Satya Nadella Meet Microsoft's New Man at the Helm - Ten essential books that all
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Meet Microsoft’s
New Man at the Helm...
Satya Nadella
Ten essential books that all Professional advice on how to Why Work is Lonely at the
MBA students should read Overcome the Midday Slump top of the command chain
EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY
The MBA
Tailored
That’s
To YOU
Alexandra Skinner speaks to Christine Clarke at European University’s Barcelona campus
The European University Mission European University’s primary goal is to bring Full-time, Part-time
European University is a group of private the American education model to Europe by or Online MBA?
business schools with headquarters in relating classroom theory to professional skills. The There are many considerations concerning
Switzerland. It operates campuses located in courses are taught in English using the case study this dilemma, not least of which are time,
Switzerland (Geneva and Montreux), Spain method and project work to prevent business theory cost and location. Given the current
(Barcelona) and Germany (Munich). from remaining abstract and incomprehensible. economic situation, professionals in full-
Over the past 40 years, European University The school’s secondary goal is to internationalise its time employment really should look into
has developed a business education process that programmes by providing a unique environment. non-traditional options; combining work
delivers high-quality teaching, a competitive An international perspective is guaranteed by the obligations with MBA requirements can be
learning environment and a network of several composition of the faculty and student body. demanding, but it is manageable through
campuses in different countries. European European University’s mission is to contribute part-time and e-learning options. Many
University also has agreements signed with a to the global community by providing institutions, such as European University,
variety of universities and colleges worldwide comprehensive, in-depth international business specifically offer their MBA course outside
and, in this way, achieves a global campus reach. education to an inspired, culturally diverse of the normal work timetable to facilitate
A principle goal of European University is to student body, who are prepared to effectively professionals in combining their work and
internationalise its programmes. This broad deal with current business issues. study obligations.
network encourages students to participate The question of online or in-classroom
in inter-campus exchanges in the following Flexibility is Key learning is complex, and depends greatly on
countries, among others: Spain, Switzerland, Each major includes a set of five specialist the professional’s best study habits. Some
Germany, UK, Austria, Syria, Kazakhstan, courses addressing key management issues in the individuals prefer a looser arrangement,
Malaysia, China, Russia, Taiwan and Singapore. specialty area. The majors complement the 70 and are internally motivated and at ease
European University offers the traditional per cent core business courses to give a rounded, with technology; others perform better
programmes of Bachelor and Master of specialist management experience. with direct group interaction and a more
Business Administration (BBA & MBA), with
the choice of specialising in 10 different majors Study modes The MBA is offered as a full-time programme to be completed in one
at undergraduate level and 12 at MBA level academic year. A part-time option is also available.
in a wide range of specialties; for example, Delivery modes Students may choose to follow a classroom-based programme or follow
Communication and Public Relations, an online blended MBA.
Information Systems Management, Wealth Electives Students have a wide range of majors that they may follow:
Management and Finance-Banking & Corporate International Business Communication & PR International
Finance, among others. All programmes share Marketing Global Banking & Finance Leisure & Tourism
Entrepreneurship Leadership E-Business Sports Management
common core management programmes (70-72 Human Resources Design Management Reputation Management
per cent common core). The master’s programme
is also offered online. Price The cost of the MBA programme is €19,100, including registration fee.
European University MBA Overview
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EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY
ALUMNI PERSPECTIVE
The jet descended toward Zurich through a
heavy cloud cover. My thoughts were elsewhere,
floating on the different wings of fatigue and pride
and no doubt fueled by the quality Bordeaux swishing
around the glass in my hand. A new fifty-million-dollar private Airbus
was on the last leg of a delivery and I was the sole passenger aboard,
tended to by the immaculately presented crew; soft jazz music building
to a crescendo as we flared to land.
Finding myself as project leader, with full power of attorney and
responsibility, to bring together to deadline this complex commercial,
legal and financial transaction is a fitting testament to the power of a
quality MBA to change the direction of a life and open new opportunities.
Perhaps this was a crowning moment for a career that has given me the
opportunity to lead the EMEAA team and create a multibillion-dollar
business for a major airframe manufacturer in the executive jet sector.
In 1995, I chose to undertake the European University Executive
MBA, partially because the executive option enabled me to continue
my full-time job as an engineering project manager and partially
because the other students would also be mature and from different
cultural and business backgrounds. The interaction and flow of ideas
from the teaching staff and my fellow students opened my eyes to the
vast array of business opportunities and functions beyond my own
technical discipline. The opportunity to learn about the entire business
process was enriching, and to get under the skin of the commercial and
financial transactions was fascinating. The rigorous academic structure
backed by real-world expertise and the advice of the teaching staff was
an unexpected bonus.
Was the MBA useful? Absolutely! I gained confidence across a variety of
disciplines I would not otherwise have encountered. This in turn enabled
Combining work me to obtain commercial management positions from which I was able
obligations with to direct my career into the competitive but highly rewarding executive
aviation arena, and how I found myself one stormy night the sole
MBA requirements passenger aboard a luxury airliner experiencing life as few ever get the
can be demanding, chance. Thanks, European University!
but it is manageable Neil Patton, BSc (Hons.), CEng, MBA – Independent Consultant for
through part-time and Corporate & Private Aviation, Paris. European University EMBA, Geneva and
Montreux graduate, 1997.
e-learning options.
disciplined timetable. This dilemma also The Online MBA ensure campus-based faculty are also delivering
needs to address the question of location; The European University Online MBA is an the online programme, and that students are
some professionals would need to relocate alternative option for prospective professionals, also procuring the same prescribed textbooks
(with the extra incurred expense) to follow transfer students and other individuals who and materials. These policies bring closer
their preferred on-site course. have neither the time nor the ability to be conformity to a programme already operating
The real driver, taking into account the geographically present in our campus locations. in tandem, and also allow for a blended
practical issues mentioned above, should However, the programme does not cannibalise programme experience.
be programme quality, derived from course on the alternative choice for students who wish While the relationships that are established on
content, faculty and services. to engage in the full campus life and experience. campus are not realised in a virtual environment,
Blended learning is a reality at European To ensure equivalence, the European the European University Online MBA creates a
University; all programmes have an element of University Online MBA programme sense of community through continual forum
independent learning though computer-based standardises its academic content with that of dialogues, enhanced with webinars and visual
tasks. If we take blended learning to mean a the Montreux, Geneva, Munich and Barcelona features, and complemented with an on-campus
combination of delivery modes, then this is also campuses, so that the programmes and majors week for final exams, where networking and
an option; a student could follow certain courses offered, course syllabi, and exam timetable industrial visits serve to cement relations in this
in the classroom and others online. run concurrently. A primary objective is to blended learning programme.
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EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY
ALUMNI PERSPECTIVE
Like so many other graduates that have just
completed a university education, I was absolutely
sure I would never go back to school again when I
received my Ph.D. from St Andrews University in 2005.
The programme I undertook at the time was highly technical and involved the
synthesis of novel fluoro-organic substances; a challenging project that kept
me chained to the laboratory bench for the best part of three years. Certainly
studying an MBA at European University was far from my mind at that time.
Exceptional for an accomplished organic chemist, I started my professional
career in the area of technical marketing. Being responsible for the
commercial development of a class of novel fluorinating agents targeting the
pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals industry, I widely enjoyed my new role. I
loved the flexibility and independence of the work schedule; the constant travel
and connecting to new customers around the globe; and, last but not least, the
success that came along with the project. Over the years, however, pursuing
the marketing strategy and growing the business became a less-important
objective, as our company established a leading position within a consolidated
market environment. Step by step, and perhaps unintentionally, I grew into
a much more commercial role, assuming direct responsibility in the product
management and eventually sales areas. Once again, I welcomed the challenge
of exploring a new world, quite remote from scientific norms and standards
that had composed the basis of my work thus far. Certainly it was then when I
started looking for options to feed my ever-growing thirst for business-related
knowledge and education, even though I had many experienced colleagues at
my side supporting me in my new position at the company.
The Online MBA programme at European University convinced me
it would offer the best option for achieving both my professional and
personal objectives. Not only did it provide tremendous flexibility and
convenience through online meetings and conferences, held from virtually
any location across the globe; but it also offered students the chance
to meet international staff and peers personally through pre-scheduled
modules across the university’s various European campuses.
The European University programme offers participants the unique
possibility of combining the online programme with on-campus semesters;
this is perhaps critical for students who have doubts about the quality of
online teaching at large. Although direct contact and time with teaching
personnel is certainly less abundant and self-study perhaps plays a more
important role in coping with the challenges of the course, contact with
peers and the dynamics of team-building seem to be stronger compared
to conventional forms of teaching. Perhaps surprisingly, the teaching
quality was always at an exceptionally high standard and for me personally,
an important factor in staying with the online programme the full three Hands-on Teaching
semesters required to complete the European University MBA programme. European University’s faculty is made
In retrospect, I am very happy to have chosen European University for up primarily of academically qualified,
this important step in my professional career; not only because of the internationally experienced adjunct members,
convenience it provided in combining my studies with a challenging the majority of whom are working in their
daily workload at my company, but also due to the incredible variety and professional fields, thus ensuring not only a
quality of the course content at any time. Last but not least, I would like theoretical approach, but hands-on pragmatism
to express special thanks to former programme manager, Dr Guillermo De and extensive business experience.
Haro, who managed the programme with exceptional determination and Real-world is a must, not an option. As
professionalism, and in organizing many inspiring industrial visits and faculty members are active professionally,
enjoyable on-campus weeks in Barcelona, Geneva and Munich, made this they are abreast of trends and innovations
programme a truly international MBA. within their specialist area and are able to
enrich their courses with up-to-date practical
Dr Martin Schüler – European University Online MBA in International examples and chair discussions effectively.
Business graduate. Faculty are also vital for input into curricula
and programme issues.
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EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY
STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
In 2013, while working for the World Health
Organization in Geneva, I joined the European
University’s online MBA programme in International
Business. I wanted to develop a better knowledge of
business processes, improve my leadership skills and further develop my
network around the globe. In my work, centered around portfolio and policy
management in infectious diseases of poverty research, it is important to
master both technical skills and those related to management and finance.
Ever since I joined (I am currently in my second term), I have felt the support
of my organization, which is important considering I am employed full-time.
Before joining, I scanned various offers; I found that taking courses
individually did not possess the same value as taking a full degree.
Fortunately, the European University offers the OMBA, which is a
combination of “live” distance learning and on-site experience.
Some of the most exciting moments of the first term happened during
these site visits. We were given the opportunity to visit a state-of-the art
facility of a worldwide famous manufacturer and understand first-hand
their business model, as well as have discussions with some of their senior
managers. We also received some very interesting insights from the head
of one of the most prestigious banks in Switzerland.
I must say that probably the most enriching encounter I had during the
first term was discovering the vast range of expertise and backgrounds
my colleagues had, and the chance I had to learn from their experience
and stories. Our group brings together students from all the continents
– literally, other than Antarctica – who have worked in different
environments (public, private, government, U.N.), which contributes to
a pretty broad perspective when we work in teams and interact during
webinars. Studying an online degree, scattered around the world, we learn
how to work in virtual teams with innovative communication tools, which
makes teamwork and learning more effective and efficient.
If I was to give advice to someone considering an online degree, it
would be to carefully assess their availability because, even though it is
We are training an online degree, it requires a great deal of focus, effort and time. The
our students to face programme thus far has been both rewarding and demanding.
business challenges; Dr Michael Mihut – World Health Organization. Portfolio Management
it is our duty to be Officer, The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical
Diseases. Current European University Online MBA Student.
role models.
The European Campus Network international, competitors are international; a and reflect on input from all stakeholders; our
European University is located in key cities global perspective is a basis for understanding board of advisors, our alumni and students,
throughout Europe: Barcelona, Spain; Geneva industry and market dynamics. The reasons our faculty members – our communities.
and Montreux, Switzerland; and Munich, for a global perspective are numerous, not Constant monitoring of our environment and
Germany. Students have the opportunity to least the need to understand people and to understanding industry needs are essential and
seamlessly transfer between campuses at the understand different perspectives, which reviewing and updating programme content
end of any term to enhance their international is why European University ensures an and delivery styles is vital. We are training our
experience. They may also consider studying a international background in its student students to face business challenges; it is our
term at one of EU’s partner universities. body, faculty and staff. duty to be role models.
Alumni feedback indicates that it is,
indeed, the international, practical working Stakeholder ROI
environment and transfer opportunities Ensuring that we rise to market challenges
which give them a competitive advantage in and continue to meet student demands goes
Biography
the workplace. across industries and organisations; to be
Ø Professor Christine Clarke is Dean of the
A global perspective is not an option, continually aware of our environment and plan European University Barcelona campus.
but an imperative. Value chains tend to be ahead. In practical terms, it means we listen
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