Pioneered in India for the one-year MBA by IIM Bangalore is the International Immersion module. During Term III, students get an opportunity to learn about an increasingly globalized economic environment by visiting foreign partner school.

International Immersion 2024

At IIMB, building strong connections with the world’s leading business schools is a priority to ensure that students emerge as global leaders, ready to make an impact on the international stage. The EPGP cohort embarked on a transformative journey as part of the International Immersion experience, with a curriculum designed to broaden their understanding of economic, political, social, and cultural dynamics through a global lens.

The first batch of EPGP students traveled to the Berlin and Madrid campuses of ESCP Business School. Another batch headed to Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management and the third batch embarked on their immersion to WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management in Germany.

Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management

Meeting mission-driven business and government leaders, visiting industries and corporate offices, and delving into the intricacies of global business formed the highlights of the visit. The students were addressed on the Principles of Business Strategy by Bruno Wattenbergh, Programme Co-Director. They visited the European Commission and were addressed by Borja Alcaraz Riaño from the Directorate-General for Competition – Enforcement and Monitoring, Jan Papsch from the Directorate-General for Competition – State Aid, and Oluf Nielsen from the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content, and Technology.

WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management

A deep dive into Germany’s competitive markets and talks by Prof. Weigand into on the country’s business landscape set the tone for the visit to WHU. IIMB students got to network with their peers from global business schools. On a field visit to Viega, they learnt more about the company’s operations, and explored augmented reality applications at Viega’s Experience Centre.

They attended sessions on family business leadership, the global impact of family firms and unforeseen challenges of succession planning by Prof. Nadine Kammerlander. They visited Rhenus Lub, a fourth-generation family business with over 140 years of history, and concluded the visit to the Burg Castle in Solingen.

The ESCP Experience in Berlin and Madrid

From an introduction to Germany’s post-World War II business landscape with a lecture by Prof. Georg Stadtmann to a guided tour of Berlin, and from a talk by Dr. Stefan Schmid on Germany’s Mittelstand, unpacking the impact of SMEs and family-run businesses to knowing more on digital transformation, talent development, and strategic global partnerships, the visiting cohort experienced it all. They also learnt about scaling startups, market strategies and customer segmentation from Prof. Martin Wrobel. Field visits included a trip to MotionLab, Berlin, led by Fridtjof Gustavs.

Students got to explore Berlin’s startup ecosystem through Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH and got a look at innovative technologies such as Scansonic MI GmbH’s laser welding at Berlin Industrial Group.

Key highlights included sessions on the transformative potential of AI and IoT in the German market, a discussion on the future of autonomous driving by Prof. Dr. Alexander Eck, and visits to EUREF-Campus Berlin and Wurth Elektronik.

In Madrid, Prof. Fernando Moroy offered the visiting cohort a comprehensive overview of the Spanish and European economies, unveiling the geopolitical forces that shape businesses in Spain and Latin America. Francisco Hernández dissected the business model of Real Madrid C.F., showcasing how its sustainable strategies have fuelled its commercial success. A visit to the iconic Santiago Bernabéu stadium provided insights into its legacy and bold plans to transform into a global events’ hub. Jorge Treceño’s take on Spain’s sustainable tourism shift focused on strategic management and sustainability for driving long-term growth in sports and tourism – two key sectors in Spain’s economy.

Prof. Miguel Palacios offered insights into corporate innovation, focusing on advancements like AI and CRISPR after which José María de Juan spoke on sustainable destination management and the evolving landscape of sustainable tourism. Prof. Fernando Oliveros tackled energy project finance and valuation, and Emilio Mora shared how ERP and cloud tech are increasing value creation across industries with a special focus on tourism and hospitality.

The visit concluded with a memorable diploma ceremony in the presence of Shri Dinesh Patnaik, Indian Ambassador to Spain.

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