With a to-die-for climate, a golden coastline and an abundance of indulgence — from superyachts to the Grand Prix — the Côte d’Azur is an alluring place to live.
In addition, the catwalk of the European continent is home to world-renowned universities, including the International University of Monaco, which is rated among the top 100 global business schools.
A historic hideaway for the world’s rich and famous, the sun-soaked coast on the South of France is increasingly attracting students. Below, they say Monaco’s plush networking spots, diversity and reputation as a global luxury capital, make the city the perfect place to complete a degree.
Charlotte Barbotin-Larrieu — IUM MBA 15
Before enrolling in IUM’s MBA in 2014, Charlotte Barbotin-Larrieu worked for luxury fashion brands Prada and Louis Vuitton. She says Monaco, where there is a high demand for luxury, was a key motivation for picking IUM.
IUM offers a large panel of experts in its luxury specialization, Charlotte says: “Two of my favourites are Michaela Merk, who teaches strategic consulting, and also professor Beathe-Jeanette Lunde, who teaches hospitality and events management. These classes gave me a new view of the luxury sector.”
German Belyaev — IUM MBA 08
German Belyaev is a senior expert at Russia’s Department for Investments and Innovation. He graduated from IUM’s MBA in 2008.
For him, the internationality of Monaco was alluring. The class of 2015 came from 17 different countries, representing Europe, Asia, the Middle East, the Americas, and Africa.
In particular, the chance to become fluent in French appealed to him. German, who speaks English, says: “I’ve always been keen on foreign languages. So it was intentional that I chose the English speaking university based in the French speaking territory. This allowed me to maintain my level of English and improve my French dramatically.”
This has helped propel IUM into the MBA rankings — another draw for German. “International University of Monaco was highly ranked, among the world’s top one-hundred universities by a number of magazines and sites,” he says.
Lamis Zaibac — IUM MBA 16
Diversity in the classroom helps with networking — which for Lamis Zaibac was a factor in her decision to come to Monaco. “The different nationalities are a plus,” she says.
Lamis enrolled in IUM’s MBA in 2015, after spells at KPMG and PwC, the professional services firms, as a tax consultant.
She says networking makes Monaco a hub for students: “There are a lot of events, like yacht shows and small conferences. And the university organizes events, such as the luxury symposium every two years, and a mentorship cocktail event.” Lamis adds: “As it is a smaller city, your efforts might be rewarded more than in other places.”
RECAPTHA :
78
e8
61
f1
