The School of Management and Languages (SML) is one of the few academic departments in Europe to be awarded a second Erasmus Mundus scholarship for its contribution to quality in European higher education and the promotion of the European Union as a centre of excellence in learning around the world.
From September 2013, Business Management will be receiving students on the International Masters in Industrial Management (IMIM), a joint programme offered between SML and European partners at Universidad Politecnica de Madrid and Politecnico di Milano.
Industry scholarships
The EU scholarship of approximately €2.5m over a five year funding period enables financial support for both EU and non EU students to study on the programme as well providing support for academic mobility. Furthermore, IMIM has successfully attracted industry scholarships of over €100,000 per year from over 90 international companies including Telefonica, Repsol, Accenture, Whirlpool, Arcelor Mittal, UBE, Navantia, Italcementi, IKEA, Siemens, General Electric and Sony, amongst others.
IMIM is also accredited by academic and industry associations like Top Industrial Managers for Europe (TIME), the Association for the Development of Industrial Engineering (ADINGOR) and the Italian Association of Industrial Plants (ANIMP).
Studying abroad
The programme provides students from a scientific or engineering-based background with business skills for pursuing managerial careers in manufacturing and service industries. Students spend their first semester in Madrid and the second semester in Italy where they gain an overall understanding of business and operations management concepts. They then come to Heriot-Watt in the third semester where the specialism is in leadership and strategy. Students have the choice of completing the Master's thesis in any of the three partner institutions.
The Masters in Strategic Project Management
In 2012, Programme Director Amos Haniff secured a further five years of European Commission sponsorship for the Erasmus Mundus Masters in Strategic Project Management (MSPME), a partnership with Politecnico di Milano and Umea University, Sweden. The programme attracts over 1500 applications each year and international scholars from around the world to visit Heriot-Watt or partner institutions to collaborate in teaching and research.
Our programmes have literally changed people's lives.
Amos Haniff, Programme Director
The MSPME also benefits from close association and partnerships with industry. During the period of study at Heriot-Watt, students have the opportunity of participating in an internship and industry research projects, and present their findings at a MSPME Industry Project event.
Mr Haniff said "Erasmus Mundus provides the opportunity for high calibre students, who may not be able to do so otherwise, to study on master degrees in Europe. Our programmes have literally changed people's lives.
"Being successful in Erasmus Mundus applications is therefore very important to the University and it demonstrates the high level of academic quality we have within Business Management as well as a commitment to creating and strengthening relationships with other universities."