The second Online MBA educational week of 2021 has a focus on skill development at one of our European partner universities: the renowned EADA Business School in Barcelona. This week on Transformative Leadership for Future Challenges is scheduled later this month from Sunday August 29 to Friday September 3.

This educational week is designed to inspire our students with contemporary themes in management. They will discover the latest opportunities and tools available to managers that will allow them to develop your skills as transformative manager and leader to tackle future challenges. Along this week, projects will be developed and presented on the last day.

What can students expect of this week? Which skills will they define? And what are the must-sees of Barcelona? We did a preview together with EADAs delegate, Paula Bosworth. We had a chat with Paula and she will share with you all her insights of this week.

What is the connection of EADA with UMIO | Maastricht University?

EADA Business School and UMIO | Maastricht University have been collaborating on several different projects over the years: via student and faculty exchange and particularly via the former EuroMBA, when this programme was run by a consortium of European Business Schools. EADA has been involved since the beginning in the late 80s.

The next Online MBA educational week will be hosted at EADA Barcelona. Can you tell us a little bit more about EADA?

EADA is an independent Business School in the very heart of Barcelona. It was set up in 1957 and operates as a foundation. We offer training programmes to the business community, Masters and MBA programs in English and Spanish. Our international flavour is very important to us and a high proportion of our students come from 50 different countries around the world

What can students expect of the EADA campuses during the educational week?

This year we will be holding the educational module exclusively in the city center campus. This is an eighth floor building that has been recently completely refurbished to a high standard of innovation and sustainability. It is located very central and has access to many shops, bars, restaurants and services.

Can you share with us some insights of the upcoming Online track educational week at EADA?

For many years, EADAs philosophy has been based on ‘Learning by doing’ so our faculty will involve the participants from the word go. We’ll be looking at examples from industry and services and also drawing from the experience of the participants.

Which skills will the students define and develop along the week?

The session on the development of soft skills will be negotiation, conflict management and diversity within teams. Moreover, these will lead us to tackling the challenges of a post COVID world where a VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) approach is more important than ever. You will be looking at how to face up to the challenges that will be arising in the near future and the sort of leadership skills that will be most in demand.

Which advice would you give our students who will join this educational week?

From a pedagogical point of view, I would say to come with an open mind, willing to share, learn from the academic sessions and also from each other. From a practical point of view: bring sunscreen, a hat, and cool comfortable clothes and shoes.

And which must-sees do you recommend when coming to Barcelona?

The most famous landmarks are already very well known: Sagrada Familia, Parque Guell, Palau de la Musica, Las Ramblas…. But everywhere you turn there are interesting museums, streets and parks. The Time Out weekly guide will keep you informed of everything going on in the city. The MNAC museum on Montjuic is really worth a visit and The Design Hub in Plaza Glories is not so well known but very interesting. If you are an art lover, you will be spoiled for choice.

It is a city where you can walk around very easily and the 10 journey metro/bus ticket is really useful and good value at 11€. Remember that Barcelona is like any big city and has a problem with pickpockets. They are not usually violent, but you do need to be vigilant. There are bars and restaurants in the most touristic areas where you will not get a good deal, but it is very easy to find lively atmospheric places. Remember that everything starts late in Spain!

This article present a preview of the educational week of our Online track on Transformative Leadership for Future Challenges at EADA, Barcelona. Our Online track has a blended format, both face-to-face as online and is part of the executive modular part-time MaastrichtMBA programme. The programme has a Triple Crown accreditation and is aimed for professionals with at least 5 years of working experience.