At WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, the start of September traditionally signals the start of the first MBA intake of the new academic year. On Saturday, September 1, the MBA Program welcomed its new Full-Time and Part-Time students to Campus Düsseldorf.
This semester’s intake marks a new record with more than 100 Full-Time and Part-Time participants representing 21 different nations in the full-time cohort and 18 different nations in the part-time cohort. The students hail from around the world, including North and South America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, India, China, and South East Asia, making this a remarkably international cohort, with 86% international students in the full-time option of the program and a remarkable 42% international students even in its part-time option.
Representing a diverse range of academic and professional experience, the full-time students have an average of nearly six years of work experience while the part-time students have an average of almost five years of work experience. By doubling the courses offered in the core curriculum, the program administration ensures the continuation of the small-group learning concept WHU’s MBA Program is known for, even with a higher number of students in the new cohort.
During their first weekend on campus, the incoming students started their MBA journey with a packed schedule. As is tradition, Deputy Dean and Associate Dean Programs, Professor Dr. Jürgen Weigand, Academic Director MBA Program, Professor Dr. Martin Fassnacht, and Program Director MBA, Gerold Gnau, officially greeted the students with a welcome address during their first afternoon on campus. Leadership is a key theme running through WHU’s MBA program, and the new cohort experienced this through the introduction of the different lectures, workshops, individual and team coaching elements as well the experimental learning formats like the Future Leaders’ Fundraising Challenge presented by Professor Dr. Jane Lê.
The subsequent introductions of Entrepreneurship activities on campus such as the Entrepreneurship Roundtable led by students and the official class photo of the new intake were followed by the annual and highly anticipated MBA Night on Saturday evening. With nearly 300 incoming and current students, alumni, faculty, and staff, the evening marked the first networking highlight of the academic year with plenty of opportunities to gain a glimpse into the strength of the WHU MBA community.
The following Monday, September 3, started a busy week for the new students with the commencement of the Future Leaders’ Fundraising Challenge. One of the most valuable and enjoyable experiences of the program, the challenge provides students with leadership experience from the very beginning of their MBA journey. A weeklong exercise with a different challenge each day, rotating leaders, teamwork, and comprehensive feedback, the exercise equips students with a range of skills they will continue to develop over the course of their studies.
We cannot wait to see what our new students get up to throughout the duration of the program. Welcome to WHU!