Royal Holloway MBA International Study Visit to Stockholm University Business School
Detailed photo itinerary is contained below:
In Pictures
In News
On Twitter -
The following copy and images are provided thanks to Dr Sigrun M Wagner.
This year’s MBA cohort (2011-2012) went on a study trip to
Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, after the end of their exam period and before
their final group assignment (life consultancy case with Conti) and
dissertation. They were accompanied by alumni relations officer Fiona Redding
as organiser and teaching fellow Dr Sigrun Wagner from the academic staff.
The visit included three company visits, two guest lectures
at Stockholm University Business School (SUBS), a boat trip on Stockholm’s
canals, some free time and organised dinners including the final dinner with
students and staff from SUBS’ executive MBAs. The following offers an insight
to the trip with the help of pictures.
In Stockholm we arrived into beautiful sunshine – a yellow
bus was waiting for us to take us to our hotel, Mornington hotel in Nybrogatan.
The rest of the afternoon was free, which most people used
to venture out into the city for a cup of coffee. Lots of pictures were taken
throughout the week:
The first night involved dinner near the hotel, which
provided a chance to get to know each other better. The group also met the
local counterpart from Stockholm University Business School, Isabel Dahlin,
education and market coordinator.
The first company visit the following morning was to Swedish
Orphan Biovitirum (SOBI) at Karolinska Institute’s Science Park. SOBI is a
pharmaceutical company that specialises in orphan drugs for rare diseases.
After getting an introduction to the company and the regulatory process for new
drugs, the group was taken on a tour through the labs to see the actual
processes with a chance to ask further questions.
In the afternoon, the whole group went for a boat trip in
beautiful sunshine –Stockholm welcomed the group with an early arrival of
summer! Stockholm is also called the Venice of the North and the boat trip
provided a good opportunity to see this beautiful city from the water.
The first full day in Stockholm concluded with dinner at
Myntkrogen, the restaurant in the Royal Coin Cabinet, opposite the Royal
Palace.
The next day started with an all-morning visit to Swedbank,
a leading bank in Sweden and the Baltic countries. The presentations and
discussions centred around sustainability, banking models and the impact of the
financial crisis. They provided stimulating and inspiring ideas not only for
the students.
Our super organisers, Isabel and Fiona, during our visit to
Swedbank:
After lunch, the group was taken to Stockholm University
Business School for our first lecture, which was on critical and institutional
perspectives on fashion blogging from a marketing researcher.
There were no scheduled activities for the evening so
students and staff went their own ways for dinner and entertainment (so I
hear!).
In the second lecture on the trip, marketing guru Evert
Gummesson provided interesting and challenging material on relationship
marketing. He delivered a fascinating lecture that engaged everyone.
The buildings of the business and economics faculty at
Stockholm University used to be veterinary clinics – outside the surgical
clinic:
Most of the group outside Stockholm University’ School of
Business after lunch and a walk around the waterside campus:
Awaiting the final company visit at Scan AB – a big player
in the meat industry. A leading strategist and an HR professional talked us
through the company and were very open to suggestions of the students with
regard to international strategy and challenges facing the company.
The company visit at Scan AB concluded with sampling their
delicious meat products:
For the final dinner at Hagaforum, the group was joined by
staff and students of the Executive MBA at SUBS and provided a fitting ending
to a great trip:
After a final morning with some free time to sleep or go
sightseeing, the group headed back to the UK and here we are, happy and
exhausted upon return to RHUL:
Overall, this was a successful visit which was very well
organised and enjoyable.
For more pictures see the School of Management’s facebook
page (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.444129535616828.111127.201254953237622&type=1)
and the twitter feed of academic Sigrun Wagner www.twitter.com/smwagner_RHUL
(hashtag #RHULMBA2012)