Enrolling with Glion 1st online MBA

1. Focus·on Hotel and Tourism Management ADVERTISEMENT
THE GLION INSTITUTE OF
HIGHER EDUCATION
Eddy Brosse is a French national working asa Hospitality Consultant in both
France and the UK He's currently foJ/owing Glion Institute of Higher Education's
100% online MBA in Intemational Hospitality and Service Industries Management
programme - an MBA program tailored for busy working professionals across
the intemational hospitality and wider service industries. Eddy is pursuing this
program with the aim of re-directing his career back into hotel operations whilst he
continues to work full-time.
I decided to study online with Glion for a couple of reasons; firstly I saw a need
for personal development. Having leamt the trade through the ranks of some of
the largest hotel chains, with regular on-the-job training and short programs, I've
become a sound operational Hotel Manager - but with weak strategiC and critical
thinking skills. So my ambition has always been to turn into an excellent General
Manager.
Secondly, I wanted to gain some recognition for my skills at a global level. Glion
appeared to be the best fit for both needs: a Swiss hospitality management school,
and one of the best!
And why online? Well it wasn't feasible to take a career break to study, and I
had a good experience In the past with online leaming.So for me, studying online
means good networking opportunities, fascinating real-life case studies yet total
control over my own day-to-day schedule.
My reasons for embarking on the MBA have changed quite radically since
starting the program. Ofcourse recognition for achieving an MBA is a bonus, but not
so much a priority anymore. The personal development dimension has really taken
over,and what I'm leaming on the program already filters through to my everyday
life and attitudes; giving me the tools to better understand what is really going on,
and analyse it. I don't look at the world around me the same way anymore.
And I've found there to be many advantages of following an online program.
Freedom to continue working whilst I study first springs to mind. But looking
deeper,the main gain is in the constant exchange between the online programand
real life experience: we plough into ourpast and present experiences and bring
them into the class, and in retum we bring fresh inSIghts and new thinking into
our work. One recent example saw a fellow classmate discuss the online visibility
of his hotel - we discussed his hotel's website, talkedabout Societal Marketing,
and considered strategies to market the property online before he was meeting his
management team to present his ideas. I could not imagine having this depth of
discussion in a normal classroom environment.
All of the material used in the program Qndustry contributions, case studies,
course work etc.)is utterly up-to-date. We work on today's forward thinking
organisations (that many of us are lucky to work for). actual industry challenges,
such as social media, and all of us can find connectionswith past and present
experiences. For example, we recently discussed cultural challenges in employee
management, best practices, emotional labour, and the way forward. And I can't
emphasise enough the unlimited source of research, case studies, professional
articles, and amazing literature that's availablevia Glion's online library.
With over ten or fifteen different nationalities in our online classroom ofabout 20
pecple, each brings new and various insights into discussionsabout our common
industry. The virtual classroom really allows individuals to mix togetherand build
strong bonds. Eventhough everyonein the class has various levels of professional
experiences and background - from middle management to senior executive -
we're all ready to help each other.
Collaboration is a big part of online leamingand happens through amiet'1
of examples and experiences in the online classroom. Working and studyingis
tough, so collaboration in the class is not only about leammg from each other's
profeSSional experiences, but also about supporting one another, remembering
about the end goals and what we have already achieved, sharing tips, suggestions
or even articles. The weeks when we have hand-in assignments are challenging.
but we get sointo the discussions and assignments that time reallydoes fly!
Only 6 months since starting the program it's amazing to realise how muchand
how quickly changes are taking place in my day-to-day profession. I'm on atrue
leaming curve. I can only imagine what it will be like in December 2012when I
expect to graduate. I'm excited to say that I expect to teel, and be,a very different
person.
The Glion Institute of Higher Education is a market leading institution - ranked
among the top 3 hospitality management schools inthe world tor an international
career! - dedicated to the global hospitality and wider servicesindustry. Its
innovative, 100% online, MBA in International Hospitality and Service
Industries Management is specifically tailored to meet the growing demandfor
executive talent within these industries who are looking for career advancement,
and continuous leaming opportunities, without taking a career break.
For more information about the Ghon Institute of Higher Education and
its online MBA program, visit the website:www.gliononline.com or email:
inquiry@gliononline.com
1 TNS,UK, Global Research - 2010