Leadership & Career Development at Antwerp Management School (AMS)

As a young, dynamic and forward-thinking institution, the Antwerp Management School (AMS) has provided high-quality management training and research for more than 50 years. With professional accreditations from the AACSB and the NVAO, plus its listing among the prestigious Financial Times University rankings, the School’s persistent pursuit of world-class academics is unique and clearly visible.

Through the provision of leading, business-focused programs at the Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD level, the School helps hone diverse leaders from all social groups and generations. Not only does this elevate student learning to new and exciting heights, but also greatly contributes to the well-being of a connected, global society.

Founded in 1959 as the IPO – Institute for Postgraduate Education – the School soon carved out its mission to “…Educate participants in the art of decision-making and leading people and organizations, an art that originates first and foremost from a noble attitude and lifestyle…”. Fast-forward to the mid 70’s, and the IPO’s concentrated portfolio swelled to cover the breadth and depth of management education, with the School basking in a leading position for this type of education in the entire Flanders region.

Image courtesy of Antwerp Management School

The millennium saw the School evolve to into the familiar AMS brand, while last year, the School revelled in considerable growth, with fresh research centers, a new-fangled website and revised house style cementing the AMS name among the most effective contemporary business educators in Europe and the world.

One thing the School is passionate about is the development of leadership and career-focused skills among all students. Throughout the academic year, AMS works hand-in-hand with all willing applicants in the advancement their personal Leadership & Career Development Track (LCDT). Through the implementation of interactive workshops and seminars, plus opportunities to network with major companies and successful alumni, students begin to appreciate the value of leadership on top of gaining detailed insights into their preferred professional route.

“Consistent with our mission in which societal consciousness is a central pillar, within your class group you will take the initiative for a social project,” AMS explains. “This can involve a campaign to fund or create awareness for an existing project or organization, providing support to an organization, or launching your own initiative,” it notes. To highlight the success of this innovative project, participants of the 2015 programme triumphed in the launch of their Streetstore initiative, designed to ease the hardship of Antwerp’s homeless population.

Image courtesy of Antwerp Management School

Through the powerful LCDT, AMS seeks to help students identify exactly what they are good at, underlining the path that best suits their aspirations and allowing them to showcase the type of leader they can be, all-the-while providing personalised coaching to help them kick-start a thriving career. By honing individual skill and nurturing personal talent, AMS encourages students to become fully self-aware in all team and leadership endeavours, allowing them to showboat unique strengths and polish weaknesses.

With complementary guidance on CV and Cover Letter writing, plus the staging of mock interviews to benefit the job hunt later on, students are given the tools needed to secure their ideal career position straight after graduation. With the added perk of Antwerp’s Career Management Service delivering daily updates regarding the most current job openings available to students, AMS guarantees to help you turn that dream ambition into professional reality.

“As a professional individual, business team, company or organization, you want to create value while searching for healthy growth and sustainability,” notes Professor Doctor Paul Matthyssens, Dean of AMS. “Your perfect partner on this journey is Antwerp Management School, a dynamic, innovative and customer-friendly organization, fuelled by an empowered team,” he states. “Our faculty and staff do their utmost to provide you with an inspiring learning experience by sharing state-of-the-art knowledge and practical insights that really make a difference.”

And as a leading, career-centred higher education provider, AMS knows one of the best ways for students to learn is to network with people who were once in the very same situation; thus, on several occasions throughout the year, students are given the chance to meet with AMS alumni, allowing them to schmooze with influential industry figures, while developing a business intuition that will prove invaluable in the working world.

Image courtesy of Antwerp Management School

“We look beyond the mere transfer of technical knowledge,” the Dean, concludes. “As our mission statement explicitly mentions, we also want to stimulate your personal development. Our approach is straightforward: the better you feel as a person, the more confident you are when dealing with complicated business situations. The more accurate your self-image, the better you are able to work with other people and lead others in a responsible manner that commands respect,” he adds.

“Our slogan expresses what we stand for: Opening Minds. Touching Souls. Energizing Business.”

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