• Fresh international talent

The new academic year once again sees the arrival of many foreign students at the two campuses of Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School. We spoke to a few of them at the welcome day for international students.

Judith Escalier Revollo (Bolivia)

A diploma in commercial engineering from Bolivia is not worth much in Europe. This was one of the first conclusions Judith Escalier Revollo was forced to come to when she arrived here two and a half years ago. London felt like the city of opportunity. And, of course, a great place to improve her English. “But now I’ve reached the stage in life where I want to raise my career to a higher level,” she explains. The search for the perfect masters programme was not an easy one. “I was looking around in London, but quite early on my attention was drawn to some schools on mainland Europe.” She checked out Rotterdam Business School and also heard some Bolivian friends talking about the good universities in Belgium. “They advised me to go to Ghent University or K.U.Leuven. But I couldn’t find the right programme, as I’m primarily interested in management education.” Our parent universities led her to Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School, where she has just started her Masters in General Management. “I’ve been to Belgium a couple of times now. It really is a very charming country. I think I’m going to like it here!”

Anastasia Pekarskaya (Russia)

Anastasia studied marketing for five years in Moscow, which led to a job in the marketing department of a Russian pasta company for the next three years. But her growing thirst for knowledge was still not quenched. “I wanted to go west to do a Master’s degree. And also get a taste of European life.” Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School was the obvious choice, as she was looking for a top school in the heart of Europe. “I also like the idea that this is a relatively small school, which means that we’re not treated as numbers, but as individuals. And I also believe Vlerick is more innovative and enthusiastic than the bigger schools in Europe.” Anastasia is really enjoying the peaceful life in Belgium. “Moscow can be so hectic. Here, you can always find a seat on the train and enough space to walk about when you have to go somewhere in town. Ghent is the perfect city to get to know the Belgians. I have some friends living in Brussels, but in the capital you just don’t get the same Belgian feeling.” Anastasia Pekarskaya is studying for a Masters in Marketing Management at our School. “I’m so excited! This is going to be a great experience!”

The Kofi Annan Fellows

This year we welcome the first Kofi Annan Fellows to the School. Five students from developing countries such as Peru, Kenya, Indonesia, Zambia and India will be studying for a fully sponsored Master’s or MBA at Vlerick. Upon graduation, they will also be helped to return to their native country and set up their own business there. The Kofi Annan Business School Foundation is an implementation of the UN Millennium Development Goals project that stresses the importance of knowledge exchange between Southern and Western universities. It is a joint initiative of the Dutch Public Advice International Foundation (PA International), Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School and Hogeschool Utrecht University of Applied Sciences. The most promising students and young professionals from developing countries have been selected to take a business degree at one of the top schools in Europe. The students will receive an excellent entrepreneurial education and the chance to build an international network. They will also gain practical experience by carrying out a project in their country of origin. The European universities will liaise with colleagues from local academic institutions to help them with the theoretical background for these projects. This year Vlerick and the other two partners are coordinating the pilot project. If it is successful, we are hoping to attract more academic and corporate partners. And even more Kofi Annan Fellows.

Student Profile 2007-2008

Masters

Masters
Number	190
Gender
Male	138
Female	52
Degree
Economics	74
Engineering	43
Exact sciences	22
Law/Criminology/Pol & Soc	40
Medicine/Pharmacy/Physical	5
Philology/Philosophy/Art sciences	5
Psychology	1
Nationality
Belgian	163
non Belgian* *19 different nationalities	27

Full-time MBA
Number	46
Gender
Male	29
Female	17
Average years work experience	6
Nationality
Belgian	4
non Belgian* *29 different nationalities	42

Part-time MBA
Number	175
Gender
Male	153
Female	22
Average years work experience	8,8
Average age	32,9
Nationalities
Belgian	141
non Belgian* *15 different nationalities	34

Orator - September 2007