Testimonials
The lines of communication with the professors are short
"The Master's programme Business and Social Impact has a very personal feel to it. The study programme consists of many group projects, focused on real-life cases, in which you engage with peer students from all over the world. This results in an academic Master that is much more practical than I expected it to be when I first started the programme, which is a major plus for me. The workload is heavy, but the content is manageable, which resulted in me being challenged and motivated at the same time. There are numerous opportunities to extend the ‘standard’ programme with activities, such as the Consultancy Challenge, in which you consult an actual company with any challenge they might come across or you can do an internship.
The lines of communication with the professors are short. Their enthusiasm for the areas in which they teach was noticeable. Furthermore, it was always possible to reach out to them with a personal matter or with feedback regarding the course.
I believe this programme suited my interests very well since it challenges you to see where the balance between managing a profitable business and operating a company with a positive impact on its surroundings lies. While gaining an insight into many facets that come with this challenge, you are surrounded by like-minded people from all over the world. All of this adds up to make it a unique experience that has enabled me to specialise in a field that keeps intriguing me."
Alumnus Lucy Coremans (the Netherlands)
Acquire the tools to become a leader and navigate businesses to greater ends
"Utrecht University works towards a better world and you really have the chance to be part of it. Young professors offer you the state-of-the-art knowledge in a peer to peer mode and companies welcome you to make a change in their business routines. I have learned the theory behind how to conduct market analysis through econometric models and securing finance for new ventures, the principles of social entrepreneurship and sustainability and then practiced those skills working within a company to help solving its real business problems. For me and two other colleagues this was the beginning of a start-up adventure.
At Utrecht School of Economics, a vivid international community is what makes the journey unique. You become part of a living lab where professionals exchange their knowledge helping each other becoming leaders of businesses thriving for a better future. Honours programmes are an additional mean to this end. You are challenged to raise the bar and you are invited to follow your true call.
Today -as a GM assistant- I know what I lived at Utrecht University helped me to get where I am. A business and entrepreneurial background tuned with today’s world challenges is what USE enriched my profile with. This is what allowed me to enter RDS 100% Grandi Successi’s team. Looking back at those days I can tell that in an ever-changing world Utrecht University provides you with the mindset and tools to distinguish yourself in every working environment."
Alumnus Tommaso Mammone (Italy)
The Master's programme I never knew I needed…
"A scholarship opportunity opened the doorways to study for my Master’s degree at Utrecht University. Before this, I was interested in entrepreneurship but I did not understand what it truly meant to be an entrepreneur or the different aspects of sustainable entrepreneurship. This has since changed after my Master’s programme. I graduated from UU with a new career objective; using entrepreneurship to help others. This objective, alongside the skills I learned during my Master's, has kickstarted my passionate career in the Impact Investments space. I can confidently interact with various entrepreneurs and investors with a clear understanding and analysis of business financial models and value propositions.
The Masters’ programme has an open space for continuous learning. I enjoyed how the whole programme was organised such a way that we could work with companies on real projects, develop and pitch business models to investors and interact with peers from different backgrounds. It was all so practical. I even got to break out of my introversion and networked at different events. Fun fact; through the professional skills grooming and the programme's network, I was able to secure a job before I had even graduated with an INGO. I absolutely hold with high esteem the bridges that my Master's created and the amazing memories and friendships built."
Nsamwe Mwale (alumnus)