Newswise — CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia — Bloomberg Businessweek announced its 2013 Executive Education ranking this week, and named Darden Executive Education’s open-enrollment programs No. 7 in the U.S. and No. 13 in the world.

The open ranking is based on a survey of corporate clients that enroll executives in open programs, which are short, non-degree courses.

“Here at Darden, we take people and organizations to higher levels of performance,” said Erika Hayes James, senior associate dean of Executive Education. “We create an oasis of learning and care deeply about the participants in our programs, and it’s gratifying to receive this recognition.”

Rather than listening to lectures, participants in Darden’s open-enrollment programs learn through the School’s signature case-study method and experiential learning, on Grounds in Charlottesville, Virginia, or at the epicenter of government and business at the School’s Washington, D.C., location.

Darden will soon deliver two new offerings in the Washington, D.C., area, including the courses Marketing Analytics, which helps participants harness big data to understand which marketing efforts drive sales, and Strategic Sales Management, which examines strategies for motivating a sales force and cultivating relationships with customers. Leading Teams for Growth and Change, a course that teaches participants how to cultivate a healthy, collaborative culture while undergoing organizational change, will be offered in Tampa, Florida.

Darden’s open-enrollment programs focus on:

• Leadership and Management• Strategy, Growth and Innovation• Decision-Making and Negotiation• Financial Management• Marketing and Sales

Additionally, the Darden School of Business is the source of executive education for government, military and aviation professionals.

About Darden Executive EducationExecutive Education at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business changes the way leaders think to drive higher levels of business performance. Darden is a top global provider of open-enrollment programs and partners with leading organizations to deliver custom programs that solve business challenges. Taught by the School’s top-ranked faculty, the Darden learning experience features case studies, real-world simulations and experiential learning exercises, both at the University of Virginia and around the world.

For questions or information, contact Matt Charles or a member of the Communication team.

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