Networking as an Online Student

Networking is an essential tool when it comes to forging a successful career. It’s all about knowing the right person at the right time. Whether you’re looking to get your foot in the door, climb the career ladder or set up your own business, you need a strong network of contacts that you can take advantage of.

So, are online students missing out?

It is a common misconception that studying online means you’ll miss out on the opportunity to network and build connections with fellow students, professors, alumni and business leaders. While online programs don’t allow for the same level of face-to-face interaction, at EU Business School, we offer a blended Online MBA program that combines online study with plenty of real-world meetings to ensure that our online students feel connected.

Our online courses are designed to be flexible and personalized. Online students have the freedom to study from anywhere on the planet, whether working, raising a family or backpacking around the world, and they will always stay connected through EU’s 24-hour online platform. They can collaborate with professors and classmates in a live, interactive online classroom during webinars.

Those who study online with us will become part of a global network of academics, colleagues and alumni spread across all corners of the globe, making lasting connections that carry them to the next level in their careers. They also have access to EU’s 26,000-member alumni network, through which they can find jobs, source new staff and share business advice. No matter where they are in the world, our online students are part of the EU family, and they will feel the benefits throughout their working lives.

Your network is your net worth

“At EU, we believe it’s very important that our Online MBA students have the same opportunity to network as on-campus MBA students”, says EU’s online recruitment manager Saras Gil. “This is why, on the tenth week of every term, we invite our MBA students to join us on one of our campuses in Barcelona, Geneva, Montreux and Munich.”

On-campus weeks at EU

In December, students are brought together in the elegant city of Geneva to enjoy some Swiss festive traditions, experience the international atmosphere and huddle around a warm fondue with the breathtaking Swiss Alps in the distance. In March, the students head over to Munich for an exciting week of Bavarian cuisine, culture and history in Germany’s economic hub. And finally, in June, the students make their way to our vibrant Barcelona campus for Mediterranean sunshine, astounding architecture and delicious food. Each city brings a new experience and each on-campus week is filled with different events and activities, making it interesting for students to attend more than one on-campus week during their time with us.

What to expect

On-campus weeks are filled with a range of activities including exams, team bonding, networking events, cultural experiences, guest lectures and company visits. To kick off the week, we organize a social networking event and icebreaker. For example, at the EU Barcelona on-campus week in June, students will have the unique opportunity to visit the Costa Diadema, also known as the Queen of the Mediterranean, Costa Crociere’s stunning flagship. They will enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the impressive cruise ship as well as an executive lunch. Other on-campus week icebreakers have included tasting local cuisine and a cocktail reception. This is their chance to meet informally after months of correspondence through the virtual classroom and online platform.

Inspiring guest speaker sessions and company visits

The students have the first days dedicated to taking their final exams on campus. When exams are over, students can enjoy various guest speakers who join us on campus for interactive workshops or to talk about trending topics in business. Some examples include Bernard Fierens from the Group Edmond de Rothschild, Oscar Gallego, CEO of iPlatea.com, Sascha Mennel the founder of Comma Publications and Alberto Platz from Swarovski. Topics of guest lectures have been vast and varied from blockchain technology and social change through to corporate responsibility and stress management, among many others.

Our company visits give students insight into the inner-workings of global companies such as BMW, HP, Blancpain, Hublot, Typeform, Almirall, Givaudan and Steelcase, to name just a few. During the visits, they have the fantastic chance to connect with CEOs and business leaders, experience international company culture and learn about the obstacles of running different types of businesses.

Making friends and having fun

Cultural experiences and team building are an important part of on-campus weeks. In this vein, we organize a plethora of activities for students to network and mingle. During the last on-campus week in Barcelona, students visited an escape room, where they had to think outside the box and work together to solve the puzzle. Other activities have included walking tours around Munich, traveling up to the beautiful Swiss mountains or sailing on the Mediterranean Sea.

To end the week, we often organize a large networking event where alumni, faculty, campus students and our online campus students can come together to network and build meaningful relationships. It is very important to us that our students feel a part of our community and can meet in person, even if just for those five days. The final cocktail is a great way to celebrate and unwind after a jam-packed week.

A unique experience

The on-campus element to our online MBA makes all the difference. Many leave with a solid network of business contacts, others come out of the week with lifelong friends.  The benefits are numerous. Watch our video to get a feel for the online experience at EU Business School: