals. Two professorships will also be created and a $500,000 endowment will provide scholarships to help recruit top talent into this competitive program. A portion of this gift helped to finance the new state-of-the-art facility, which was built to house the AIC Institute.

The new stream in Strategic Business Studies will commence next September. It is intended to train investment professionals in the best practices for business valuation and will stress interdisciplinary models and investigative techniques that thoroughly value the whole business. It will draw upon some traditional valuation techniques as well as utilizing newer, more contemporary approaches.

“Business schools have become increasingly competitive, with each school continually looking to gain an edge over their peers. This is one of the reasons we are so honoured that Michael Lee-Chin chose the DeGroote School of Business to house the AIC Institute and to offer the first MBA stream in Strategic Business Studies in Canada,” explains Vishwanath Baba, dean of the DeGroote School of Business.

Already considered one of the top 100 business schools in the world by the Financial Times (London, UK), the DeGroote School of Business will continue to strengthen its position through its alliance with AIC and Michael Lee-Chin.

Photo captions: Top photo: Pictured from left, Michael G. DeGroote School of Business dean Vishwanath Baba, McMaster University President Peter George and Michael Lee-Chin, chairman and chief executive officer of AIC Limited, attended the opening of the AIC Institute of Strategic Business Studies today. Bottom photo: During a tour of the new facility, Bob Hodgson, director, External Relations in the Faculty of Business, presents the “Decision Centre” — an electronic meeting environment that provides an opportunity to integrate the power of computers, decision support software and highly trained facilitators into the dynamics of group meeting situations. Photo credit: Chantall Van Raay

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[img_inline align="right" src="http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/AIC_1.jpg" caption="AIC wing opens"]McMaster University announced the official grand opening of the AIC Institute of Strategic Business Studies at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business today.  Michael Lee-Chin, chairman and chief executive officer of AIC Limited, was on hand for the ceremonies.<p><br />
<br />
"The importance of instilling within business leaders a sound intellectual framework to allocate capital prudently has become even more apparent in today&#039;s environment," explains Lee-Chin.  "AIC is proud to play a role in educating the business leaders of tomorrow through the AIC Institute for Strategic Business Studies."<p><br />
<br />
In June 2001, Lee-Chin announced a $5-million gift to the DeGroote School of Business on behalf of his company, AIC Limited, to establish the specialized institute. Although he graduated from McMaster with an engineering degree, Lee-Chin soon discovered he possessed an inherent business savvy. A classic success story recognized in Forbes and other media, Lee-Chin has gone from enterprising student to one of Canada&#039;s wealthiest men.  AIC Funds commenced operations in 1985 and has grown to become Canada&#039;s largest privately held mutual fund company, servicing more than one million investors.  Assets under management total more than $11 billion.<p><br />
<br />
McMaster University President Peter George hailed the establishment of the institute and the creation of the AIC wing as a generous investment in the future of outstanding teaching and research in the business school.<p><br />
<br />
<img src="http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/images/AIC_2.jpg" align=right><br />
<br />
"This exciting partnership with AIC allows the University to pursue a new direction in business studies," says President George. "It contributes in a significant way to McMaster&#039;s ability to deliver exceptional educational programs and research in the field of investment management and ensures our students will continue to be recipients of innovative, interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship."<p> <br />
<br />
The AIC gift will help support the creation of a chair in Investment and Portfolio Management, an MBA program with specific focus on strategic business studies and a certificate program on business valuation in continuing education for industry professionals.  Two professorships will also be created and a $500,000 endowment will provide scholarships to help recruit top talent into this competitive program.  A portion of this gift helped to finance the new state-of-the-art facility, which was built to house the AIC Institute.<p><br />
<br />
The new stream in Strategic Business Studies will commence next September.  It is intended to train investment professionals in the best practices for business valuation and will stress interdisciplinary models and investigative techniques that thoroughly value the whole business.  It will draw upon some traditional valuation techniques as well as utilizing newer, more contemporary approaches.<p><br />
<br />
"Business schools have become increasingly competitive, with each school continually looking to gain an edge over their peers.  This is one of the reasons we are so honoured that Michael Lee-Chin chose the DeGroote School of Business to house the AIC Institute and to offer the first MBA stream in Strategic Business Studies in Canada," explains Vishwanath Baba, dean of the DeGroote School of Business.<p><br />
<br />
Already considered one of the top 100 business schools in the world by the Financial Times (London, UK), the DeGroote School of Business will continue to strengthen its position through its alliance with AIC and Michael Lee-Chin.<p><br />
<br />
<i>Photo captions: <b>Top photo:</b> Pictured from left, Michael G. DeGroote School of Business dean Vishwanath Baba, McMaster University President Peter George and Michael Lee-Chin, chairman and chief executive officer of AIC Limited, attended the opening of the AIC Institute of Strategic Business Studies today. <b>Bottom photo:</b> During a tour of the new facility, Bob Hodgson, director, External Relations in the Faculty of Business, presents the "Decision Centre" -- an electronic meeting environment that provides an opportunity to integrate the power of computers, decision support software and highly trained facilitators into the dynamics of group meeting situations. Photo credit: Chantall Van Raay</i>

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