Everyone is familiar with the concepts of supply and demand— it is one of the foundations of studying business or economics. Nowhere is this relationship more evident than between students and universities. Did you ever consider that the education supplied by universities must meet the demands of students and vice versa for each group to benefit? This is as true today as it ever was. The world’s first business school was France’s ESCP-EAP, which opened in 1819. The US would not see its first business schoolopen until 1881. For 62 years, American students had to travel overseas to study business, and ever since, North Americans have looked to other countries in order to pursue their business education goals.
Schools such as Insead in France, the London Business School, and IMD in Switzerland offer competitive degrees at least as respected as those in North America. With so many trustworthy, reputable business schools in Europe and elsewhere, opportunities to study abroad are growing. As the global economy is undergoing a complete sea change, it behooves any student to consider the opportunities afforded through foreign studies. Will you be among those individuals who have the education, experience, and ability to fulfill the roles of leadership in today’s globalized economy?
Earning your degree abroad provides numerous personal and professional benefits, and the experience you earn will make you more attractive to businesses around the world. The international MBA experience will put you on the radar as a flexible, multilingual prospect, comfortable in multicultural settings.
There are numerous advantages to studying for an MBA abroad. By living and studying in a foreign country, you’ll gain a new understanding of your personal heritage, culture, and values. On top of this, you will become more independent, self-reliant, and self-confident as you learn to navigate and live comfortably in a different culture. All of these things will make you more attractive as a business or management graduate.
The full immersion experience of living in a different country also affords you the opportunity to learn or master that country’s language at social, academic, and professional levels —a valuable life skill and an impressive addition to any CV. Interacting with the native population and fellow international students allows you to gain greater respect for other cultures, as well as foreign business practices.
Studying abroad will also strengthen your leadership skills because leadership styles differ from one culture or country to the next. You will learn how to work with – and gain a better understanding of — different leadership and business styles. If you manage others, you’ll gain valuable experience working with a diverse team, which will translate in innumerable ways in the business, management, or economic worlds.
If you wish to add international exposure to your MBA experience, then be careful which graduate school you attend — as some offer better opportunities than others. If you want to combine the strengths of a top-notch Canadian business education with the advantages of studying abroad, the MBA program at the Lazardis School of Business &Economics, at WilfridLaurier University offers several options to help you achieve your goals. You may choose to immerse yourself in a different culture by participating in one of their International Study Option courses.
This will give you the valuable experience that employers often look for once you graduate. The Laurier MBA offers you the chance to complement your general MBA with a number of international experience options, which include participating in either the International Business study trip elective or attending an MBA summer school of your choosing. Both options will offer you course credit towards your MBA degree, and this opportunity is available to all MBA candidates.
The International Business Study Trip Elective at Laurier is a two-week excursion that allows you the chance to learn how business operates in a foreign country. Students will participate in business meetings and company tours in the host country, and furthermore, they will gain valuable insight into cultural differences, as well as variations in business practices. Anthony Strong, a recent graduate of Laurier’s MBA program considers the experience foundational to his approach to business learning. “The adventure was an amazing experience. We were able to have an insider’s view of problems faced by different companies and their solutions in action. The knowledge gained about businesses and culture was unlike any academic class because you saw the whole story, unedited. The trip added value that cannot be taught in the classroom.”
Another option open to students at Laurier is the International Summer School, which allows students to attend summer school in a foreign culture. This allows students to study directly at a foreign university and allows student the chance to network with MBA students from all over the world. Students can attend school at Essam in Denmark, Euromed in France, or pursue a summer school option that suits their personal business education needs.
By studying for your MBA at an international university, our exposure to a new culture will allow you to gain a much broader and noticeably more sophisticated worldview as you will find your thoughts and ideas more diversified. As a result, it’ll be easier for you to form partnerships and work effectively to tackle global or multinational challenges, which will of course help you stand out in any job interview.Strong cross-cultural communications and familiarity with international standards, laws, and regulations will make you an appealing candidate, and if you study in a country with an emerging economy, you will be able to respond quickly to an evolving market or industry — a definite plus in any business venture. If you want to excel in today’s global markets, consider the benefits of an international MBA program before applying for your MBA. You’ll be glad you did.