MBA in Spain Ideal for Students Returning to Latin America: MBA News

Latin American students looking to work within their region's expanding economies view an MBA in Spain as an ideal way to prepare for their future careers.

Rather than choosing to remain in the Americas by studying at home or in the US, students are being drawn to business schools in Spain because they offer a combination of acclaimed education and a business mindset that is more attuned to the Latin American experience.

While the attractiveness of cultural similarities for Latin Americans considering an MBA in Spain is certainly nothing new, what has changed considerably over the past decade is that the program is no longer seen primarily as a platform for a career abroad, but as ideal preparation for returning to management positions in Latin America.

According to The New York Times, among the trio of top business schools in Spain, roughly 21% of students graduating this year at IE Business school hail from Latin America, while that figure reads 19% and 15% at ESADE and the University of Navarra's IESE Business School respectively.

After earning their MBA in Spain, many of these students now intend to return to Latin America on graduation is borne out by IE student polls - with the exception of students from Venezuela and Argentina, the majority say they wish to pursue careers in Latin America. Indeed, for those from Brazil and Peru the numbers surpass 90% - testament to the opportunities these countries can currently offer.

Business schools in Spain have duly noted this shift in student intentions, alongside the increasing esteem in which the region holds the MBA qualification, and have upped their existing ties to the region.

ESADE to launch Spanish-language MBA in 2014

Barcelona-based ESADE (Escuela Superior de Administración y Dirección de Empresas) is one such example. The school already offers numerous options to gain an insight into Latin America and will launch its Spanish-language full-time MBA program in 2014.

Strengthening these ties is a natural progression for any top Spanish business school, like ESADE, boasting strong alumni networks in Latin America and indeed, many of the case studies used for teaching purposes also stem from the region. With its own economy faltering, the growth of Latin America can therefore offer huge potential to any students studying in Spain.

The New York Times quotes Joana Jo Fratini, an ESADE student from Brazil who opted for an MBA in Spain to help her to reacquaint herself with the Latin American business landscape after several years working in the US.

"The interaction with the professors, the interaction with the students — is so much more similar to the way that business is done in South America than what I was exposed to in the US. It definitely helps me leverage my future plans in Brazil," Fratini said.

See Europe's top business schools ›