Would you like to learn Chinese Universities’ strategy to increase local and international student numbers despite the pandemic?

Are you keen to understand how Chinese universities succeeded in improving their average rank in 2022?

If so, register for the virtual QS Higher Ed Summit: China on 13-14 April 2022!

The Summit will focus on “Knowledge Environments: Expanding education during and after the pandemic” and aims to gather local and international Chinese Higher Education experts to provide a roadmap to China’s success and explore what aspects of this region’s strategy can be replicated in other countries.

The four main topics debated will be:

• The ‘’Growth and Opportunities’’ sessions will debate what are the influences impacting the decision-making of leaders in the region and how universities, both within and outside of the region, can prepare for the future; 

• The ‘’Exporting Research’’ sessions will explore what opportunities exist for international and cross-sectorial collaboration and how research initiatives are changing over time in the region; 

• ‘’Creating a New Destination Market’’ will investigate what can be learnt from China’s success, why students are attracted to it as a study destination and how this can be sustained 

• The ‘’New Virtual Education’’ sessions will aim to reveal what are the challenges to offering online and virtual education in China and what considerations need to be made in developing new opportunities for teaching and learning

QS China Summit speakers line up include:

• Irwin King, Director, Centre for ELearning Innovation and Technology (ELITE), The Chinese University of Hong Kong

• Prof. Dr. Themin Suwardy, Associate Provost, Singapore Management University

• Winnie Eley, Secretary to Governing Board of CityU (Dongguan), City University of Hong Kong

• Prof. Pei-Shan Tsai, Dean of Office of Global Engagement & Professor of Nursing, Taipei Medical University

• Dr. Miguel Antonio Lim, Senior Lecturer in Education and International Development, The University of Manchester

• Prof. Leonard K. Cheng, President, Lingnan University

• Prof. Nigel Healey, Interim Provost and Deputy President, University of Limerick

• Martin Lockett, Dean and Professor in Strategic Management, Nottingham University Business School China

The Summit represents an excellent opportunity for you to join hundreds of higher education leaders from China and the region coming together to network, create strategic partnerships, and learn more about China’s education sector latest trends.  

You can reserve a free limited access ticket or a full access ticket here.

Sponsored by Bocconi University

Attending a summer school as an undergraduate student has many benefits. It’s a great way to gain a better understanding about a topic of interest or learn more about a university before applying to a programme – particularly if you’re an international student.

To give international students an insight into university life in Milan, Bocconi University in Italy is running a three-week-long summer school from 27 June to 15 July 2022, offering a variety of programmes both in person and online. Students can choose one topic in the fields of management, entrepreneurship, digital marketing, finance, economics and each course lasts three weeks.

So, if you’re interested in attending a summer school as an international student, here are four reasons why you should. 

Learn more about a university or programme

A university summer school will offer an exclusive insight into a university’s programme and methods of teaching. If you’re considering a postgraduate degree, a summer school can be a great opportunity to find out if this is the right programme – and university – for you.

MSc Management student David Donev attended Bocconi University’s summer school online in 2020. Originally from Hungary, David used the summer school as an opportunity to learn more about Bocconi University before pursuing his master’s there.

He said: “I had the chance to get an understanding of a specific aspect of finance through the interactive teaching methods of Professor Gigante and to take a peek into the academic environment of Bocconi - which has convinced me to pursue my MSc at the institution.”

Xinyun Li had a similar experience. Initially from China, Xinyun decided to start a postgraduate programme at Bocconi after attending Bocconi’s summer school in Milan in 2016. 

“As a business student and football fan, there was nothing more thrilling than participating in an interdisciplinary course in sports management. This allowed me to gain a pretty comprehensive view of the sports industry from finance, marketing and management aspects,” said Xinyun.

Xinyun is currently studying economics and management in arts, culture, media and entertainment at Bocconi University. Attending the summer school at Bocconi played a large part in her decision to study there.

“When weighing various graduate programme offers, I considered my experience at Bocconi Summer School as one of the crucial factors in my final choice,” she said. 

“I believe Bocconi’s summer school offers a great chance to learn about the academic environment there,” she added.

Discover a flexible way of learning

Bocconi University’s online summer school programmes offer the flexibility to learn more about a school without having to travel. This makes them a great option for international students.

At Bocconi University if you choose to attend an online summer school, you’ll attend courses through an interactive platform, streaming classes which let you interact with professors and classmates. 

“I consider the introduction of the remote version of Bocconi Summer University very fortunate, as it has allowed me to participate in the programme while working as an intern in my home country,” said David.

Gain valuable business connections

One of the big draws of a university summer school is the people you’ll meet. You will get to know other students from around the world and work with peers from different countries and cultures. 

Xinyun explained how the social aspects of the summer school helped her meet new people in a relaxed atmosphere. 

 “Aside from the lectures, there were well-organized visits to Adidas Italia, San Siro stadium and Vero Volley Monza. We had access to the VIP lounge, welcome gifts and chances to talk with senior managers,” she said.

“It was the perfect combination of lectures, company visits and cultural immersion,” she added.

Immerse yourself in the culture

Studying abroad can be intimidating if you’re not sure what to expect. Luckily a summer school can prepare you for studying abroad. Whether you choose to attend a summer school in person or online, you will gain an insight into student life at the university and immerse yourself in the local culture.

“After-school activities, such as the cooking class and the city walk made it possible for me to surround myself in Italian culture,” said Xinyun, who studied at the in-person summer school in Milan.

David also enjoyed this aspect of the summer school.

He said: “I could immerse myself in the Italian way of living through online activities like the cooking class, in which we cooked a traditional Italian pasta recipe called cavatelli. 

“This, and building valuable relationships through the online groups, made the summer school a truly unforgettable memory.”

If you’re interested in further developing your knowledge in management, entrepreneurship, digital marketing, finance or economics and you want to discover more about studying at an Italian university, Bocconi University is opening up its summer school to motivated international students.

There are plenty of courses to choose from so whether you’re looking to study online or in person, you can find a programme that suits you.

US MBA applicants are increasingly choosing alternatives to a domestic full-time MBA programme, according to a recent QS survey. 

Assistant Professor James Berry, Director of UCL's Online MBA, explains the changes he’s seen in the applicant pool, with 12 percent of their online MBA cohort now studying remotely from the US. 

He said: “We only launched our online MBA in October 2019 and it has grown from two North American students in the first cohort to eight studying the programme currently, out of a total of 65 students.  

“Studying in Europe compared to the US is certainly less expensive. Being able to gain a European qualification online also means that there’s no need to quit your job and invest in travel, living costs and accommodation alongside your tuition fees. 

Pull factors: Why an online MBA? 

Dr Berry recognises that the pandemic has been an influencing factor on changing attitudes towards online learning in general: “The pandemic has allowed us to work and interact differently so our expectations of what is possible remotely have changed. There has been a proliferation of online educational opportunities, some of high quality and some of more dubious quality.  

“What remains unique about an MBA from a leading business school is the interactive learning aspect. What I’ve not seen from micro-credentials is a recreation of this learning environment, where you learn both from faculty and from each other. The depth and value of the MBA is the interactive classroom experience.” 

Push factors: Why are domestic MBA applications in North America falling? 

Over half of business school admissions officers in North America expect a fall in domestic MBA applications over the next 12 months. In our most recent survey of admissions officers working in graduate management education programmes, 52 percent of North American respondents forecast that domestic applications will be slightly lower (30 percent) or much lower (22 percent) in 2022.  

The downturn is also reflected in the fall in GMAT tests taken domestically in the US. A total of 79,746 GMAT exams were taken by citizens of the USA in 2017, compared to 38,509 in 2021. 

Nunzio Quacquarelli, founder and CEO of QS Quacquarelli Symonds, said: “There has been a lot of discussion about the ‘great resignation’ in the US. It’s likely that what we’re seeing here is that the buoyancy in job vacancies is presenting sufficient opportunities for career mobility for aspiring managers, so there is less of an incentive to invest in an MBA to develop their skills and accelerate their career progression.  

“What we’re likely to be seeing here is that potential MBA candidates in North America are currently thinking ‘job-first’ and not considering taking time out of their careers to study.

"In my experience, MBA demand is counter cyclical. With interest rates rising and market volatility, this situation could change quickly and MBA demand for full-time MBA studies in 2023 could see a significant uplift."

With domestic applications falling, US business schools can at least take comfort from the fact international applications are on the rise. 91 percent of North American admissions officers expect international applications to be the same or slightly higher.  

It is possible that this represents a lag in applications which were delayed or deferred as a result of restrictions and health concerns during the pandemic, rather than a huge upsurge. However, it shows that an MBA from a leading business school remains a gold standard in global graduate management education. 

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Sponsored by Bocconi University

Do you dream of working at a well-known social media company after graduation?

Meet Bocconi University alumnus Zhenyu Rong. Since graduating from university, Zhenyu has been working at Tencent’s WeChat, a messenger and social media app used by more than one billion users around the world.

In his role, Zhenyu helps enterprises achieve digital transformation through WeChat’s capabilities to better serve their customers.

QSChina caught up with Zhenyu to find out more about his career journey and how studying a master's degree at Bocconi University in Italy helped secure his job with WeChat in Mainland China.

Deciding to study abroad in Italy

After studying a bachelor's degree in finance at a university in mainland China, Zhenyu was looking expand his knowledge in accounting and management.

For his master’s degree, Zhenyu was keen to study abroad and experience a diverse learning environment. The idea of studying and potentially working in Europe greatly appealed to him.

“As an international student, the reason for choosing a country to study abroad depends to a certain extent on the culture and job opportunities available after graduation,” said Zhenyu.

Zhenyu was initially attracted by Bocconi University's excellent reputation and its prime location in the Italian city of Milan - a city that attracts many international companies.

“Italy is a fantastic country with tremendous culture, cuisine, and architecture. I am a person who is keen to learn about history and architecture,” he said.

It was for these reasons that Zhenyu decided to study the Master of Science in Accounting, Financial Management and Control at Bocconi University.

Gaining work experience and building up his resume

Zhenyu’s career greatly benefited from the extensive careers services available at Bocconi University. The university boasts a high graduate employment rate, with 94 percent of the school’s 2019 graduates in work within one year after graduating.

Bocconi University’s career services include mock interviews, CV and cover letter help, careers workshops and one-to-one personalised careers advice to help students better understand the career paths available to them.

Students can also benefit from frequent in-company training programmes and other job-focused events, which help them learn about specific sectors and industries.

“I participated in an in-company training programme in London which was very helpful for my knowledge of the job market in London,” said Zhenyu. “I also attended several job events, such as the investment banking and consulting week. It’s surprising to see the power of the Bocconi community in commercial areas.”

JobGate is Bocconi University’s online job platform, updated daily by employers and showing internship and placement opportunities in Italy and abroad. This platform helps bridge the gap between employers and students, allowing students to easily connect with top employers.

While studying his master’s degree, Zhenyu used JobGate to find his internship at international banking firm Unicredit. In this internship he was responsible for managing some of the leverage buy out (LBO) projects at Unicredit’s headquarters in Milan.

“This internship offered me an environment that is challenging and amazing. I worked with colleagues from different countries and regions all over the world. It felt so special and I still remember a lot about that summer,” he said.

Launching an international career

After graduation, however, Zhenyu decided that he wanted to move away from finance and work in the technology industry.

“I prefer the innovative technology industry, as I believe it can make a greater difference to society,” he said.

Zhenyu’s hard work in his degree and internships paid off and he was rewarded with a number of job offers in companies across Europe.

However, Zhengyu decided to return to mainland China.

“Through my experience of living and traveling in different countries, I know there was a huge innovation wave in China in the tech sector,” said Zhenyu. It was here that Zhenyu was offered his job at Tencent’s WeChat.

“I enjoy the environment: working with smart and open-minded colleagues and helping our partners to achieve success,” said Zhenyu.

Zhenyu is not the only Bocconi graduate with a successful international career, with many of Zhenyu’s classmates getting jobs around the world. Of the 2019 graduates, 33 percent found work outside Italy.

For Zhenyu, it is the friendships at Bocconi that stood out to him

“I feel that the most rewarding part of my master's is not the knowledge in the classroom or the grade I got. The most epic part is the people of Bocconi - the Bocconi community. I have met a lot of outstanding people there,” he said.

Sponsored by Bocconi University

Putting together your master’s degree application takes time and planning, particularly if you’re looking to study at a top business school.  

Ensuring you have all the relevant information about the application process and the programme is the best way to boost your chances of success when applying to study a master’s degree.

Bocconi University in Italy, ranked among the best five business schools in Europe by the Financial Times, offers a variety of MSc degrees in both English and Italian. It hosts networking events throughout the year for students looking to learn more about the Graduate programmes offered by Bocconi University.

We spoke to Bocconi University’s Students Division Director, Paolo Cancelli, to find out what international applicants need to know about applying for a master’s degree a top business school such as Bocconi.

What does the application process at Bocconi University look like for master’s degrees? 

Bocconi University has three main stages when screening international candidates’ applications.

Stage one: GMAT or GRE scores

Bocconi looks at this quantitative test to compare candidates in the most objective way. Applicants submit their overall score (in the verbal and quantitative sections) and there is no minimum requested result.

Stage two: Academic background

Applicants will need to submit their grade point average (GPA) earned in their undergraduate degree. 

Stage three: CV and personal statement

The third part of the application is the CV and personal statement. Programme directors will consider this qualitative section to evaluate the candidate’s suitability for the programmes.  

Possible stage four: Video interview

A video interview may be required for some programmes. The interview will give candidates the opportunity to talk more about their motivation and interest for Bocconi and the programmes.

How important is it to have previous work experience when applying to business school? 

Work experience is not a mandatory requirement for applicants interested in joining Bocconi for their master’s degree.

In the Italian education system, students often graduate from their bachelor’s degree and immediately start their master’s. MSc programmes at Bocconi are designed to give students an in-depth overview on a specific sector, industry or function into a company.

If you do have work experience - preferably up to two years - don’t forget to include it in your CV. This is valuable information to evaluate your background.

How should students prepare for applying to an MSc programme at a top business school, such as Bocconi? 

Prospective students interested in Bocconi should consider the timing of their application.

Bocconi University offers five application rounds for international applicants, starting from mid-September until the end of May. Each round is considered separately, on a rolling basis, meaning that applications are reviewed as they come in.

Generally, the sooner an applicant applies the better, as there are more places and scholarships available. On the other hand, these will be assigned up until the fifth round, so take your time when preparing your application. Set aside enough time to prepare for your GMAT or GRE test.

Prospective students can apply for multiple programmes at once. Bocconi University offers several programmes in the fields of the social sciences area and prospective students can apply to up to five programmes in order of preference.

Non-admitted students can apply again for the same academic year. At least one element of the online application will need to be changed when the application is submitted for the second time.

For special programmes, students need to pay more attention to the specific requirements and deadlines.

What do you look for in a successful application?  

Bocconi University is looking for brilliant young talents to join the MSc programmes.

We organise plenty of activities each year, so attend one and find out more about Bocconi. This background information will help when writing your personal statement as it’ll show you researched the university and programmes.

The next upcoming virtual events are:

·       Bocconi Meets China event on 18 November 2021. Bocconi Meets events provide a unique opportunity for prospective students, parents, teachers and the business and educational community to get to know our university through the words of Bocconi representatives living in your country.

·       Virtual Open Day on 11 December 2021. The open day is a fantastic chance to interact with current students and course directors to have a clear understanding of what to expect from Bocconi, clarify your doubts and ask your questions.

·       Masterclasses on 24 January, 24 February, 30 March 2022. Broaden your knowledge and delve into current issues, attending our free interactive classes. Take advantage of exclusive content brought to you from our top-notch international faculty.

What common mistakes should applicants avoid? 

If you are interested in applying to Bocconi master’s degrees you should be aware of some common mistakes to avoid:

Never underestimate the personal statement

The personal statement will give programme directors an idea of your suitability for the degree programme. In the personal statement, try not to repeat the exact same information that’s included in your CV.

Instead, focus on your motivation for studying in Italy, at Bocconi and in the specific programmes of your interest.

IELTS is not essential for all postgraduate programmes

A prior knowledge of Italian is not required if you’re applying to an English-taught programme, but all international students will have a chance to attend an Italian course at the introductory level.

English will only be required in case of admission at the enrollment stage. 

You can apply in the last year of your undergraduate degree

This is a perfect time to apply. The admissions team will consider the grades from your bachelor’s degree when you submit your application.

Be different and highlight your uniqueness

Bocconi is looking for talented individuals who have the courage to challenge themselves and take on responsibility.

Diversity in backgrounds is an advantage. Your personal, unique perspective may be exactly what we are looking for.

Whether you have an economics/business background or not, Bocconi offers the possibility to attend free of charge pre-courses before the start of the official classes, to make sure everyone starts on the same level.

What would you like to see more of in business school applications? 

There are five things I would like to see more of in business school applications:

·       A drive to succeed

·       Long-term vision

·       Willingness to achieve high standards

·       Passion to work hard to reach your goals

·       An inclusive mindset that is open to diversity

What five tips would you offer to Chinese students applying to a top business school? 

Figure out your interests and motivation before sending out your application

Sometimes Chinese students pay too much attention on the rankings of the school and the programme and ignore their real interests. If your motivation is not clearly presented, it’s easy to fail the application because the school can't see your passion in the subject.

Go through the course structure of each programme

Looking through the modules you’ll be taking as well as the course structure is a good way to see if it’s the programme you’re looking for.

Location matters

A good school location can give you a better student experience and more job opportunities, giving you the option to take on internships and travel.

To learn about the school’s location, you could either visit the school in-person or make use of online resources, such as the school’s WeChat account. Once you know more about the city, the school and the programme, you will be able to prepare a more persuasive personal statement.

Make use of the university's website

The university’s official website contains the most updated information for students. When preparing your application, please do check the website from time to time as sometimes the admission dates or the entrance requirements change.

Stay in touch with admissions officer

Schedule a meeting or call with your school’s admissions officer or local representative to get more information and answer any questions you might have.