Lancaster University Management School has been shortlisted for the Best Innovation Strategy 2025 award at the AMBA and BGA Excellence Awards 2025for its Cyber Security Executive MBA programme (CEMBA), which is delivered in partnership with Templar Executives.

The Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the Business Graduates Association (BGA) Excellence Awards celebrate institutions at the pinnacle of business education across 12 competitive award categories.

The Best Innovation Strategy award celebrates innovation and radical thinking in business education. It has been developed to recognise and reward game-changing new practices, risks, and creativity in programmes offered at business schools worldwide. Other institutions on the shortlist include those from France, Germany, Mexico, and Ireland.

The nomination reflects the Management School's willingness to push boundaries in pursuit of new forms of teaching and learning. It also recognises the CEMBA’s approach to tackling one of the most pressing challenges facing modern business: the escalating threat of cyberattacks.

Dan Prince, Professor of Cyber Security, said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted for this prestigious award from AMBA and BGA. Cybersecurity is a critical business issue affecting every business, in every sector, in every nation. Regardless of whether leaders decide to become specialists in cyber, it is essential they develop their cyber credentials. Being shortlisted in the best innovation strategy category showcases that we and our partners are at the cutting edge for developing the next generation of leaders able to take on the challenge of cyber security on the international stage.”

Andrew Fitzmaurice, CEO of Templar Executives, said: “The CEMBA’s innovation lies not only in its fusion of business and cyber curriculum but also in its hands-on, practice-driven approach. Building on the strategic partnership between Lancaster University and Templar Executives, each module is co-taught by a distinguished academic and a world-leading cyber expert, giving students a well-rounded mastery of cyber leadership. Beyond that, it offers the students the chance to build a powerful network of peers and mentors, extending their influence far beyond their own organisations."

Lancaster University is leading the way with the flagship CEMBA, ensuring that tomorrow’s business leaders are ready to meet these challenges head-on. The CEMBA is a unique programme which challenges traditional approaches to business education and offers a transformational fusion of business leadership and cybersecurity education. The programme represents a bold step forward in business education, and this recognition from AMBA confirms its relevance and impact in today’s rapidly changing business environment.

The CEMBA is the only MBA programme certified by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). The programme is taught by leading academics from the Management School and the School of Computing and Communication, as well as expert practitioners from Templar Executives, an award-winning international cybersecurity and information assurance consultancy.

This year, the AMBA and BGA Excellence Awards received a record number of entries across all categories. The final award winners will be announced at a Gala Dinner on 24 January 2025.