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In March 2025, eight students from the Master in International Business (MIB) at IÉSEG’s Lille campus had the opportunity to participate in the ‘Business Innovation Week’ hosted by Rotterdam Business School (Netherlands).

This initiative was part of an Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), which combines virtual learning with short-term physical mobility to make international experiences more accessible — particularly for students in specialized master’s programs like the MIB, which lasts just 18 months and doesn’t include traditional exchange semesters.

‘Business Innovation Week’ : an intensive and collaborative academic experience

Held from March 3 to 7, the ‘Business Innovation Week’ brought together nearly 100 students from Rotterdam Business School and several European partner universities, including IÉSEG and Vilnius University (Lithuania).

After completing an online learning module in February, students traveled to Rotterdam for a week of hands-on, team-based work focused on innovation and consultancy challenges. The program was led by faculty from the Master in Consultancy & Entrepreneurship at Rotterdam Business School.

Supervised by international faculty, participants worked in multicultural teams on real-world cases provided by local businesses, culminating in professional deliverables and final presentations. Students also visited the city’s Innovation Dock, heard inspiring talks from business leaders, and attended thought-provoking lectures on topics such as quantum computing and AI.

Having the opportunity to attend the ‘Business Innovation Week’ at Rotterdam Business School was amazing! I enjoyed all the different topics covered in the conferences, ranging from entrepreneurship, continuous learning, “nexialism” and even quantum computing. It was a great space to interact with professionals from different fields and expand our network.
Besides the educational scope, we also got to make new friends with the students at RBS. And the city itself exceeded my expectations! Visiting Rotterdam wasn’t in my plans this year but now I even want to go back.

Jose Alfonso ARMENTA MENDEZ, a Master in International Business student at IÉSEG

Selective admission and Erasmus+ support

To attend the ‘Business Innovation Week’, IÉSEG students were chosen through a selective process based on academic performance and exemplary conduct. The previous year, 15 students from IÉSEG’s Paris – La Défense campus had participated.

Thanks to full funding from Erasmus+, all travel expenses were covered. In line with sustainability goals, students were encouraged to use low-impact transportation – with Rotterdam being easily accessible from France by train or bus.

My experience during the Erasmus+ blended intensive program in Rotterdam was better than expected. We had the chance to participate in thought provoking lectures and get insights from professionals. The best part for me was the opportunity to network with students from the Netherlands and the visiting students from Lithuania. I believe that the essence of the program is to strengthen our ability to communicate with diverse groups and innovate together.

Athanasios POULOS, a Master in International Business student at IÉSEG

A high-impact mobility experience

This initiative exemplifies IÉSEG’s commitment to offering flexible, inclusive international opportunities that also help students develop key professional and intercultural skills.

There are also plans to involve IÉSEG faculty in future editions starting in 2026, paving the way for new collaborative teaching models within the European Higher Education Area.