BBA students visited Wenger, manufacturer of high-end outdoor wear and watches but famous worldwide for the unmatched quality of its Swiss Army Knives.
The group was welcomed by Mr. Peter Hug, CEO who gave a presentation on the company’s cutting-edge corporate strategy and future challenges for the Swiss brand. The presentation was followed by lunch on the Geneva site, and the Wenger team made EU students feel welcome throughout their stay.
Mr. Peter Hug is also a current incumbent on the European University Board of Trustees.
The Yirwal Women’s Association, a village in the West African country of Burkina Faso, wrote to give the university some very positive feedback after an EU donation enabled the community there to construct two flour mills.
They report that they have created a trust to generate revenue from the mills, which are also used by inhabitants of nearby villages. This is bringing revenue to the Association, helping them to advance agricultural projects and pay for the maintenance of the mills.
Chicken is a staple of the Burkina Faso diet and as they are fed with corn extracts, it is a profitable business. Money raised has been invested in solar powered electricity to the village school. This means that the building can be used at night, and an Association representative will approach the local Minister of Education to see if a project to enhance adult literacy in Yirwal can be approved.
Previous articles can be found in the February 2010 EU E-Newsletter and EU Today 15/Summer 2010, available in both print and online versions.
Verena Engenhart, consultant at PR international OHA Communication in Stuttgart, Germany was invited to European University to lecture students on effective communication in PR.
The goal of the session was to make the next generation of managers aware of how PR professionals approach communication. Ms. Engenhart started by explaining how focused communication can motivate a target demographic and which means of communication are used in PR in 2010. She explained how to call attention to a brand and how to gain the trust of the public, stressing that matching an organization with the ideal communication platform is one of the high arts of PR today.
Students met with Ms. Engenhart after the presentation for a Q&A session to discuss potential barriers and challenges in today’s PR. They were also particularly interested in quizzing her over the function of new social online media as a PR tool.
Thanks to Prof. Zank.
A mid-semester celebration was held on 30 April 2010 at one of Munich’s premier nightclubs, Feinkost Electronica Lounge. European University Munich’s student board organized the private catered event at the venue in Munich’s stylish Lehel city quarter and was attended by both Graduate and Undergraduate students as well as EU Munich’s professors and administration.
Featuring a state-of-the-art sound-responsive LED lighting system along with the electronic sounds home to Feinkost Electronica, the party ran on into the early hours. The student board is also currently organizing semester end and commencement celebration spectaculars that are sure to eclipse this mid-term event.
Thanks to the Student Board for the pictures and text.
European University students visited one of the most important financial centers of the world: Frankfurt. In one day the students visited both the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the European Central Bank.
The Frankfurt Stock Exchange is one of the world’s largest trading centers for securities. With a share in turnover of more than 90 percent, it is the largest of Germany’s seven stock exchanges. Deutsche Börse AG operates the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, an entity under public law. In this capacity it ensures the smooth functioning of exchange trading in Frankfurt.
The Frankfurt Stock Exchange facilitates advanced electronic trading, settlement and information systems. Thus, it is able to meet the steadily growing requirements of cross-border trading.
Having the contact with these two institutions is a key part of the education of European University students. The global impact and international integration of their activities are a very good example of how the Global Economy works.
At the 2010 annual conference of the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE), the Board of Commissioners announced the granting of specialized accreditation of the business degree programs of European University. Business program accreditation by the IACBE assures the high quality of European University business programs. Accredited programs have been examined by trained evaluators who ensure that the IACBE’s standards are being met in eight key areas: outcomes assessment, strategic planning, curriculum, faculty, scholarly and professional activities, resources, internal/external relationships, and educational innovation. The quality of the business programs are measured by the accomplishment of the school’s mission and broad-based goals, the effectiveness of student learning, and the operational effectiveness your academic business unit.
John L. Green, Jr., Ph.D, President of the IACBE, notes that, “accreditation is recognition that the business programs of European University have demonstrated academic excellence and an interest in continuous programmatic improvement. The IACBE is especially interested in the continuous assessment of student learning outcomes. The accreditation process is one means of assisting academic business units in equipping graduates to excel in the business world.”
“Accreditation is more than just another credential for institutions,” adds William Parrott, Director of Member Services and International Programs for the IACBE. “Accreditation requires evidence that a school’s programs are meeting high standards and producing measurable, high-quality results.”
Mr. Robin Hilbrink wrote an email to Dr. Dirk Craen, President of European University providing more feedback on his time studying at EU partner institution Nichols College, USA.
- Dear Sir How are you? I am still enjoying my stay at Nichols and the semester is nearly over.
Time is going so fast, which means that I have no regrets at all to come over here. The study itself is going very well. The American study system is different than the European one, but until now the grades are high.
I had no problems with adapting to the American style of studying and living. The campus itself is very nice. I live in one of the newest buildings and we live with 6 people in one dorm. As I mentioned before, my roommate is Espen Saeverud, who studied at the Barcelona Campus. He will be graduating in a month.
He also says that he had no regrets at all to be here. It is a great opportunity to see more of the world. In a few weeks, another student from the Barcelona campus, Christian, will visit us. He graduated last fall. Do you know if there will be more EU students coming in the fall semester of 2010?
If there are so, I am willing to guide them around during the first weeks. Espen has guided me around the first month. He was a great help in order to get settled here. Finally, for my Professional Writing class, I have to hand in a Business proposal. Espen had to do the same thing last year.
He made a report about why Nichols students should be going to a EU campus in Europe. I was thinking about making a report about marketing the dual degree in Switzerland and encourage the students at the EU universities in Switzerland to make use of this Dual degree program. From own experience, I have no regrets at all. I was hoping if you could help me with this case. That was it for now.
Are you still visiting Nichols soon? I am looking forward to reply. Many regards Robin Hilbrink – For more details on EUs exciting partnership see this link or visit directly the Nichols College website.
Germany is a world leader in hosting trade fairs. Every year more than 30,000 exhibitors from over 100 countries and more than 2 million visitors from over 200 countries participate in fairs and exhibitions in Munich.
As these fairs play such an important role in the communication of companies and countries, Prof. Dr. Andrea Haug took the BBA students from her PR and Communication class in EU Munich to the Messe München International (MMI), one of the world’s leading organizers of trade fairs and specializing in capital goods, consumer goods and new technologies. The MMI also organises trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and South America.
Students had the chance to attend two very different types of fair to understand distinct trade-show types and learn how companies choose to reflect their corporate image in order to reinforce their brand.
The first visit was to the Inhorgenta, one of the world’s leading trade fairs for jewellery, watches, gemstones, pearls and associate technology. The students were able to research the latest trends in the jewellery and watch industry with attending industry and retail figures. Inhorgenta hosted 1,143 exhibitors from 38 countries in a net exhibit space of 29,700 square meters.
In contrast to the glitter and glamour of Inhorgenta, the students also visited f.re.e., a trade fair dedicated to the leisure and travel industry and open to the public. A broad range of outdoor activities were represented across 7 exhibition halls: caravanning and mobile recreation, travel, sport and outdoor, health and wellness, boats, water sports and horse riding. The f.r.e.e. fair attracted more than 100,000 visitors that kept the 1,500 exhibitors more than busy.
A delegation of 25 European University Students visited the largest Production Plant of BMW in March. It produces 1200 cars a day, employs 19,000 staff and uses 1,700 Robots. They also have the largest press shop of the automobile industry, working 24 hours a day, 6½ days a week.
The assembly of a car is complex process that involves about 22,000 separate components. The unique BMW approach is based on its core values of quality, safety and sustainability. For example, it uses state-of-the-art technology to paint cars with powder to avoid the use of solvents. In parts of the assembly line it was so quiet and clean that employees were even able to listen to music while working.
Management concepts like Quality Management and Just in Sequence were employed across the factory floor. Just in Sequence, you may ask. That is right. They apply this expression instead of just in time as they normally receive deliveries of more than one piece. It means that if they get 200 pieces delivered at once, just the first will be just in time. The others will be used Just in Sequence.
After the tour in the production plant, students watched a video that provided key information about BMW before returning to Campus.
In which direction will astronomical research go over the next 30 years? This is a key question that the executives at ESO (European Southern Observatory) need to ask themselves before they decide to initiate a new project. Dr. Fernando Comerón, Head of the ESO Data Management and Operations Division in Garching bei München, talked to BBA and MBA students at the EU Munich campus on 23 February 2010. He presented the challenges currently facing ESO, an NGO (Non-governmental organization) specializing in building and managing astrological observatories.
Dr. Comerón introduced a fascinating business model. Depending on current research/development trends, ESO must raise funding, identify the correct scientific components to install and also deal with any political interests until they are able to build a new facility. The fact that this resource must also be made available for research by the scientific community should also be taken into consideration. Astrology is a fast-moving field and so long-term planning carries enormous risk: if research techniques suddenly change, a facility may become obsolete before it is even built.
He continued to underline that the projects which ESO undertake require huge investment. ESO manages an annual budget of about 200€ million. He went on to say that larger projects usually require additional funding, and that ESO must have policy in place to raise this extra capital.
After the study group, students commented that the challenges faced by ESO, a research-oriented NGO, seem similar to those faced by the majority of the international companies. However they were able to identify the important distinctions between careers in a pure research environment and in business management. They also realized that at the end of the day it is all about acquiring and coordinating resources and people to fulfill the needs of key stakeholders.
