The P&Q Interview: New Dean Of GBSB Global On Preparing Students For The Digital Future

What do you think makes your MBA stand apart from other European MBAs?

Well, I’m not sure if it’s very different from others, but we offer our MBA in different formats. Some MBAs are offered face-to-face, while others are available online. While we don’t yet have rankings for the new format, the previous one was highly ranked by various organizations.

For example, the full-time MBA was ranked by QS in 2023 as one of the top 60 in Europe. The online MBA was also highly ranked in 2024, placing in the top 30 in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) and in the top 100 in the world. These high rankings are quite impressive and are a testament to the quality of our programs, even though I cannot take credit.

So, I believe our high rankings and the flexibility in formats are what distinguish us in terms of our MBA offerings.

Anything in the undergrad or executive space that has you excited? Any planned innovations or updates?

Quite recently, we looked more closely at executive education projects. Since I’m now residing in Malta, we decided to start here. Just recently, we joined the Malta Chamber of Commerce to build a network of important companies operating in this region and beyond, aiming to offer executive education programs.

We prepared two kinds of offerings. One is open courses, which are part of our curriculum for different programs anyway, but we believe they might be useful for people outside the school as well. The other is custom-made programs that we can prepare for companies once we establish some connections. This is in process, but we hope it will be successful. I’ve already had talks with a few different companies and met members of the Chamber of Commerce, and I’m looking forward to cooperating with them closely.

Are those kinds of executive partnerships new to GBSB Global?

It’s not new, as we have had a few significant projects in the past, but it was never done consistently. For example, we had a project in Russia a few years ago involving high-speed trains. A group of engineers was brought here to study European examples of high-speed trains, and it was very successful. We also had a project for a company in Qatar, where participants came to enjoy Barcelona and work on a project as part of our executive education program.

So, while there is a history of successful projects, the goal now is to do it more consistently. We aim to have ongoing projects with these companies, starting in Malta and then offering similar programs in Barcelona and Madrid.

And what about in the undergrad space?

Our undergraduate programs are fundamental to what we offer. While 80% of our students are in master’s programs, about 9% are bachelor students.

What’s exciting about our undergraduate programs is our focus on applied education and learning by doing. We offer internships, which are not mandatory, but we have specialized units dedicated to arranging internships for students who want to participate. About 20% of our students take internships with companies we arranged for them. This is crucial because staying in touch with the industry is essential.

Another aspect is our mandatory business simulation games. For students who don’t have the chance to take internships, these simulations are required. I think that’s really important.

Additionally, as I previously mentioned, we have the G-Accelerator program for students with entrepreneurial ideas. They can apply for this mentorship program and hopefully be shortlisted. I sit on the jury, so I see the exciting ideas students come up with.

From my own experience, having run my own business, I always tell my students that being your own boss is incredibly rewarding. It’s an exciting journey where you manage everything.

Is there room to grow in the Bachelor space if it’s only 9% of your students?

Of course, bachelor programs are important to us because they offer a three-year commitment. This allows us to watch students grow and develop over a longer period. So yes, we are actively trying to attract students from all over the world to our bachelor programs.

We are very international. Historically, we have had students from 150 different countries. It’s exciting for each student to be in a class with peers from 10 to 12 different countries. This diversity naturally teaches them about cultural differences, which is invaluable.

We are proud of our diverse student body, which recently includes many students from South America, Africa, India, Europe, and the USA. It’s a great feeling to have such a diverse student body.

For a U.S. business student who is interested in studying abroad, what is the value proposition for GBSB Global?

I know that the U.S. has a great education system. I’m proud of it myself because my daughter graduated from Caltech. But Europe also has a lot to offer. We are located in very attractive locations. For many of our students, just coming to Barcelona, for example, is a great reason to join us. Our school is in the heart of the city, just a 10-minute walk from the famous Las Ramblas Street and other landmarks. Similarly, Malta is an attractive place to study, whether it’s for one semester, two semesters, or even three years.

Another key point is value for money. Studying at our business school doesn’t cost $30,000 a year, which is a significant consideration for American students. Our programs are well-ranked and accredited by government and professional agencies, offering good quality education at an affordable price.

 

What are some trends in business education that you’re watching or really excited about?

Of course, I’m watching the trends. I still follow what happens at AACSB because they have access to a huge amount of data. Every school that is a member of AACSB has to send reports every year, contributing to this vast data pool. Recently, I was reviewing their reports, and they identified three trends that I agree with:

First, technology integration is crucial. We were one of the first schools showcased by Microsoft as a Microsoft Showcase School. All our communication is done via Microsoft Teams, and we utilize various functionalities like charts and business intelligence dashboard. We use new technologies like Nearpod and Kahoot! and have an excellent virtual learning environment to support our students, especially those studying online. Staying current in this area is important.

Second, flexible learning environments are key. This means offering programs in different formats: blended, face-to-face, and online. The new generation is used to online delivery, so we offer that as well.

Finally, collaboration with the industry is vital. As I mentioned, we offer internships and the G-Accelerator program. Additionally, we use a lot of adjunct faculty who work in the industry and bring their practical experience to the classroom. The majority of our faculty are part-time adjuncts, which can be seen as a weakness, but is also a strength because students appreciate learning from professionals who practice what they preach and can convey hands-on experience.

What are some challenges and opportunities you see for GBSB Global?

Let me start with the challenges. We are in a very competitive market, especially in Barcelona. It’s such an attractive place that it draws many students, but also many business schools, including foreign ones, trying to offer their programs here. We have to compete and differentiate ourselves, which is always a challenge. So far, we have been successful and are growing, but the competition never ends, making it an ongoing challenge.

As for new opportunities, I mentioned some new locations. We are trying to grow geographically. Currently, we are in three locations, and I think moving to one more location would be a great step to become even bigger. Additionally, we are putting more emphasis on our sales team to attract students from all over the world to come to Barcelona, Malta, and Madrid and start their studies with us.

Anything else you’d like to add?

As I said, we are in a very competitive business, always looking for new ways to be successful and different from others.

I think we are unique in that we offer education in different locations. This is a bit difficult to manage. For example, I’m currently located in Malta, but I frequently travel to Barcelona and Madrid to manage these three places. We also have a very diverse student population and a diverse faculty, mostly adjuncts and part-time staff.

These factors make us unique but also more challenging to manage. But, it’s exciting to build a school that is different, dealing with diversity, and incorporating innovation and entrepreneurship into the curricula. We try to follow the latest trends in education, which makes this journey exciting. Every day is different, and you can never take anything for granted as you might in more well-established schools. That makes me eager to wake up in the morning, wondering how exciting the next day will be.

 

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