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EADA continues to promote its formula of joint programmes with well known international academic institutions. This strategy addresses three key factors: EADA’s international scope, its commitment with other universities to help them achieve academic excellence through the main accreditations and also, the networking opportunities that arise from student exchanges and company visits. 

A good example of this is its collaboration with Epoka University, an institution located in Tirana (Albania) and considered one of the most prestigious universities in the Balkans for the quality of its graduate and postgraduate programmes as well as its two research centres.  The outcome of this cooperation is the Professional Master in Business Administration (Epoka University) and Executive Master in Management (EADA) joint programme which will commence in Albania next November and will end in August 2016. The programme is targeted at young managers and executives in Albania and features two subjects taught by EADA. The first, Strategic Marketing, will be given by various EADA professors in Tirana in February next year whereas the second, Leadership, will be taught on the Collbató campus during June and July 2016.

Photo taken at the entrance of Agna Group’s headquarters. From left to right: Nigel Hayes, director of the EADA International Master in Finance and the Masters in Management, Artan Koxhuku, Human Resources manager of Agna Group, Dr. Gungor Turan, dean of the EPOKA Economics and Engineering faculty,  Dr. Urmat Ryskulov, director of the EPOKA Banking and Finance department and Ana Muñoz, associate director of EADA International Degree Programmes.

The programme’s strong points

According to Nigel Hayes, director of the EADA International Master in Finance and the International Master in Management, it constitutes a unique opportunity for the students taking the programme. In his opinion, “one of the key advantages is the opportunity they will have to network with other participants on EADA’s full-time, as well as other international groups, some of them from Peru and Colombia”. He goes on to add that “taking into account that the main challenge for Albanian companies is international expansion, these contacts may lead to strategic agreements helping them to enter other markets”.

Furthermore, Nigel emphasises the programme’s approach, “with subjects jointly designed by professors from both institutions to address the real needs of Albanian executives and managers”. He refers especially to “skills related with leadership, working in teams, communication and identifying opportunities at a local, national and global level”.

Visit to Albanian companies

As part of this collaboration, Nigel travelled to Albania last April with Ana Muñoz, associate director of EADA’s International Degree Programmes, where they met with the heads of Epoka University and visited various companies to present the programme to enrolled participates and prospective candidates.

After visiting well known companies in the country such as Alb Telekom, Agna Group, American Hospital, BKT (National Commerce Bank) and Coca-Cola, Ana Muñoz remarked that “there is a great deal of talent in Albania” mainly, young very well qualified profiles but who do not have ready access to the latest management trends in other countries”. She also pointed out that “it is a growing market, with really strong companies both local and subsidiaries of international firms, but which lack projection towards other markets”. Hence Muñoz considers that “the EADA - Epoka University programme perfectly addresses all the needs that Albanian managers and executives have today”.

What’s more, Nigel Hayes had the chance to answer the queries of various participants following his presentation of the programme at the business academy in ALB Telekom. “They all showed a great deal of interest in this training offering and above all in the subjects which will be covered during the modules taught on our campus, the EADA learning methodology and the chance to make contacts with participants from other countries” Nigel added.