Global MBA, why investing in education during this recovery phase

11 August 2020

An international programme, lasting twelve months, devised to complete the managerial training of professionals who wish to be active players of change: let’s discover what makes BBS Global MBA unique, giving the floor to its Director Marcello Russo.

What are the strengths of the Global MBA at BBS?

A plus of the Global MBA at BBS is for sure the closeness to the world of businesses, that are present both in terms of possibility and design: on the one hand, there are several internship opportunities, as well as available scholarships, corporate activities and project works that involve participants, hands on. On the other, the programme is constantly updated thanks to targeted meetings with the Executive Committee, in order to understand, directly with the managers, what the market is looking for and which are the skills to develop. amIt is the only Global that combines the typical structure of an MBA with 5 specific specializations, thanks to the dedicated tracks.

A local soul with an international outlook, then.

Precisely: it is a highly structured MBA in relation to the needs of the companies of our area, leveraging on innumerable collaborations with Industry Champions of the region Emilia-Romagna. It features an international faculty and every year we have students from all over the world. In this way, we are able to create a strong community that attracts ever-new talents: some of them, then, remain in Italy to cooperate and contribute to the growth of our country; others go back to their areas of origin or take new opportunities in the world, to implement what they have learnt in 12 months in Bologna.

Which are the most popular tracks?

The Global MBA in Supercars, Superbikes and Motorsports is at the top of the list: with the aid of the companies that support us, like Alpha Tauri, Dallara, Ducati, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Marelli and Maserati, we have the ambition of becoming the point of reference in Europe for those who want to establish themselves in the managerial sector connected to automotive. Immediately followed by the Global MBA in Food and Wine, designed to train managers and entrepreneurs able to lead the growth and internationalization of companies in the food and beverage industry. Then, a tie for the Global MBA in Design, Fashion and Luxury Goods, with the aim of establishing a balance between creativity and business in the management of luxury goods companies: we provide managers and entrepreneurs with the know-how developed by the Italian excellence; and the Global MBA in Green Energy and Sustainable Businesses which provides the tools to support and plan new scenarios based on sustainable business models. For the next academic year, we’ll have a new track starting: Automation and Robotics, its aim being to train professionals with advanced skills in the integration of processes, robotics, data analysis and digital transformation to manage these challenges proactively. We’re evaluating with Confindustria [ association representing manufacturing and service companies in Italy], the possibility if proposing this track to partner companies within a B2B framework, so that companies can nominate their talents, leveraging on low-interest financing for training purposes. Speaking about loans, BBS offers complete and partial scholarships and low-interest honour loans up to the coverage of the enrolment fee to attend the Global MBA.

In which way is BBS adapting to this recovery phase?

BBS educational offer meets the challenges that the new economy is confronting us with, in relation to the context we’re experiencing, thus developing leadership skills and anticipating and leading the evolution of a recovery phase are the focus of the Global MBA programme. For the 2020-2021 academic year, the general topic will be the fearless organization, with reference to the essay ‘The Fearless Organization’ by Amy C. Edmonson: training managers who are able to fearlessly face the unexpected and who are able to lead companies in the post-Covid times will be the main focus. We’re actually already active on this front, with the BBS React project, that for a few weeks now has been involving the participants to our Master’s with the aim of helping our territory to rise again, putting themselves to the test on real problems.

Why choose Bologna to study?

The University of Bologna has recently reached the sixth position in the Times Higher Education  ranking: they evaluated 768 universities from 85 different countries in the world, based on parameters such as research, outreach and stewardship. The tradition of the oldest University in the West and the concentration of some of the leading companies at an international level, guarantee a strong connection with the labour world. The BBS Faculty includes national and internationals professors and the Global is supported by a constantly growing business network made up of leading companies. Last but not least, the quality of life in Bologna, at the top of lists on work, health, safety, and cultural offer of the town make a living and studying experience in Italy a truly unforgettable one.