BY NORA LUQUER
A new partnership agreement between Nichols College and Maastricht School of Management (MSM) in the Netherlands was ratified in September. In October, as part of a Nichols Graduate & Professional Studies (GPS) pilot program, 10 Nichols graduate students traveled to Maastricht to study for six weeks.
This unique opportunity with MSM targets “4+1” students from Nichols and recent undergraduate business students accepted to a Nichols graduate degree program. The MSM/Nichols program has been designed for recent graduates who do not have much work experience, who may not have had an opportunity to study abroad during their undergraduate career, and who would like international cultural exposure.
At the completion of the program, students would earn a graduate degree from Nichols (either a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Science in Accounting, or a Master of Science in Counterterrorism Studies), as well as a Master in Management (MM) from MSM, which would be a $20,000 value at no additional cost. In essence, it could be called a “4+1 = 3” program. Four years plus one year equals three degrees: a bachelor degree and master’s degree from Nichols, and a Master in Management from MSM.
“The partnership between Nichols College and MSM provides our recently graduated undergraduate alumni a competitive advantage in the job market,” said GPS Executive Director Kerry Calnan. “For six weeks, our students are immersed in a global culture as their new classmates represent 20 countries from around the globe. We believe there is no better way to learn cultural awareness than through immersion and application.”
Some of the students who attended commented on this experience, saying they liked learning to adapt to a new culture, and felt as though they were living independently. Many of the students gained confidence as they learned to navigate the train system and travel throughout central Europe during their six-week stay.
“The corporate visits to the European Commission as well as to companies in Germany and the Netherlands serve to expand students’ network globally,” said Calnan.
MSM is an innovative, research-driven and development-focused business school. Established in 1952, it has 57 full-time faculty and staff, and has partnerships with schools in Azerbaijan, China, Egypt, and Germany.
“We believe this option to our 4+1 students augments the student’s competitive edge, being able to discuss global business practices fluently as well as building their international network,” added Calnan. “We don’t know of any ‘+1’ programs that offer two master’s degrees in the one-year time frame, as well as include a six-week residential international experience.
Nora Luquer is assistant dean of professional studies in Nichols College’s Division of Graduate & Professional Studies.