Testimonials
Perks of Being KEDGE Summer School Student
The following editorial was written by International students studying at Kedge Business School
Have you even wondered how it feels to spend the summer in the one of the most fascinating places in Europe, studying the subjects you like? Here are (for us as Kedge international students) the 4 most important perks of studying at KEDGE this summer:
1. Enjoy Studying Subjects You Love A lack of choice is NOT an issue with the Kedge International Summer School. Kedge offers 4 different programs (10 courses all together) in Marseille between June 5 and July 26. All are business related but also quite different and unique. Sports Marketing, CSR and Sustainable Development, Cross Cultural Negotiations, French as a Foreign Language…you have the opportunity to choose the subject(s) that interest you the most. And if you see a class in one program, and another in a different program, no problem - you have the flexibility to build your own “hybrid” option! 2. Earn Anywhere from 5 to 40 Transferrable ECTS credits A Summer School is great, but what about transferring those credits back home? Transferrable ECTS credits is something every degree seeking student is concerned about. Kedge gives the Summer School students the opportunity to earn credits during the summer by taking as little as one 5-ECTS class in a week, or as many as 8 courses (40 ECTS) over 2 months! Each of the four offered program packages delivers at least 10 ECTS, which means that you can spend your summer working closer to the required ECTS for your university degree at home, AND enjoy the beauty of Marseille and southern France at the same time. 3. Live in a Multicultural Environment The Kedge International Summer School hosts students from around the globe, which is the perfect opportunity to meet the students from completely different parts of the world. One of the main goals of the KEDGE Summer School is to live up to the Kedge Business School motto (CREATE SHARE CARE), by creating a diverse and attractive academic setting to promote interaction and exchange between international students. 4. Marseille – Is there a better place for summer vacation? It doesn’t matter what interests you have, Marseille will completely satisfy all of them! It is one of the biggest and oldest cities in France which offers cultural monuments and gorgeous beaches; the Calanques National Park borders the Kedge Luminy campus; you have museums, expositions, and of course, night life. It is a magnificent place that you have to visit at least once during your life.
Develop our student’s sense of innovation and entrepreneurship
Our objective is to inspire and develop our student’s sense of innovation and entrepreneurship! Modern management is a complex environment. Those who are successful are those who understand that value creation comes through Innovation Capture, Speed to Market, Vertical Integration… Acquiring that knowledge will be useful for the rest of your life as you strive to come up with creative solutions!
Discover the "French Touch"
How can one learn from key success factors used in the development of marketing Champagne, Cognac and fine French wines to dynamise brand management all over the world? What do the terms “premiumisation” and “luxification” mean, and what are “interprofessions”? Discover the ‘French Touch’; how we can use modernity and innovation mixed with tradition and know how to build an incredible competitive advantage!
Societe Generale Corporate & Investment Banking, Hong Kong
I have been in the finance industry for close to 10 years, and have worked my way through the ranks at the management level. During that time I have dealt with numerous clients, senior management, consultants and industry players across many countries in Asia and Europe. I strongly believe that the EA-DBA programme will enable me to pursue my dream in conducting CRM research, and to become an academic professor. I chose the EA-DBA because the courses are delivered across the globe in Europe and Asia. This provides an international perspective alongside many exciting networking, learning and sharing opportunities, which no other programme will be able to provide.
Better position to facilitate change in the company,
In my career with Volvo Construction Equipment, a multi-national group that I have been with for 10 years now, one of the major challenges our group has faced is the cyclical nature of the construction equipment industry and increased market volatility in China. To succeed in this environment, our company must find the approaches that are both effective and reactive as the environment around it changes. I am focusing my DBA research on the impact of corporate culture in adapting to a given business environment and lasting levels of corporate performance. With an increased knowledge base in this field, I will be in a better position to facilitate change in the company, given environmental changes, by creating and communicating trust, shared values and the desire to positively drive corporate performance.
EA-DBA program brings me a large platform for business research
With a rich professional working experience in marketing management for over 20 years, I started to realize my limits. Therefore, I was looking for a place where allows me to do some experimental and academic researches. EA-DBA programme brings me a large platform for business research with both international participants and supports of high-level Europe and Asia research faculty. In this programme, participants could have a diverse choice for their research domains. In my case, I start this programme with my interests on consumer behavior and effects of social network on branding.
Kedge Business School’s Toulon campus
At Kedge Business School’s Toulon campus, we integrate a comprehensive Design curriculum at the heart of the school of management. We have found no better way to way to teach Design Thinking methodologies and Creative Process Management than by drawing upon the skills and expertise of those who use them in their daily lives: Designers. Our summer school is a concentrated version of what we do best in our degree-seeking programs and highlights the assets of the Mediterranean region’s penchant for design and creativity. Join us this summer for some sun, some fun and above all, some inspiration!
Discover the "French Touch"
How can one learn from key success factors used in the development of marketing Champagne, Cognac and fine French wines to dynamise brand management all over the world? What do the terms “premiumisation” and “luxification” mean, and what are “interprofessions”? Discover the ‘French Touch’; how we can use modernity and innovation mixed with tradition and know how to build an incredible competitive advantage!
Develop our student’s sense of innovation and entrepreneurship
Our objective is to inspire and develop our student’s sense of innovation and entrepreneurship! Modern management is a complex environment. Those who are successful are those who understand that value creation comes through Innovation Capture, Speed to Market, Vertical Integration… Acquiring that knowledge will be useful for the rest of your life as you strive to come up with creative solutions!
Things You Have to Know Before Coming to Marseille
Before coming to a new city, it’s always good know beforehand what you should take into account. So, we’ve put together some essential information useful for those joining the Kedge International Summer School in Marseille this year. We hope it helps you out!
- Clothing Marseille is well known for being one of the warmest parts of France, and temperatures during the summer will be on average 30 °C or higher (86 °F) with low humidity. However, warm clothes can come in handy in case the famous ‘Mistral’ winds pick up when you’re out exploring the beautiful Calanque National Park, or you’re out for a cool evening on the beachfront.
- Transportation There are several sources of public transportation in Marseille that can be used, which make getting around easy. Know that there are preferential prices for students on the buses, metro and the tramway, which make them the best way to get around the city. The price for a single fare is 1.50 €, and one ticket can be used for up to an hour, no matter how many times you switch buses or transfer to a metro or tram. You also have a system of public bikes (called ‘le Velo’), which you can rent across the city, picking up and dropping off as you like. Bike prices are cheap also: the first 30 minutes are free, and after 30 minutes, you are charged 50 cents per hour.
- Around Marseille One of the best parts about “Marseille” is its proximity to so many fantastic places nearby. You can hop on the high speed ‘TGV’ train and be in central Paris in 3 hours. You’re about 4 ½ hours from Barcelona, 3 hours from Italy, or you can be in the amazing French Alps in 2 – 3 hours. But even just next door, you have so much to do! There’s the beautiful city of Aix-en-Provence just a 30 minute (4 euro) bus ride away. And if you want to go a bit further, you can hop down the French Riviera coast, hitting hot spots like St Tropez, Antibes, Cannes, Nice and Monaco!
- Restaurants; France is well-known for delicious food and joining the Kedge Summer School in Marseille gives you the opportunity to prove that this stereotype is, in fact, true. We’ve provided some prices below for reference to give you an idea of the price of a meal for one person:
- A typical French breakfast (croissant / baguette / coffee or tea): 3 to 5 €
- Snacks (sandwiches / takeaway): between 5 and 15 €.
- A bigger ‘sit-down’ meal: from 15 to 35 €.
- Fine dining: between 35 and 90 €.
- A ‘Michelin Star’ restaurant: 150 € and up.
Also, know that the Kedge Summer School lodges students in Apart-Hotels in central Marseille, which are equipped with small kitchens and fridges. So, you can go to the local market and buy your food to cook at home (Hint: don’t forget to try all the cheeses, yogurts, seafood, cured meats, chocolates, cookies…)