1. Why Copenhagen?

2. Who will participate in this program?

3. How does the price of this program compare with other one-week executive education programs?

4. Does this educational program qualify for a personal tax deduction?

5. Will this executive education program count toward my Project Management Institute (PMI) continuing certification requirement program (CCR)?

6. Will this executive education program count toward continuing education credits (CEC)?

Q. Why Copenhagen?

A. Here are some of the many reasons we chose Copenhagen, Denmark, for the site of McIntire's inaugural international executive program:

• Copenhagen is one of the most exciting regions of the world for IT innovation, creativity, and design. The Oresund region (area of Scandinavia surrounding Copenhagen) is home to over 10,000 IT-related companies and over 100,000 IT employees, including Microsoft’s largest development group outside of the United States, and companies such as Erickson and Nokia, and one of the co-founders of Skype.

• Denmark tops the rankings in the World Economic Forum's Global Information Technology Report; garnering recognition as "the world's leading information technology power."

• U.Va.-McIntire has partnerships with Denmark’s International Studies (DIS) program, the Copenhagen Business School, the IT University of Copenhagen, and the Oresund IT Academy, critical for the success of a program like this.

• Copenhagen’s strategic location and highly educated work force make it a key player in the European Union.

• Copenhagen is clean, safe, and easily accessible city.

• Denmark was recently named “the world’s happiest country!”

Q. Who will participate in this program?

A. Program participants will include experienced managers from both sides of the Atlantic. Program faculty will consist of both U.Va. and Danish faculty, as well as practitioners from the European business community.

Q. How does the price of this program compare with other one-week executive education programs?

A. Other examples include:

• U.Va. - Darden’s “Leadership for Extraordinary Performance” program costs $8,100 (including lodging)

• MIT’s “Corporate Strategy” program costs $7,950 (including lodging)

• Harvard's "Leading Change and Organizational Renewal" program costs $12,000 (including lodging)

Q. Does this educational program qualify for a personal tax deduction?

A. We cannot provide tax advice, but the below information concerning the tax code and educational expenses may provide some insights into your own situation and the possible tax deductibility of the Copenhagen educational program expenses on your 2008 taxes. We recommend you contact your personal tax adviser for more specific details/advice.

The following excerpt is taken from West Federal Taxation, 2008 Edition on Individual Income Taxes, Hoffman/Smith/Willis:

Education Expenses – General Requirements:

An employee can deduct expenses incurred for education (education expenses) as ordinary and necessary business expenses provided the expenses are incurred for either of two reasons:

• To maintain or improve existing skills required in the present job.

• To meet the express requirements of the employer or the requirements imposed by law to retain his or her employment status.

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Q. Will this executive education program count toward my Project Management Institute (PMI) continuing certification requirement program (CCR)?

PMI, like most professional/education certification bodies, does recognize non-credit professional education toward initial or continuing certification requirements, especially when the educational contact hours are provided by nationally recognized higher education institutions such as U.Va. and the McIntire School. For example, on page 8 of the PMI CCR document (.pdf), the 2008 International Executive Program in Copenhagen would qualify for up to 40 professional development units (PDUs) under “Category 4: Other Provider.”

Each participant in the program will receive an official McIntire School of Commerce Certificate of Completion for attendance and participation in the program in Denmark. PMI, again like most professional certification bodies, necessarily makes decisions on a case-by-case basis, so contact the certification organization of interest prior to attendance and the McIntire Graduate Programs Office will work closely with you to make sure you get appropriate credit for your participation in this program.