Those aiming for a robust and lucrative rung on the corporate ladder increasingly require academic credentials. And institutions like the International University in Geneva are adapting their curricula to provide just that.

The IUG is bolstering its comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programmes with three new offerings: doctoral programmes (a doctorate in business administration or DBA, and a doctorate in public administration or DPA), a master’s in international trade, and a concentration on the luxury industry at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The DBA and DPA, each with two starting dates in January and in September, are offered in partnership with Plymouth University. This is particularly impressive, considering that Plymouth was recently named one of the three top modern universities in the UK by The Sunday Times. The doctorates, although research-based, are really intended for working professionals, rather than being purely theoretical degrees. This twist in the traditional offering of PhDs is completely in line with the IUG’s spirit. This Genevan institution prides itself on offering its students both academic and practical programmes, a sine qua non for students and professionals wishing to launch or further a career in the new global economy.

The doctoral programmes will enable participants to synthesise and develop managerial and professional practice, theoretical understanding and reflexive capability. As always, the programmes are flexible enough to allow for a professional activity that will support studies. Both doctorates can be completed in three to four years, depending on the student’s preferences and time availability. The programme will be taught in Geneva with the input of leading professors from both IUG and Plymouth University and with the help of a mentor attributed to each student.

City specialty

Another exciting offering of IUG is its master’s in international trade, developed to enable students to compete for managerial positions in trade promotion and development within international trade organisations, diplomatic services, chambers of commerce, and the private sector alike. It aims to provide knowledge and skills to assess major trade issues, draft policy documents and negotiate for government, international organisations or corporate sectors. The programme also explores economic and commercial decision making, current and future trade issues, thus enabling the students to gain insight into world trade, international finance and trade promotion strategies from national and regional to global level.

This ambitious course, which can be completed in a matter of one to two years depending on the student’s preferences, takes advantage of Switzerland’s and Geneva’s dynamic environment and of the IUG’s own multicultural student body, which covers 60 nationalities. With four starting dates, in September, November, March and June, the master’s programme is geared towards students who are usually already active in the international trade field. They will have the opportunity of being taught and advised by professionals active at UNECE, ITC, WTO and other international organisations.

IUG has launched a new major: the luxury industry concentration offered at the bachelor and master level as part of the academic curriculum. This new course of studies, which enables students to gain deep insights into the luxury field, is a natural for the IUG. After all, it is located in a city and country that produces many of the luxury goods that are exported around the world and that houses the headquarters and manufacturing facilities of many luxury groups. The teaching focuses on the distribution, legal aspects, marketing and trends in luxury management and thus provides very comprehensive knowledge to students or professionals wishing to hone their media and communication.

Article by Lauriane Zonco