STOA' ISTITUTO DI STUDI PER LA DIREZIONE E GESTIONE D'IMPRESA ScpA The School, established in 1988 by IRI (Institute for the Industrial Reconstruction) is located in the XVIIIth century Villa Campolieto. In order to face the modern challenge of globalisation, STOA' aimed to set up a centre in southern Italy, where managerial culture could be developed. During its first few years, STOA' was supported by the partnership of IRI, Banco di Napoli and the Sloan School of Management of Massachusetts Istitute of Technology, a partner which helped STOA' to become an important centre of managerial culture and a vital part of a wide international network. Today , all of the five universities in the Campania region are partners of STOA' , guaranteeing the quality and reliability of the training provided by the School. By the professional side, STOA' has built up a sound network of relationships with companies and with the increasing demand coming from the public administration. New partners followed IRI, reinforcing the School's mission in Public Management. To describe the School's activity the strategic philosophy of the School must be considered it has grown during the last years and has determined the kind of activities : the awareness that managerial culture, to be successful, must rely on the attitudes of private and public actors, which have to be functional to the economic development of the territory. By an operative point of view, this has meant acting on four fields: 1.Managerial training of young southern Italian graduates to facilitate their first steps in the labour market. 2. Training to enterprises distinguished in: 2:1- Training and assistance to the entrepreneurs in their development projects (small and medium enterprises) 2:2- Training to executives, middle management and resources with high business potential.( medium and large) 3.Training and organizational development actions in the Public Management field. 4.Research on enterprises and public authorities development strategies. The School activity started in 1989 with the launch of 1st MBA course, developed with the co-operation of the Sloan School of Management (MIT - Boston). Stoà worked with the Sloan School, in the following three years (1990-92), as well. Since 1992 the MLD (Local Development Master) has been carried out along with the MBA in the co-operation of the University "L'Orientale" of Naples. In 1999 a new master course was launched in the field of Public Management (MPM) sector. Up to now the school has carried out 13 MBA editions, 11 for the MLD and only 3 for the MPM (Master in Public Management ). About 1000 students have been awarded with the master course diploma so far. The placement ratio is in line with one of the best Italian Bussiness Schools. A number of surveys over Italian Master courses highlighted the fame and the quality of Stoà is brand. Stoà realized, along with its master courses, several research and training activities, addressed to the Ministries, Organizations (Public authorities) and firms. Overall, this activity on the market trained more than 5000 people namely executives middle management and entrepreneurs. EXCELLANCE PROJECTS: MBM, Bussiness Management Master - XIII edition. MLD, Local Development Master - XI edition. MPM, Public Management Master - III edition. e-Academy, training projects on the ITC. EMBA Executive MBA - I edition. Villa Campolieto Corso Resina, 283 80056 Ercolano (NA) Tel. 081 7882111 fax 081 7772688 website www.stoa.it email stoa@stoa.it