UVA Darden Invests in Lifelong Learning, Announces New Program for Alumni

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business and Darden Executive Education today announced the Alumni Lifelong Learning 2020 program. Through this program, Darden Executive Education is offering alumni of the School participation in one of its programs available in 2020 at no cost.*

“In this era of rapid change in business and society, it’s not what you learn, it’s how you learn,” said Darden Dean Scott Beardsley. “We want to invest in the lifelong learning of our alumni and allow them to once again benefit from Darden’s incredible education experience led by the best faculty in business education.”

Offered at Darden Grounds in Charlottesville and UVA Darden DC Metro, Executive Education programs are taught exclusively by the School’s faculty members, such as United Technologies Corp. Professor of Business Administration Jeanne Liedtka, trailblazer in design thinking for business, and Elis and Signe Olsson Professor of Business Administration Ed Freeman, pioneer of stakeholder theory.

Courses available through the Alumni Lifelong Learning 2020 program include most Executive Education in-person and online open-enrollment courses. Examples of current courses include Management Essentials for Developing Leaders, Strategic Data Analytics for Leaders and Design Thinking for Innovative Business Problem Solving. Several exciting new courses are in development and will be offered later in 2020.

All UVA Darden degree-program alumni are eligible. Space in each course is limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Interested alumni can learn more at darden.edu/alumni/offer or by calling Darden Executive Education at +1-434-924-3000.

The program was made possible through the generous support of Frank M. Sands Sr. (MBA ’63), whose record-setting gift made in 2019 will fund creation of the Sands Institute for Lifelong Learning. The new institute, which will advance best practices for teaching lifelong learners and working executives, is empowering Darden’s faculty to redesign and innovate learning courses, curricula and programs and to extend the School’s reach globally.

“Darden is committed to offering the very best programs and curricula to develop responsible leaders across all stages of their careers,” said Beardsley. “As graduates of the School, our alumni value Darden as a trusted partner to advance their personal missions into professional rewards.”

“The Alumni Lifelong Learning 2020 program demonstrates the Darden School’s continuing investment in lifelong learning for our graduates,” said Ashley Williams, CEO and chief learning officer of Darden Executive Education. “We are committed to extending the reach of the world’s best education experience, taught by the best faculty in graduate business education, throughout a lifetime of professional and personal growth.”

*Certain fees apply. See website for details.