Pieter Pan says it all

Just as Michael, I have three clocks on my desktop running. One of these clocks indicates what time it is in India. Besides helping me to find out what time I can contact old friends and professional contacts there, it does make me feel connected to the country I’ve spent 8 months of my life already, of which 4 at the XIMB campus.

The time we spent in Bhubaneswar for the 3Continent Master of Global Management had its ups and downs, as most experiences. Nevertheless the campus has all the necessary facilities for sporting and food, it is important to venture out and see more of the city itself (and thus the Indian way of living). A strong contrast between poor and rich, the feeling that everything is possible and a great sense of entrepreneurship are a only a few things that jump into my mind when I’m reflecting at this very moment. Walk around, take a Rickshaw, go to some bars, clubs and restaurants, and enjoy the many excursions. Make XIMB your base as much as possible, your safe haven to return to. The cooks will serve you hygienic and great food (whether at the XCafe or in the restaurants). You can also relax in the evening or go to the events organized by the other (Indian) students. They have great parties, try it!

Neswpaper cutting of Pieter and others visiting the Vending Zones in Bhubaneswar

The XIMB faculty and staff will go the extra mile to answer your requests. But also expect a high level of workload filled with cases, readings, presentations and papers. In a nutshell, XIMB is what you make of it yourself as it (and the city) has a whole lot to offer and learn from! But be sure to take it all in fast, as 4 months will have passed before you know it!

Good luck!

Pieter Vandenbroucke

 

Michael learns to rock !

I believe XIMB has many talents and powers running around its campus. It’s good that now, they can reach out to the world instead of remaining between campus walls and ‘disappearing’ into the strategies of Indian Corporate Industry after two years of broad learning.

In this way, the 3CMGM experience brought me three different ways of being a student. In Belgium, you are a competitive partner for faculty. You are being challenged by teachers and your classmates to show what you got! In NYC, you are a citizen of the greatest people magnet in the  world. You walk the streets like you own them. Simultaneously, the city eats you alive!
In India, you are a member of a larger XIMB campus. You see the dynamics between students, office and teachers, and you follow the rules of the place, both formal and informal, and both strange and rewarding !! This is also where we worked the hardest! We had so many deadlines for presentations, group works and papers. And the faculty would give us more work every day. We were challenged to be flexible, and I remember turning down many invites of Indian students for playing music, hanging around, playing football etc.. I participate in some of course. Most of them were night time activities… as the tradition of the XIMB student lifestyle prescribes!

One can understand that all this brings about a life changing rollercoaster ride across places. Places where you can do no more than being yourself, and gain friends with that. The best thing about this is that you learn about management and global organisations along the way. What appeared to be my priority when I chose this program (that is to learn about management), it became an added value to my global citizenship! 3CMGM brings about change to your heart and soul, and then to your brain.
I am now a global citizen. I have three clocks on my desktop (Mumbay, Nyc and Alaska) because I have friends there, and I wonder what time of the day they are having.

In second degree, I am a future colleague, service orientated, client friendly and flexible. One that understands his place in the value chain of a (global) industry. I also am trained to understand (and question) the strategy of my future company and the position my fellow colleagues are placed in. I am also trained to identify and to take care of stakeholders in the business I will do, and in this way, to do business for a better world.

Michael Ghysels