In today’s world, sustainability is a key topic that businesses worldwide are grappling with. The world needs change-makers who combine sustainability with entrepreneurship to come up with innovative solutions for tomorrow’s challenges. Let’s explore how the Sustainable Innovation & Entrepreneurship program at Antwerp Management School is preparing its graduates for the future.
The Antwerp Management School (AMS) offers a master’s program in Sustainable Innovation & Entrepreneurship (MSIE) located in Antwerp, Belgium. The program is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to incorporate sustainability into entrepreneurship. The program is ideal for change-makers and innovators who want to contribute to a better world.
Robin de Cock, the Academic Director of the Sustainable Innovation & Entrepreneurship program explains, “The program is a hands-on, international program. Participants learn to create sustainable ideas that are also business-savvy. That’s what the program believes, if you want to create positive change in the world, you need to combine sustainability with business-savviness.” (00:22)
Sustainability is a core principle at AMS. The MSIE program recently changed its name to reflect this increased emphasis in the program. Previously the Master in Innovation & Entrepreneurship, it has been renamed to the Master in Sustainable Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
Professor de Cock elaborates, “We believe that business as usual is over…the world is in need of change-makers in existing companies…but also start-up entrepreneurs that can shake up the existing business landscape.” (00:45)
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to companies, start-ups, and scale-ups alike. Companies are looking for professionals who can help them grow their businesses while also helping them meet sustainability goals.
Professor de Cock highlights that the program prepares students for the future, as these skills will continue to become increasingly important.
In addition to the core courses, the program offers topical electives that reflect key trends in the industry. AMS also offers a Global Leadership program, in which students work with peers from other programs to learn about conflict management, leadership, and working in a multicultural setting.
Through the program, students gain a solid understanding of sustainability challenges and how to address them. Graduates of the program leave well-equipped with future-ready skills and the knowledge needed to tackle the increasingly urgent challenges of tomorrow.
Numerous factors make this master’s degree program stand out. For one, the MSIE program focuses on connecting current students with alumni and local start-ups. As one of the first sustainable innovation master’s programs in Europe, the program boasts more than 500 alumni. These alumni have set up around 120 start-ups.
One notable alumni success story is Loop earplugs. They have become one of the best-selling ear plug companies on Amazon in the US. They have gained international recognition for their products. Another alumni success story is The Gutsy Captain Kombucha, which has gained notable acclaim, having also been endorsed by Cristiano Ronaldo.
The MSIE alumni network offers current students ongoing support, mentorship, and valuable industry connections. Students can gain beneficial advice from alumni about various career paths. These alumni networking events can also lead to future career opportunities.
Students also have the opportunity to attend FTI Supernova, a leading tech and innovation festival in Antwerp, Belgium. In addition to this, students of the MSIE program have the opportunity to travel to international business hubs during their studies.
The MSIE program offers international trips to innovation hubs like Milan and Berlin. These trips offer students the unique chance to connect with peers and industry professionals abroad, learn about different entrepreneurial ecosystems, and gain eye-opening global perspectives.
Each trip is different. In Milan, students work with the School of Design from Politecnico de Milano. Collaborating with international peers, during the Sustainable Innovation Sprint, they are given three weeks to design and develop innovative concepts for an established organization. Previously, students have worked with Unicef, AirFrance, and many other companies and organizations.
Additionally, the program offers a class trip to Berlin. In Berlin, students have the chance to experience a different entrepreneurial ecosystem in an international business hub.
Professor de Cock emphasizes the importance of these trips, “You need to have a global mindset. You need to learn about what are the growth opportunities for myself, or for my startup idea, in other parts of the world.” (06:33)
The MSIE program prepares graduates for various career paths.
Some graduates go on to pursue entrepreneurial ventures and launch their own start-ups. Others join a scale-up. Some graduates choose to re-vamp their family business. Several graduates find employment in established companies, driving sustainable innovation from within. A large percentage of graduates also find success in supporting entrepreneurs, whether that is through consulting or offering legal or financial services.
The program equips graduates with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the entrepreneurial world and make a positive impact, regardless of their chosen field.
Belgian MSIE graduate Pauline Salez graduated from the program in 2021. She notes that her time at AMS was pivotal in helping her discover her career path.
Having previously felt unsure about her career path, the program exposed her to a variety of possibilities and helped her focus on her passion for Business Design.
She explains, “I still didn’t really know what I wanted to do, and Antwerp Management School really provided me with all the possible opportunities that we could have. It really gave me a clear direction of what I wanted to do.” (11:09)
Pauline also highlights the importance of having access to a vast alumni network. Guest speakers and networking events gave her easy access to start-ups and industry professionals both in Belgium and internationally. This helped her to gain a better understanding of the industry and potential career paths for graduates.
In addition to this, she had the opportunity to go to Milan and Stockholm to gain new insights and hands-on experience.
“During the Milan experience, I got to know what Business Design actually is. Before I joined Antwerp Management School I had no idea what that is. Now I’m a Business Designer at Accenture, so that’s really amazing,” Pauline notes. (13:29)
After completing her studies at AMS, she was able to successfully launch her career. Pauline currently works as a Business Designer at Accenture Song in Berlin, Germany.
Gabriel Moewis, a German MSIE graduate, graduated in 2023. He currently works for a green tech scale-up company in Belgium.
Gabriel stressed how sustainability is ingrained in every step of the program, helping students to become conscientious leaders.
He points out a guiding principle at AMS, “Antwerp Management School doesn’t want to train the best managers of the world but wants to train the best managers for the world.” (20:50)
Gabriel also traveled to Milan and gained valuable first-hand insights by working on a solution to a real-world problem for a company. Students were challenged to go beyond the theoretical realm to provide tangible results. They completed research and interviews and had to use problem-solving and teamwork skills to come up with a solution.
“There’s a different sense of urgency that you get. It helps your drive to work on a good solution.” (23:34)
Gabriel highlights how the MSIE program encourages students to develop an entrepreneurial spirit that extends beyond any one career path.
“What unites the people that graduate from this program is this entrepreneurial spirit. No matter if you work in a corporate or on your own start-up, you want to change things, you want to change the status quo…you’re really empowered in the master’s [program] to have the courage to work on your own thing…where you can have a positive impact on the economy and on the people around you.” (27:33)
Transferable soft skills such as problem-solving and teamwork skills that MSIE graduates develop throughout the program are essential in the modern-day work environment. These skills come in handy regardless of which career path you take.
Ultimately, the MSIE program at Antwerp Management School combines a focus on sustainability with practical business skills development. The MSIE program offers a unique advantage with immersive study trips to business hubs such as Berlin and Milan, as well as alumni networking events. Graduates leave the program well-prepared for a wide range of careers.
In today’s world, sustainability is no longer a niche concern; it is a critical issue facing businesses around the globe. The MSIE program at AMS is well-positioned to address this need by providing future business leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to create a more sustainable future.
Learn more about Antwerp Management School, and contact a student ambassador to learn more about their first-hand experience at AMS.
