Choosing the right MBA program is about finding a good match between the school’s values and culture and your own aspirations. Maastricht School of Management (MSM) in the Netherlands provides an immersive cultural experience rooted in diversity, collaboration, and personal growth.
Founded in 1952 under a different name, Maastricht School of Management is one of the oldest and most international business schools in the Netherlands. Its 10 core values help sustain an environment where students can grow and contribute to a larger community. MSM’s values include hard work, integrity, initiative, creativity, accountability, inclusiveness, teamwork, personal growth, diversity, and safety.
Keep on reading to discover whether the organizational culture at MSM’s Full-time MBA is the right fit for you.
Diversity and inclusiveness as a strategic advantage
With over 20 nationalities in class, MSM’s Full-time MBA program aims to enrich learning by meeting students with different cultures, ideas, and professional backgrounds. Collaborative projects and discussions ensure that no single viewpoint dominates. Instead, class participants get used to working with and appreciating various perspectives – a skill that is invaluable in the global marketplace.
The institution’s location also has its impact on the way students feel at Maastricht School of Management or even at other business schools in the Netherlands. The country has long been recognized for its progressive stance on diversity and inclusion. A place with an impressive mix of cultures, the Netherlands embraces openness and tolerance, valuing the contributions of people from diverse backgrounds.
Teamwork within a supportive community
Whether it’s brainstorming solutions for a case study or working on group projects, teamwork is an integral aspect for MSM’s culture. Here’s what Full-time MBA student Kinjal Jain recently shared about the importance of teamwork and collaboration during the MSM-SDG Challenge: “The major learning outcome for me was how within a short time, a diverse group of students could come up with very practical solutions. Furthermore as a team lead I learnt that keeping expectations very clear within both parties really helped […].”
But teamwork can only thrive in a welcoming environment where students get the support they need to grow. Professors at MSM have the power to shape the school environment too. When the faculty are approachable and invested in students’ success, it ensures that MBA participants can focus on achieving their goals. “I want students to expect an enjoyable and motivated learning experience,” says Full-time MBA lecturer David Dingli.
Oliver Olson, Senior Lecturer in Marketing and Strategy, adopts a similar mindset in his classes: “There must be an element of entertainment when educating to help the students to be engaged and retain the key concepts. Another important element of my teaching style is to make each class personal and honest.”
Creativity and initiative
At Maastricht School of Management, fostering creativity and initiative is central to the educational experience and the Full-time MBA is no exception. The curriculum is designed to push students to go beyond conventional thinking and engage in creative problem-solving. Interactive and practical learning methods, including business simulations, entrepreneurial workshops, and hands-on projects all help to achieve that result.
As in other areas of life and work, having initiative is vital to success in one’s studies too. MBA class participants can actively shape their educational experience by organizing networking events, leading class discussions, and engaging in extracurricular activities.
A recent example of this proactive approach has been the interactive sustainability program. Students from the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow, collaborated on sustainability projects through workshops, one of which was the Climate Fresk Workshop, facilitated by students from the Maastricht University Green Office.
Commitment to accountability and social responsibility
Accountability is another cornerstone of Maastricht School of Management’s organizational culture. This value is deeply embedded in the Full-time MBA program, encouraging students to cultivate integrity and transparency in their decision-making. The curriculum is designed in a way that urges students to constantly assess the ethical and social dimensions of business challenges. Through case studies and interactive discussions, they learn to balance profitability with ethical responsibility.
MSM also collaborates with organizations that share its vision for responsible business. These partnerships expose students to real-world examples of companies that prioritize ethical governance and long-term trust-building. MBA graduates get inspired to lead initiatives that emphasize responsibility over expediency. A notable example from 2016 was MSM’s partnership with the Rwanda Management Institute (RMI). This collaboration focused on leadership development programs aimed at enhancing public sector efficiency in Rwanda.
Choosing Maastricht School of Management means joining a legacy of innovation, accountability, and collaboration. With its global outlook and commitment to cultivating forward-thinking leaders, MSM exemplifies the progressive and inclusive ethos found at many top business schools in the Netherlands.
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