LSBU and IST College in Greece forge strategic partnership
London South Bank University and the Independent Science and Technology (IST) College in Athens, Greece have formed a strategic partnership that enables Greek students to study LSBU's MBA programmes in Athens.The alliance means that students at IST College can study LSBU's executive and non-executive MBAs in English and receive an LSBU award on graduation. The programme is taught jointly by IST College and LSBU faculty, and the programme is quality-assured by LSBU.
The partnership is part of LSBU's wider internationalisation programme and joins similar alliances with European and Asian higher education institutions—including the Cyprus Institute of Marketing, the International Business Academy in Denmark, and memoranda of understanding with HEIs in Hong Kong, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
"Our Master of Business Administration programmes are innovatively structured to enable students to receive an LSBU qualification while studying at our partner institutions," explains Professor Geoffrey Elliott, Pro-Dean (Academic) of the business faculty at LSBU.
"Business is becoming ever-increasingly international. LSBU students, IST College students and our academic community all benefit from both the research and cultural exchange that these international partnerships provide."
Those studying LSBU's MBA, whether in London or one of LSBU's partner institutions, can spend their four-day residential exchange at another of LSBU's European partners—granting them invaluable international business and research experience.
LSBU's business faculty recently celebrated the graduation ceremony of its first cohort of undergraduate double degree students in Denmark. The faculty has a long-standing relationship with the International Business Academy where the courses are taught and assessed in English and based on the full-time postgraduate and undergraduate courses delivered by LSBU.
Crazy business ideas: LSBU and IST College support young entrepreneurs
Celebrating the strategic partnership, LSBU joined IST College at a 'Crazy Business Ideas' awards ceremony in June where young Greek entrepreneurs pitched their innovative ideas for a new business product or service. The winners are then supported by IST with a start-up kit of staff expertise and a €10,000 sum to transform their idea into a real business opportunity and company.
The competition was held under with the support of the General Secretariat for Youth and the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and was opened by the President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce Mr Konstantinos Michalos. Head of LSBU's Department of Management, Milo Crummie, was asked to make a speech on behalf of LSBU and presented one of the prizes.
First prize was awarded to 'Organery', an intelligent composting system for the utilisation of organic waste. Runner-up was 'Re-create', an internet platform providing design and tips (free of charge) for setting up and managing home spaces; third place went to Helpbook , a social website whereby people from all over Greece may seek or offer their services to the community for a fee, quid pro quo or absolutely free simply because they want to help.
"We were delighted to be associated with the Crazy Business Ideas initiative," commented Professor Elliot. "It resonates with our policy of education underpinning the attributes of business and enterprise."
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