Testimonials

Brecht Vanneste

Would you recommend the U of Akron MBA program to someone and why? Was it welcoming to you as an international student - how so?

Having graduated with an MBA in International Business at the University of Akron was a clear win for me both on the personal as on the professional side. The University created a stimulating environment for both local and international students who participate in the MBA program. Throughout all lectures the ideal balance between theory and practice (case studies or real life experiences from students or faculty) were sought and found which ensured that after graduation the majority of graduates had a strong backbone and felt well prepared to become successful professionals.

What made the experience special ?

U of Akron was very supportive of international students creating an environment in which every student felt privileged and warmly welcomed. Mentors were assigned to guide newcomers, teams were created involving undergrad and grad students in which the full range of topics were discussed (from business over politics to travel and education). Business trips were organized with financial and logistical support from the U so that everyone who was interested could participate and learn (while having fun and broadening the network). Professors were truly interested in the backgrounds and countries of foreign students.

The U supported international students to attend job fairs so that a big number of grad students had a contract signed with an (future) employer even before graduation (I personally met senior people from Merck at a job fair in Orlando which lead to my first job at Merck).

Did it help prepare you for your career ? How ?

Since the balance between theory and practice was so well identified during the majority of MBA lectures, the U built the ideal platform for successful students to continue on their positive journey after graduation in the 'real' world. Business trips and traineeships with local or regional companies helped to apply the theoretical concepts in the day to day business environments. Students were encouraged to look out for practical cases within their network to confirm or challenge business theories. It would not be easy to identify additional strategies for the U to prepare MBA students even better for successful careers.