MSM MBA Summer School 2026 – Global Perspectives, Shared Learning
From 13 to 27 June 2026, Maastricht once again became a meeting place for ambitious professionals from around the world during the MSM MBA Summer School 2026. This year, 188 students participated in the two-week programme, representing a diverse mix of cultures, professional backgrounds and industries.
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).
In response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, several students were unable to travel to the Netherlands. To ensure they could still complete their MBA Expertise Track courses, the Summer School was offered in a hybrid format, allowing students to participate from their home county while remaining fully connected to the learning experience in Maastricht.
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.”
I 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
Students in the Digital Economy track were equally enthusiastic about exploring how technology is transforming the business landscape. Full-time MBA student Sagar Agrawal from India highlighted the practical and future-oriented nature of the courses:
"I have really enjoyed the MBA Summer School. We have been exploring some of the most relevant topics in business today, combining customer experience, finance, and AI. We have even been learning to code and build our own AI agents, which has been really exciting. It was also a great opportunity to work alongside people from different countries, and that made our discussions much richer and more holistic."
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.”
It was incredibly applied and immersive. We were not just learning theory, we were actively dissecting live business challenges.
Students in other tracks shared similar experiences. Melinda Farkas-Korponay from Hungary highlighted how the Global Business Dynamics track combined theory, practical frameworks, guest speakers and a company visit into a coherent learning experience: “I chose the Global Business Dynamics expertise track, because I found the course structure very versatile. International Business provided a strong foundation of knowledge and insights already in the beginning, which supported the rest of the courses. Though the Strategic Alliances module, we were able to apply all this knowledge in a practical framework to understand cross nation collaboration. And Trade in International Services has added a hands on economic perspective. The insights shared by the guest speakers and the site inspection in the Geodis distribution centre in Venlo, both added practical value to the course.”
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."
I valued 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
Attila Lepp Gazdag from Hungary, who followed the Innovative Leadership track, emphasised the value of exchanging experiences with fellow participants: “From the course and the weeks in Maastricht, I got what I expected: lots of experiences, new contacts and of course learning. My course was Innovative Leadership, where we solved a lot of theory and the related practical tasks. It was especially good that the students came from several countries, so we could exchange experiences even more widely. We didn't get bored in the evenings in Maastricht either, there was plenty to see and of course food and drink in the city.”
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.”
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.
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.
