Build your business brain in Barcelona Barcelona may be one of the top places to consider for a holiday or even to live, but would it be the first place to come to mind when choosing a business school? Barcelona may seem all beaches and festivals, but in fact, it’s a great place for business, too. The city holds world-class conferences such as the Mobile World Congress, Retail Brand Experience World Congress, Startup Grind and Smart City World Expo, and attracts lots of new and progressive start-ups. TEXT: ESME FOX | PHOTOS: ESEI BUSINESS SCHOOL
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ts popularity as a holiday destination also means that there’s a great many companies dedicated to tourism, from hotels and tour companies to cookery schools, so it’s an ideal place to study if you’re interested in the business side of hospitality and tourism.
and elegant space in which to learn and focus. The school offers both Bachelors and Masters programmes in a variety of fields, from business management and digital entrepreneurship to tourism and hospitality management and international relations.
ESEI Business School is essentially a family business, which first opened in 1989 and draws on the city’s business opportunities to help teach its students and create innovative courses and projects. Located in a grand and beautiful house on the edge of the city, close to the mountains, this is not your usual campus. It offers a unique
The school was founded by Jorge Estera Sanza in order to develop international business in Barcelona. It aims to provide an all-round, internationally-focused education, which combines academic excellence in business studies with humanistic values. With an average of around 250 students and a maximum of 25 per class,
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Personal attention
ESEI offers a lot of personal attention and can tailor projects around students’ interests and needs. All courses are taught in English and pupils are attracted from countries around the world, making the school a very multicultural environment, which sets students up well in the world of business. “We have had up to 90 different nationalities, but currently we have around 35, mostly from Europe, including countries such as the Netherlands, France, Italy and Germany, although we have quite a few from Morocco, too,” says business development manager Carlota Estera.
On- and off-campus learning One of the things that sets the courses at ESEI apart from other business courses in the city are its links with businesses and its practical classes and projects, offering real world experiences. One example of this includes its partnership with the Hotel Majestic, one of Barcelona’s most luxurious hotels. Through project-based learning, students get to acquire first-hand knowl-
