At ESSEC, every graduate is a true global citizen. Throughout their Global Bachelor of Business Administration (GBBA) education, they have experience in at least three different countries and can communicate confidently in a minimum of three languages. This is the magic of the program: it equips students with both the hard and soft skills to rise in the global business world.

A Foundation to Cut Through Industries and Countries

A step into the global business world is made possible with the flexibility of the GBBA curriculum. Besides acquiring standard business management fundamentals that will cut across all industries and functions, students can choose from over 200 electives to personalize their learning experience.

There is the freedom to shift between ESSEC’s Singapore, France, or Morocco campuses, and exchange opportunities abound with 170 partner universities across five continents. Students can also embark on a double-degree program with prestigious partners like Peking University in China, Yonsei University in South Korea, ESIC Business and Marketing School in Spain, Keio University in Japan, and more—options that have remained despite COVID-19 restrictions.

With the pandemic, many students have chosen to do their exchange online. Third-year French national Alexandre Loo, doing his double degree virtually with Peking University in China, credits both ESSEC and Peking University for adapting smoothly to ensure learning can continue.

Although not identical, second-year student Louise Depuydt shares that efforts have been put in to recreate the experience of living overseas. She was due to begin her exchange at ESSEC’s Rabat campus and was worried that online learning meant she “wouldn’t be able to experience the different cultures.”

Yet, cultural exchanges continued through a welcome pack and website for exchange students like her.  She has virtually “trekked” through Morocco through an online game and learned about life in the country through talks from journalists, songwriters, and more, all from the comfort of her home in France.

Developing a Global Classroom

ESSEC also offers plenty of opportunities for students to hone their interpersonal skills. Besides a diverse cohort and myriad student life activities, group work is also a curriculum staple, so students are given a teaser of what it’s like to work in a global environment right from day one.

Language classes are also compulsory. On the Singapore campus, students must choose German, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Spanish, or Chinese as a third language in addition to speaking English and French.

As classes are also staggered for different levels, first-year French student Elodie Gouellain, who already spoke a little Spanish, has taken up basic Italian and intermediate Spanish.

“I would like to work in the luxury sector, particularly in fashion luxury, so studying Italian could be very beneficial,” she shares. With French, Spanish, and Italian in her arsenal, she believes she will be well-equipped with the languages for a successful career in Europe.

A Good Dose of Professional Experience

Finally, ESSEC ensures its graduates are ready for the working world through internships. GBBA students must complete at least three internships, but the fact is that the more experience one accumulates, the more employable one becomes, fourth-year Indian student Simran Hathiramani says.

The Dean’s List candidate is on her sixth internship and counting, each adding to her repertoire of skills and knowledge, giving her the edge she needs to enter the competitive finance world.

Alexandre also discovered that the benefits of these internships go beyond just experience. As ESSEC requires one of the three internships to be with a humanitarian or social-work-based organization, he found himself at YWCA Singapore, tutoring underprivileged children and helping out at Meals-on-Wheels, a food delivery program for the home-bound elderly.

The month-long experience made him reflect on the importance of business ethics and reminded him of the need for compassion and empathy.

Arguably, these soft skills are only growing in importance in the global business world, so if one wonders why 96 percent of ESSEC GBBA students find a job within just six months of graduation and 63 percent in an international environment, this is why.