The 2014 Kent MBA European study trip to Brussels and Paris was a resounding success. This annual event took place from the 30th March – 3rd April 2014. Enroute to Brussels, we stopped along the way at Bruges, the historic city centre famous for its lace, where we stretched our legs and had a bite to eat. We then continued on our journey which brought us the Brussels just in time for dinner and a rest.
With EU simulation games and indepth discussions with experts on EU policy and practices (Tom Casier, Roger Vickerman), a visit to the EU parliament, more discussions with a couple of MEPs (Richard Ashworth, Timothy Kirkhope), the Brussels leg of the study trip was packed! It was also serendipitous that we even had the opportunity to meet up with fellow MBA and MBA alumni from the Solvay Brussels School of Management , a fellow school within the AMBA family!
When we got to Paris, the focus turned to organisations, and we were privileged to have been hosted by Tom Costa, CEO of the Coventya Group, a market leader in speciality chemicals for electroplating and surface finishings. Tom spoke to us about what made his company who talked to us about what made his company the market leader it is – and emphasised the global and talented staff he had across the world. We also had engaging discussions with Bob Lewis, the President of the Franco-British Chamber of Commerce , Phillippe Willekens of the European Space Agency , Prof George Nurdin of the Paris Business School and Eve de la Mothe Karoubi from the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network .
It was a fairly packed programme. However, as we can see from the video clip above, much fun, food, laughter and camaraderie was had by all who came on the study tour. This was an appropriate end to the intensive term the Kent MBA had.
It was a wonderful trip. Love it.