ESMT Berlin MBA Offers More Flexibility, Program Duration Extended by 2 Months

ESMT Berlin has updated its full-time MBA curriculum for the upcoming intake in January 2020 to give the students more flexibility in their course choices and bring more practical projects into the classroom, preparing them for the concrete demands of the German labour market.

The one year full-time MBA program’s duration has also been extended by two months to facilitate the transition into the job market and better suited to recruitment patterns in Germany. The program begins in January every year.

ESMT’s updated MBA now includes the opportunity for students to pursue one of several specialization tracks, including Managerial Analytics, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Leadership.

The revised curriculum offers the students an opportunity to acquire additional qualifications such as German language or coding skills, which are especially relevant to tech companies doing business in the country, the School said in a press release.

“More than 90% of our MBA graduates come from abroad, and almost 90% stay on in Germany after their studies,” says Nick Barniville, Associate Dean of Degree Programs at ESMT Berlin.

In addition, it offers a high degree of individualization. After completing the core modules, students can choose between three areas of specialization in the second half of the year: Managerial Analytics, Innovation and Entrepreneurship or Strategic Leadership.

“However, German companies, especially German Mittelstand, tick quite differently than companies in the USA or Britain, countries in which the MBA has a long tradition. Recruiters here don’t just want to hire someone with the potential to be a great leader but are looking for candidates who also have specific, highly practical skills. That’s what this MBA is designed for,” he says.

The updated MBA curriculum has a specific focus not just on developing leaders, but also on developing specific technical skills such as data analytics and coding, a combination that is sought after in Germany.

In addition, it offers a high degree of individualization. After completing the core modules, students can choose between three areas of specialization in the second half of the year: Managerial Analytics, Innovation and Entrepreneurship or Strategic Leadership.

The curriculum also comprises an optional pre and post-MBA program in which students can take an intensive language course, do an internship, or participate in a coding boot camp. Within this period, they can also choose to do a six-month Responsible Leadership Fellowship in a developing country or set up their own business at a start-up incubator.

The MBA at ESMT is based half on formal coursework, while a significant portion focuses on valuable experience outside the classroom.

In addition to the core curriculum, students have a variety of options to enrich their MBA experience with further international exposure.

Every year, ESMT MBA students begin their journey in January and finish in February of the following year. The ESMT faculty designed all courses, including their sequence, to focus on the conjunction of theory and practice for the current and future challenges faced by global leaders.

The program is divided into four modules or course groups. Each module builds on the previous courses to challenge students to think strategically, initiate creative solutions, and work in dynamic, international teams. Read below to see the full course offering in the MBA program.(Image Source:wikipedia.org)