By Mr. Augustin Peigné, Head of Studies (MiM), Audencia Business School
The business landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation, driven by technological advancements, globalisation, and increasing societal expectations. To thrive in this dynamic environment, future leaders must possess a unique blend of skills, knowledge, and global mindset.
At Audencia Business School, our Master in Management (MiM) programme is at the forefront of this evolution, preparing students to navigate the complexities of the 21st-century business world.
A diverse and dynamic learning environment
One of the hallmarks of our MiM programme is its diverse student body. By bringing together individuals from various cultural, academic, and professional backgrounds, we create a rich and stimulating learning environment. This diversity fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation, preparing our students to collaborate effectively with people from different cultures and perspectives.
We recognise that students may have diverse academic backgrounds, and we offer support to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to excel. Through tailored courses and mentorship programmes, we empower students to develop the core management skills necessary for leadership roles, regardless of their prior academic experience.
It is a welcome challenge and a matter of pride for us to have students from different backgrounds. Having students from literature studies or international students with different core lessons makes for a much-needed diversity in our cohort that helps our ‘classic’ students to open their mind on what they learnt before joining the MIM programme. At the end, with all the groups mixed and English being the key to communication, we feel that all our students get richer from the interactions they create and the work they achieve together.
Embracing the future of business
To stay ahead of industry trends and prepare our students for emerging challenges, we continuously adapt our curriculum to reflect the latest developments in management practice, digital transformation, and innovation. Our focus on sustainability and ethical leadership ensures that our graduates are equipped to make a positive impact on society.
Through partnerships with leading industry experts and renowned academic institutions, we provide our students with access to cutting-edge knowledge and real-world experiences. These collaborations enable us to offer specialised courses, industry projects, and international exchange opportunities that broaden students’ horizons and enhance their career prospects.
The creation of our GAIA school within Audencia and the work by its professors ensures our commitment to leading the research on digital and environmental transformation applied to our core topics: finance, marketing, management, and more. By staying at the forefront of these trends, we equip our students with the tools and knowledge they need to address the challenges and opportunities of the future.
Developing global leaders
In today’s interconnected world, a global mindset is essential for success. Our MiM programme offers a range of international experiences, including study abroad programmes, exchange semesters, and global internships. These opportunities allow students to immerse themselves in different cultures, develop intercultural communication skills, and build a strong global network.
Our faculty members, who hail from diverse backgrounds and possess extensive international experience, bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the classroom. They inspire students to think critically, challenge the status quo, and embrace innovation.
As one of our faculty members explains, “Audencia is happy to work on 200+ partnerships with international universities. For students, it is an opportunity to learn about new cultures during a 6-month exchange semester. But for the partner university, it is also the opportunity to send their own students, creating an intercultural environment at Audencia as these students are not concentrated in one group but fairly divided in order for each group to be fully enriched by their presence. Also, it is important to note that Audencia’s professors and lecturers represent more than 130 nationalities and as many pedagogical and cultural ways to learn about the diversity of our world.”
Practical experience and leadership development
We believe that practical experience is essential for developing effective leaders. Our MiM programme offers a variety of opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience, including internships, group projects, and leadership roles within student organizations.
Many of our courses include group work, where students are asked to appoint a leader and sometimes to swap leadership with other members. In an intercultural environment, these group projects help our students to grow in their way of considering management as a general notion. Students can also create their own projects through the many organisations at Audencia or through entrepreneurship projects.
Every student (French or international) will be given a full year for internships during the M1 year. Though it is not mandatory, we strongly believe that having long internships during their studies will shape their project and add a much-needed experience to their profile before accessing the working world. We believe that the Final Master Internship in M2 is an important step and that is why it seemed crucial to us to also make it happen during the M1 year. With that (and short summer internships) our students can leave Audencia with 2 years of experience, and a much stronger resume.
By fostering a diverse and dynamic learning environment, emphasising practical experience, and embracing global perspectives, Audencia’s MiM programme is shaping the future of management education. Our graduates are well-prepared to lead organisations with integrity, innovation, and a commitment to sustainability. As we continue to evolve, we remain dedicated to providing our students with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed in the ever-changing business landscape.
Audencia’s MiM programme is more than just an academic programme; it’s a catalyst for positive change. Our graduates are poised to become the next generation of global leaders, driving innovation, addressing societal challenges, and creating a more sustainable future.
