MSM MBA Summer School 2026 – Global Perspectives, Shared Learning
Participants included students from MSM's Full-time MBA and Global Online MBA programmes, as well as students from the MBA programmes of our international partners: Corvinus University of Budapest, Bucharest International School of Management (BISM), and Kuwait Maastricht College of Management (KMCM).
Throughout the programme, students immersed themselves in one of six expertise tracks: Finance & Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Global Business Dynamics, Innovative Leadership, The Digital Economy, and Healthcare Management.
Combining academic insights with practical application, the courses featured interactive lectures, group assignments, simulation exercises, guest speakers and company visits, creating an engaging environment in which students could immediately apply new knowledge and exchange perspectives with peers from around the globe.
Applying business education to today’s challenges
One of the themes that resonated strongly throughout the Summer School was the practical relevance of the courses. Students appreciated the opportunity to engage with contemporary business challenges and explore how organisations can respond to an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
Full-time MBA student Benjamin Clifford from Canada, who followed the Finance & Accounting expertise track, reflected on the relevance of the programme: “What I have really enjoyed about the MSM Summer School is that the courses feel very relevant to the world we are entering as business leaders. Sustainability Accounting and Digital Finance go beyond traditional accounting and finance, and show how these areas connect to technology, transparency, climate responsibility, and better decision-making. I also liked how we worked through complex ethical issues in class, including the tension between sustainability goals and today’s geopolitical environment, and how biases in AI models risk perpetuating discrimination in the banking system. As a Canadian student studying in the Netherlands, I have also really valued learning alongside classmates from around 10 different nationalities, who bring different experiences, perspectives, and ideas from all over the world.”
Bálint Jánossy-Veres from Hungary found that the Digital Economy track offered much more than a technical understanding of digital transformation: "The Digital Economy track took us from simply adapting to digital change to actively leading it. I already knew data is key, but this reinforced its urgency. We didn't just learn tools; we learned to challenge analysis, navigate biases, and translate data into action. Getting insight on how AI is reshaping customer behavior, much like early search engines, was eye-opening. Ultimately, the track gave me the strategic mindset to connect the dots across the business and make confident, responsible technology decisions."
From theory to practice
Beyond the classroom, students appreciated the hands-on nature of the Summer School, which enabled them to apply concepts directly to real business situations.
Global Online MBA student Yoan Delporte from Luxembourg joined the Entrepreneurship track: “The onsite Expertise Track in Entrepreneurship was, for me, a central component of the programme, as it allowed us to analyse and experiment with the course theory in depth. By applying the principles and insights shared by the lecturers and my cohort, we were able to support a local business in improving its processes and increasing its revenue.”
For Georgiana Rotaru from Romania the practical focus was one of the key reasons for choosing the track: “After nearly 20 years of building my business largely on intuition, I reached a point where I needed real structure. That’s why I joined the Entrepreneurship programme. It was incredibly applied and immersive. We were not just learning theory, we were actively dissecting live business challenges. This hands-on approach, combined with the rich cultural diversity of my cohort, brings massive added value to my way of thinking and how I look at the future.”
Learning from a global classroom
While each expertise track offered its own unique learning experience, students consistently highlighted the value of studying alongside peers from different countries, cultures and professional backgrounds.
Pedro Farfan from Mexico who participated in the Global Business Dynamics track, found that the programme changed his perspective on international business: “I come from a background of tech and sales and I always thought, it would be more like numbers and spreadsheets. And I was very pleased to discover that it is more about people. How people come together from different backgrounds, from different cultures, companies working together to build something. Especially for me, coming from outside of the Netherlands, it is very personal and motivating.”
Attila Ráthgéber from Hungary also appreciated the international environment created by both the faculty and the student cohort: "Being here in the wonderful environment MSM provides is a great experience. The curriculum is well structured and allows us to learn from lecturers from different parts over the world. I also value the diversity among the students, as we can share experiences from our home countries and build relationships that will hopefully last well beyond these two weeks."
Preparing leaders for a changing world
Beyond acquiring new knowledge and skills, the Summer School encouraged students to reflect on their own leadership style and the role they can play in driving change within their organisations and communities.
For Fahad Alfadhalah from Kuwait, the Innovative Leadership track provided valuable insights into modern leadership: “My experience in the Innovative Leadership course has been very valuable and inspiring. The course helped me understand that leadership today is not only about managing people, but also about encouraging creativity, adapting to change, and turning new ideas into real impact. I especially appreciated the practical discussions and the different perspectives shared in class, which helped me reflect on how innovation can shape better leadership decisions.”
As the 2026 MBA Summer School came to an end, students left Maastricht with new knowledge, fresh perspectives, expanded professional networks and lasting international friendships. Equally important, they gained the experience of learning and collaborating with peers from around the world. Together, their experiences once again demonstrated what makes the MBA Summer School unique: bringing together professionals from around the world to learn, collaborate and grow in an increasingly interconnected business environment.
Read the full news item, including the full student impressions here.
MSM MBA Summer School 2027
Are you inspired to join next year’s MBA Summer School? Mark your calendar: the 2027 edition will take place from 12-26 June 2027. The Summer School is open not only to students in MSM’s residential and global MBA programmes, but also to external candidates who meet the admission requirements.
More information on the 2027 Expertise Tracks is available on our website.
