When comparing business master's programmes, it's important to consider more than just the school reputation or the course content. Your degree should also provide valuable networking opportunities, both among your peers and among potential employers.
To learn more about the value of choosing a school with close industry connections and experiential learning opportunities, we spoke to Antonella Moretto, Associate Dean for Open Programmes and Associate Professor of Purchasing Management and Collaborative Innovation for Sustainability at MIP Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Business.
How is teaching in your master's programmes structured?
We have several specialising master's at our school covering different topics, always with a focus and attention on sustainability, innovation and digital transformation. With the specialising master's, you obtain a master’s degree, and you have the possibility of having a direct connection with the work environment as most of our programmes finish with an internship as the final thesis.
In terms of topics, we have master's oriented to investigating the topic of digital transformation, examining how digital tools can support and redesign business. We have other master's focused on specific business functions, such as supply chain, marketing, finance or project management.
We also have some master's in specific industries, such as luxury or energy management. Finally, some innovations since last year, we have introduced some specific master's in the domain of sustainable management.
What are the key details you think potential applicants to your school should be aware of?
I think there are two major details. First of all, our master's have a strong experiential approach. This pertains to teaching activities, which are strongly based on case studies, assignments, challenges and group work sessions.
More importantly, from the beginning of the master's, in parallel with the teaching classes, students have a direct connection with the professional world through both the skills they'll learn which are needed to enter the job market and then by means of a series of professional experiences in connection with companies. Finally, students are given the possibility to have a real internship.
The second point concerns the international and multicultural experience in which they will be immersed, with students from more than 50 countries experiencing the campus and learning from each other how to cope with diversity and multicultural approaches.
How do you anticipate your programmes evolving in the future?
Our programmes are evolving through an ever-stronger connection with companies and the possibility of having practical experiences among different classes, some in Italy and others abroad, to allow students to really design their own “master's experience”.
What opportunities do your programmes offer students beyond the classroom?
Our programmes offer a broad set of extracurricular activities pertaining to challenges and projects with companies, company presentations and workshops on evolving new topics. To give you some evidence, over the last year we had over 3,000 hours of classes given by managers, entrepreneurs and specialists, more than 900 company visits and over 700 projects in partnership with companies.
What are the career outcomes of your programmes for recent graduates?
The work placements are a fundamental part, as almost 90 percent of our students have the possibility of having an internship as their final thesis, before graduation. This opportunity generally translates into a permanent position after graduation, either in Italy or elsewhere in Europe.
