In line with EADA’s goal to encourage networking and connecting students to local and international business, our International Master participants started out the year with opening presentations that took place in landmark companies spread across Barcelona.
The presentation of the finance programmes (International Master in Finance, International Master in Accounting and Financial Management the Master Internacional en Finanzas – Bilingüe) took place in the Banc Sabadell Tower, Bank Sabadell was founded in 1881 and represents one of the largest baking groups in Spain. According to Jaume Bonet, director of the finance programmes, “This presentation represents and tries to communicate a closer relationship between EADA and the real professional world. This is reinforced with company visits and professional conferences along the programme.
Participants of the International Master in Tourism and Hospitality Management were able to enjoy the opening in the iconic Ritz-Carlton Hotel Arts overlooking the Mediterranean on the Port Olimpic. To James Haigh, director of the International Master in Tourism & Hospitality Management, “starting the programme at the Hotel Arts captures the essence of what the master is all about: higher education that is strongly linked to the professional world”. Haigh maintains that “EADA is preparing participants in a pragmatic and applied way, so that they become the future managers of this type of organisation”. Further proof of this commitment to practical, real-world experience is alumna Maddalena D’Attilo, who is currently completing her internship at the Hotel Arts. Haigh insists on the importance of networking, and sees the presentation in the Hotel Arts as a strong first step. “Building a strong network is a key component of a successful career,” he says. “Creating situations such as the programme presentation in the Hotel Arts is a fantastic opportunity to expose participants to key professionals from the industry, several of which are EADA alumni.”
The presentation of the International Master in Marketing and the Master Internacional en Marketing – Bilingüe was held in the recently restored Moritz factory. Today, the factory is home to a world-class brewery, wine bar and gourmet restaurant. “The advantage of having the presentation outside of EADA is that it eliminates the purely academic aspect, putting the participants more at ease to interact with each other as colleagues and young professionals,” says programme director Antony Poole. “The Moritz factory is a great example of multisensorial experiences with brands. It is important for our participants to begin by seeing the end result of what they will be studying for a year. Marketing is not about analysing, debating and generating ideas simply for the sake of it; it is about creating marketing initiatives that build brands and generate sustainable competitive positions for companies.”
For the International Master in Management, the opening presentation was held in the offices of ACCIÓ, the government-sponsored organisation promoting entrepreneurial activities in Barcelona. EADA’s agreement with ACCIÓ provides Management participants with the opportunity to carry out detailed business plans for start-ups and young companies looking to internationalise their businesses during the final project in June. The presenation in ACCIÓ highlights the fact that, according to programme director Nigel Hayes, the master’s programme is not another year of university, but the first step of participants’ professional career. According to Hayes, “EADA is committed to helping participants grow, both professionally and personally, by giving them ample opportunities to network from day 1.”
