Exchange to EM Lyon
Peter Tangalos
When I first entertained the idea of an MBA, it was motivated by a desire to broaden my horizons outside the current geography and professional field that I was working in. Having completed the core components of the course I began to entertain the idea of an International Exchange to a European Business School.
The choice of a European Business School was in large part motivated by a desire to work in the European market on completion of my MBA, and the completion of a semester full time, allowed me the luxury of completing the MBA ahead of what I had previously scheduled.
The choice of EM Lyon was based on a number of factors:
- The plaudits the school had received for its International MBA programme
- Positive experience shared by colleagues of mine who had studied there in the past
- The experience of taking oneself out of a comfort zone, and settling into a culture where I neither spoke the language nor knew anyone in the city.
The programme was conducted in English and included students from places as diverse as Indonesia, Mexico, U.K., Belgium, Spain, Morroco, Taiwan, and Japan.
The format was largely case study based. Subjects such as Operations Management looked at production techniques that revolutionized entire industries such as Dr. Fyodorov "The Henry Ford of Opthalmology". While Business Environment was a detailed look into the structure and psyche of various European countries and cultures, such as Germany, Spain and of course France and how this might impact ones ability to do business there. This emphasis on the practical rather than the theoretical meant that the classes themselves were far more interactive and with the diverse group on hand, the contrasting experiences were illuminating.
The university campus is about 15-20 minutes out of Lyon proper in Ecully. The campus has undergraduate and postgraduate programmes which underpins a vibrant student community. The programme is therefore not all about study and results, there are number of cultural programmes and activities one can participate in. This included all manner of winter sports from football to skiing, or trips to nearby wine regions such as Beaujolais. With Paris 3 hours to the north and the culturally diverse Marseille two hours south on the Mediterranean you get a real sense of the cultural and regional diversity that exists in France, it is very much a microcosm of the broader European continent.
Depending on when you go you enjoy some of the more famous festivals that Lyon has to offer such as the “Fete des Lumieres” or Festival of Lights which takes place every December
What is a joy regardless of the season is the view from the 19th century Catholic cathedral, Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere, which sits atop of Lyon or a walk around the cobblestone streets of the Old City which is World Heritage Listed and protected by UNESCO.
Lyon is regarded as the culinary capital of France therefore somewhat appropriately you will likely be spending plenty of time in the communal kitchens on campus, partly because exchange rates as they are don’t allow the extravagance of dining out every evening, but also because it’s a natural meeting place for all members of the student fraternity.
Remember that the MBA is a programme that is designed to stretch your capabilities, to introduce new concepts and broaden your horizons. An International Exchange offers all that, but one must be clear on what they wish to get out of the Exchange.
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Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere |
For me it was a springboard into developing a career in the European market. Following my exchange I’m now settled in the Greek market pursuing opportunities in one of the lesser known yet stronger performing economies of the European Union.
Know that whatever your reason, the infrastructure is in place both at the Monash end and EM Lyon to guide you through how one should go about financial budgeting, choosing courses and settling into your new surrounds. And remember there is likely to be any one of a number of students in a similar position to you having traveled from outside France to come to EM Lyon, which forms the basis for friendships and networks that are likely to last well after the final exam is written.
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