NOVA FORUM - Instituto de Formação de Executivos da UNL

What NOVA FORUM - Instituto de Formação de Executivos da UNL does

NOVA FORUM is the executive education arm of Nova School of Business and Economics (Universidade Nova de Lisboa), founded in 1997 and headquartered in Carcavelos, Portugal. It operates an integrated portfolio covering Executive Masters, Postgraduates, Short Duration programs, International programs, and a dedicated AI track, serving both individual executives and corporate clients. The division employs approximately 30 staff and reports 23,000+ alumni participants across its history, with a 70+ national and international partner network and a 18.5/20 participant satisfaction score.

The business model combines three revenue streams. Open enrollment programs (Executive Masters, Postgraduates, Short Duration) generate per-seat tuition across cohorts. Customized corporate programs are co-designed multi-week engagements sold to enterprises (with examples such as AI for Marketing Excellence with Google and GroupM, and programs with LLYC); these typically operate as project-based contracts with annual renewal mechanics. International activity is built through licensor partnerships (notably Emeritus for global distribution), franchise-style international programs (ChinaTracks, BrazilTracks), and a China-facing portal (cn.novasbe.pt); revenue here is a mix of partnership fees and co-delivered tuition.

Competitive positioning rests on the Nova SBE brand, which holds Triple Crown accreditation (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA) and is ranked #1 in Portugal and #9 worldwide for customized programs by the Financial Times (2026). Distribution and content depth are reinforced by partnerships with SingularityU Portugal, the Center for Responsible AI, QSP SUMMIT, UNICON, CEMS, GBSN, and the House of Leaders platform launched at Rock in Rio Lisboa 2026. Leadership consists of CEO Pedro Brito and Dean Pedro Oliveira.

Name

NOVA FORUM - Instituto de Formação de Executivos da UNL

Legal name

Nova SBE Executive Education - Instituto de Formação de Executivos da UNL

Website

https://exed.novasbe.pt

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NOVA FORUM is the executive education arm of Nova SBE (Universidade Nova de Lisboa), offering Executive Masters, Postgraduates, Short Duration programs, and AI-focused courses to individual executives and corporate clients across Portugal and international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Education

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Education & Corporate Programs (Non-degree) (EDAHAHAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional & Executive Short Courses (Non-Degree, International) (EDAIAIAH), Strategy, Consulting & General Management Institutes (EDAHAHAI), Human Resources, Organizational Behavior & Leadership Institutes (EDAHAHAG)

Keywords

• Executive education programs
• Customized corporate training
• Postgraduate business programs
• Leadership development courses
• Short duration intensive programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Carcavelos

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Open Programs: Standardized executive education programs open to individual participants including Executive Masters, Postgraduate programs, Intensive programs, and International programs
2. Customized Corporate Programs: Tailored training solutions designed for specific enterprise clients addressing specific organizational needs
3. International Partnerships: Programs delivered in partnership with top Business Schools worldwide providing global learning experiences

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nova SBE Executive Education delivers executive education programs to individual professionals and corporate clients through a portfolio that includes Executive Masters, Postgraduate Programs, Short Duration (Intensive) Programs, and International Programs, alongside fully customized corporate training solutions. Programs are built on a Faculty Hub model that combines academic faculty with active practitioners and span functional areas including leadership, strategy, finance, marketing, AI, sustainability, and innovation. Specialized AI-focused programs (AI for Marketing Excellence, Generative AI: Innovation Sprint, Managing with AI, AI for HR and Talent Management) are delivered in partnership with Google, GroupM, and other technology partners.

Product overview

Nova SBE Executive Education is an executive education division of Nova School of Business & Economics offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs. The core offerings include Executive Masters (Mestrados Executivos), Postgraduate Programs (Pós-Graduações), Short Duration Programs (Programas de Curta Duração), and International Programs (Programas Internacionais). The institution also provides specialized AI-focused programs including AI for Marketing Excellence, Generative AI: Innovation Sprint, Managing with AI, and AI for HR and Talent Management, developed in partnership with leading AI companies. Additional programs cover management strategy (Cenários & Estratégia Empresarial), finance (Future of Finance, Finanças para Não Financeiros), and custom corporate solutions. The House of Leaders platform represents a new initiative for leadership development through cultural and business dialogue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mestrados Executivos (Executive Masters) Master's degree programs delivered in an academic-year format, flexible and adaptable to professional realities, enabling participants to obtain a Master's degree within one academic year. Targeted at senior executives and professionals seeking a full master's-level credential.
• Pós-Graduações (Postgraduate Programs) Specialized postgraduate programs for professionals seeking advanced knowledge in specific business areas, offered as part of the open enrollment portfolio.
• Programas de Curta Duração (Short Duration / Intensive Programs) Intensive, short-duration programs designed for rapid skill development and knowledge acquisition in focused business topics such as finance, marketing, strategy, leadership, AI/data, sustainability, and innovation.
• Programas Internacionais (International Programs) Programs delivered in partnership with top business schools worldwide, offering global exposure, cross-cultural learning experiences, and immersion in European and Portuguese business culture.
• Customized Corporate Programs Tailored executive education solutions designed for specific enterprise clients and their organizational needs, customized by theme, module, method, time, or space; ranked #9 worldwide in Customized Programs (Financial Times 2026).
• AI for Marketing Excellence Program focused on applying AI technologies to marketing strategies and customer engagement, for marketing executives and senior leaders.
• Generative AI: Innovation Sprint Intensive program covering generative AI applications for innovation and creative problem-solving in organizations, for executives seeking to leverage generative AI for innovation.
• Managing with AI Program teaching executives how to leverage AI tools for management and organizational leadership, for senior managers and executives adopting AI in their organizations.
• AI for HR and Talent Management Program focused on using AI in human resources processes including recruitment, performance management, and talent development, for HR leaders and senior people managers.
• Cenários & Estratégia Empresarial Scenario planning and business strategy program teaching organizations how to build and use scenarios for decision-making and strategic planning. Now in its fifth edition.
• Future of Finance Program covering fintech, AI applications in finance, blockchain technology, and sustainable finance for executives in financial institutions.
• Finanças para Não Financeiros Financial literacy program for non-financial executives to understand financial information and make informed business decisions.
• House of Leaders Platform dedicated to reflection on the future of leadership, creating conversations at the intersection of education, culture, and business; launched at Rock in Rio Lisboa 2026 with multiple partners supporting merit scholarships.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18.5/20 average participant satisfaction
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rock in Rio Lisboa 2026coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026House of Leaders platform at Rock in Rio festival - leadership discussions crossing education, culture and business with multiple partners supporting merit scholarships.
• GooglecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Partnership for AI education programs, bringing Google's expertise in artificial intelligence to executive education offerings.
• Rochester Institute of TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024International partnership for AI education bringing American academic perspective.
• Center for Responsible AIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership ensuring responsible AI education and ethical considerations in AI programs.
• EmeritusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Partnership for expanding reach and distribution of executive education programs.
• Top Global Business SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnerships with top business schools worldwide offering international experiences and immersion in European and global business cultures. Enriches educational experience with diverse perspectives.
• SingularityU PortugalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Nova SBE ecosystem, bringing exponential technologies and innovation thinking to executive education.
• UNICONcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal consortium member - most sought-after training partners by leaders and organizations seeking to improve performance.
• CEMScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal alliance of business schools, corporate partners, and NGOs for international management education.
• GBSNminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Business Schools Network member supporting management education development worldwide.
• QSP SUMMITcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partnership with one of the most relevant events in management and leadership in Portugal, featuring 100+ speakers and 130+ brands.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IESE Business School: European business school with strong executive education programs and Iberian/Mediterranean market overlap, competing for similar European and Latin American executive clients.
• SDA Bocconi School of Management: European business school offering customized and open executive education programs, with similar FT ranking profile and target audience of senior executives and corporate clients.
• INSEAD Executive Education: Top global executive education provider with strong customized and open programs, similar international participant mix, and comparable FT ranking profile to Nova SBE Executive Education.
• IMD Business School: Highly ranked European business school focused on executive education and leadership development, competing directly with Nova SBE EE in customized corporate programs and open enrollment offerings.
• IE Business School Executive Education: Spanish-based business school with strong executive education portfolio and similar focus on customized corporate programs and international executive audiences.
• Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education: European business school with comparable customized and open executive education programs, competing for similar corporate clients and individual executive participants.
• London Business School Executive Education: Top-tier European business school with large open and customized executive education portfolio, competing for similar executive audiences in Europe and globally.

Regional players

• Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics: Primary Portuguese competitor in executive education, operating in the same domestic market with overlapping open and customized program offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Wharton Executive Education: Global incumbent with extensive open and customized executive education offerings, competing in the same senior executive segment across international markets.
• Harvard Business School Executive Education: Largest global incumbent in executive education with the strongest brand and deepest customized program capabilities; sets the ceiling for premium pricing and global reach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/NovaSBEExecutiveEducationLisboa
• Facebookfacebook.com/exed.novasbe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nova-forum-instituto-de-forma%C3%A7%C3%A3o-de-executivos-da-unl
• Instagraminstagram.com/novasbe_exed

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NOVA FORUM - Instituto de Formação de Executivos da UNL