Schulich’s Globalization Strategy: Enhanced Partner Engagement
During the past year, Schulich has continued to accelerate our globalization strategy. One of the ways we’re doing that it is by looking to expand dual degree opportunities with top global business schools from around the world.
These new program collaborations allow our students to not only get a degree from Schulich but also from other top global business schools, providing students with greater global exposure and the opportunity to learn in a diverse and culturally immersive learning environment at one of our prestigious partner schools.
Dual degrees also enable us to bring top diverse talent into the classroom to learn alongside our students while creating linkages with leading schools in other regions of the world.
In this month’s column, Lindsay Hillcoat, Executive Director of our Student Services & International Relations unit, gives an overview of our recent partnership agreement with ESSEC Business School to establish what will be Schulich’s very first dual degree at the undergraduate level.
I encourage you to learn more about how dual degree programs are opening the door to new opportunities and richer learning experiences for our students.
Best,
Detlev Zwick, PhD
Dean, Tanna H. Schulich Chair in Digital Marketing Strategy
Schulich School of Business
Dual Degrees Opening a New World of Opportunities
The Schulich School of Business has always been at the forefront of global business education, and our school’s commitment to expanding our global reach is evident in one of our most recent initiatives – signing an agreement with the intent to establish a dual degree with ESSEC Business School.
Our collaboration with ESSEC, one of the world’s leading centres of management education located near Paris, France, began forty years ago when we established a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for graduate-level mobility in 1984. In 2000, we deepened our collaboration with ESSEC by signing an agreement for undergraduate student exchanges. Over the years, this partnership has facilitated the exchange of an average of five undergraduate students per year in each direction, along with two MBA students annually. This steady flow of students between our two schools has fostered a rich exchange of ideas and culture while enlarging our students’ global networks.
The latest milestone in this longstanding relationship is the signing of a new agreement with ESSEC to establish Schulich’s very first bidirectional exchange-based dual degree at the undergraduate level. This 2+2 dual degree program represents another advancement in Schulich’s global education strategy, providing our Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) students with an unparalleled opportunity to gain an immersive global experience in one of the world’s major economic markets. Upon completion, students will receive degrees from both Schulich and ESSEC, enhancing their credentials and global employability.
The new dual degree program will align perfectly with Schulich’s vision of advancing global networks and extending its reach. By partnering with ESSEC, Schulich is not only enriching our students’ learning opportunities but also reinforcing our position as a leading global business school. The dual degree program will enable students to immerse themselves in diverse learning environments, experiencing firsthand the business practices and cultures of both Europe and North America.
This initiative is more than just an academic collaboration – it’s also part of our school’s longstanding efforts to prepare our students for the complexities of the global economy. By gaining crucial experience in two different economic regions, students will be better equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the international business landscape. In addition, the exposure to varied business environments and practices will provide them with a broader perspective and a competitive edge in their careers.
Dual degree programs attract top talent from around the world to Schulich, fostering a more dynamic and diverse classroom environment. The addition of international students also enhances the learning experience by promoting cross-cultural understanding and collaboration. This diversity is a vital component of Schulich’s educational philosophy, as it prepares students to work effectively in global teams and multicultural settings.
In addition to the newly signed degree program with ESSEC, Schulich has a large number of MBA dual degree programs with schools around the world, including Peking and Fudan in China, ITAM in Mexico, ESAN in Peru, PUC in Chile, Sasin in Thailand and WHU in Germany.
Schulich recently graduated the first cohort from the Future Leaders program with Peking University’s Guanghua School of Management. After completing two years of study at Schulich, three undergraduate students from Schulich who were selected for the prestigious Future Leaders program completed the third and fourth years of their studies at Peking University.
The partnership with ESSEC – as well as the other dual degree partnerships we’ve forged over the years – are a testament to Schulich’s commitment to providing our students with the best possible educational opportunities. Dual degrees provide rich experiential learning opportunities, greater global exposure, and the chance to earn degrees from two of the world’s most reputable business schools.
As we continue to expand our global partnerships, we remain focused on creating programs that deliver real-world benefits and equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the global economy – part of our ongoing efforts to enrich the student learning experience at Schulich.
Lindsay Hillcoat
Executive Director, Student Services & International Relations