As a Masters in General Management student, from next academic year onwards you will be able to opt for a specialisation in Business Analytics (BA). “Supplementing your general management skills with analytical skills will help you to become the data-savvy manager that everyone wants and progress through the ranks quickly.” Sound good? Professor of Business Analytics Philippe Baecke and Senior Career Advisor Wendy Lisarde answer five questions.

The current pandemic has forced companies to reinvent themselves and put innovation higher on the agenda. Consequently, innovation has outgrown the “creative thinking box” and become more accountable. The logical Vlerick response was to redesign our Masters in Innovation & Entrepreneurship to focus more clearly on managing, measuring and valuing innovation. Programme Manager Robin Kleer and Career Advisor Emilia Konttinen explain what has changed.

The Belgian Association of Marketing (BAM) is launching the Institute for Meaningful Marketing (IMM) together with the leading Belgian business schools Vlerick Business School and Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management. The Institute’s goal is to train marketeers to be curators of client-focused innovation and transformation projects. To this end, BAM has also devised the certification process through which students can be awarded a Certificate for Meaningful Marketing.

Over the last two months 1351 executive programme participants, 264 masters students and 220 MBA students took the leap to learn online with us. We count our blessings for being surrounded with such a warm and supportive Vlerick community. So from all of us to all of you: THANK YOU! You rock!

Vlerick’s Masters in Financial Management programme has improved its position in this year’s Financial Times Global Masters in Finance Ranking by 3 spots. We are now ranked at 23 worldwide, thus entering the global top 25. On a European level, we also rise 3 places going from 22 to 19. And in the Benelux, we maintain our number 1 position. Our CFA-accredited programme provides an excellent broad and in-depth corporate finance education, complemented with relevant managerial skills. Currently, the programme has 62 students representing 19 different nationalities.

According to the 2020 Financial Times Executive Education Ranking, Vlerick Business School remains for the ninth year in a row the #1 ranked provider of executive education in the Benelux. We are also the only Belgian business school to be ranked in the combined ranking of 50 business schools worldwide, offering both open and customised programmes. On a European level, we maintain our top 20 position, rising from 18 to 16. And finally, on a global level we rise 4 places, going from 31 to 27.

As universities across the world transition to online learning programmes in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, QS Quacquarelli Symonds have released their annual list of the world’s best online MBA providers. Ranked for the first time, Vlerick’s Online MBA programme immediately holds the 12th position. We’re also the only BeNeLux business school to be featured in this list. The 2020 edition of the list names 47 programmes worldwide, with Spain’s IE Business School ranked number one for the fourth consecutive year.

With the spread of COVID-19 and encouraged social distancing, business schools globally have faced tough decisions on whether to shift their teaching to a fully online model or cancel classes all together. This becomes an even more difficult decision when it comes to programmes and classes that involve interaction with external companies, such as our Global Supply Chain Strategy Bootcamp together with our Prime Foundation Partner Lineas. Thanks to our extensive experience with online learning and everyone’s flexibility and willingness to make this work, we successfully transitioned the bootcamp to online.

We’re excited to launch the Global Executive MBA this spring. Starting on April 20, 2020, it’s designed to help participants strengthen their truly global mindset, so they can become leaders who make a lasting positive impact on society.

Places for the first edition were snapped up in a flash, and the second edition promises to fill up fast too. The Belgian Energy Crash Course not only meets the needs for solid knowledge of the new employees at the traditional market players who do not have a background in the sector. The programme also literally energises a community that will continue to exist after its completion.