Flying to Paris

In January of this year, 14 of our MBA Global students embarked on a study tour they’ll never forget! Paris, la Ville Lumière, had plenty to teach them in business, leadership, diversity and globalisation.

The group visited seven best-in-class, global companies such as Bonduelle, the Microsoft Technology Centre, General Mills and Imerys S.A. During their tour they were tasked with understanding each company’s business model and their competitive and operational environment. They also needed to identify challenges and provide recommendations.

Our students noted with interest how companies made their staff’s needs a matter of primary importance.

There was plenty to learn for students and staff alike. Mitchell Tikiwa, an international student from Zimbabwe, said the tour “highlighted the necessity of operating ethically and having a content and motivated workforce.”

Christel Ramloll, our Head of Faculty in Management, was particularly impressed with Imerys S.A. “Our students found the Group to be very different from all the other industries we know in Mauritius. It’s the world leader in the production and processing of minerals, which means that Imerys is intricately woven into the thread of our everyday lives, from hygiene products to telecommunications.”

She added: “It was an extraordinary experience overall, a unique opportunity to discover a different business environment and gather insights as to how big companies operate globally. The companies were all very welcoming and shared their experiences as well as their vision and strategy. It was amazing to see how the students were transformed: from shyly asking questions to becoming assertive young professionals.”