Testimonials Independent Executive MBA
Miguel Gomez, Portugual
My selection of the
Independent executive MBA program was a combination of various factors.
I could not afford a full-time programme due to work constraints, consequently a
part-time programme was the only possible choice. The every 3rd
weekend programme structure enabled me to clearly separate work and study. And
the change of scenery between Leuven and Amsterdam brings a extra cultural
incentive.
Small-size classes and a medium/high average age of participants were of key significance for my selection of the programme. The smaller class size enables interactive lecturing, where cases are discussed instead of described, and allows one to take advantage of the knowledge that an experienced group of fellow executives can provide.
Finally, the combination of the two university degrees provides the best of two institutions. The reputations of Vlerick and ABS guarantee very high market recognition and grant us access to extensive alumni organisations.
Deepshikha Birla, India
The Independent executive
MBA programme offered is a perfect recipe for professionals like me who wish to
gain access to top-notch management education while being able to fully focus on
my career. The range and breadth of the course content offered, allows in-depth
learning and is enriched further, by the high quality of teaching staff and
the collective experience of highly experienced international classmates. It all
adds up to make a perfect combination that enables one to turbo charge its
careers!
Denis Onneweer, The Netherlands
The strength of two
combined in one MBA
Being a management consultant and programme manager, I felt the need to broaden my horizon and improve both entrepreneurial and managerial knowledge and skills. I chose the independant EMBA because it combines the strength of two excellent business schools in a fair priced package of high-quality education tailored to the needs of experienced full-time professionals.
Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School is renowned for its focus on entrepeneurship. Amsterdam business school is respected for its strength in finance. Add to this the typical other managerial topics and you have a very strong package to offer. This programme enables me to fully absorb the typical characteristics and angles of each of the two business schools.
The typical student group size of 30-40 students ensures that each student gets the attention needed or deserved and gets me the most out of the classes and professors. The professors are eager to share the latest knowledge and offer a sound mix of theory, cases and individual or group assignments.
The background of the students is diverse, both in geographic composition and professional background. I work with people from a number of countries, from marketing, sales, to general management. This opens up new perspectives on shared issues.
Last but not least is the schedule of weekend classes every three weeks, with the residential weeks and the international study week as an extra. Add to this the length of the progamme of 18 months. This is perfect for the working professional. To manage this requires thorough time management and proper arrangements with family and friends. Yet the reward is there after 18 months, after which you can join ranks of both Vlerick and Amsterdam alumni!
Isabelle Van Obergen, Belgium
Doing an MBA has always
been a personal goal of mine. Having come to a point of 12 years of working
experience and 3 kids, I started exploring the opportunity and possibility to go
for this challenge. Some of the elements I had to consider were the combination
of the MBA effort (lectures and study time) with a demanding management position
in a multinational company. In addition, I was looking for a truly international
experience where I could meet with people with different backgrounds and
different stories, all wanting to grow.
Taking all this into account I was very lucky that the Independent Executive MBA Program was just launched at that time: this programme's setting was exactly what I was looking for with weekend classes alternating with 3 residential weeks, an international group of students with various professional histories, in easy-to-reach locations, and with a reasonable duration of completion of the programme. The teaching methods were quite high standard, creative and appealing to everyone's skills and competences.
I found myself in a group of enthusiastic students and we formed a solid team right from the start on, willing to exchange and share knowledge and to support each other during study or group preparations. The informal team events we planned in between were all great opportunities to get to know each other better and to unwind and have fun all together.
Achieving this MBA qualification was for me a sort of crowning glory of the first part of my career and I am sure it will give me the right insights and courage to head for a new challenge.
Marty Thomas, Switzerland
The Independent Executive
MBA of Vlerick and University of Amsterdam combines the flexibility of having
courses only every three weeks with the intensity of a full two days of classes.
I find this schedule particularly suitable for someone who has frequent
traveling as part of her or his work or whose job does not permit reducing
working time in order to take the classical part-time MBA. Class time is
scheduled so that you can get to the teaching location on Saturday morning and
be home on Sunday evening. This way, a regular work week is possible, whilst the
two weekends between classes give extra time for reading and class preparation.