From Bablake to Barcelona... The Careers tour continues.
‘You’ve got no chance!’ This phrase was ringing in my head, as I checked my email for grammar and pressed send.
(Mr Mark Woodward, Head of Careers, continues...) Mr Jim Burns’ distinctive tones, burly but always warm, had not surprised me, for I had just asked whether he thought the Headmaster would allow me to spend a couple of school days in Barcelona.
I’d explained this was not just a cheeky term-time jolly to one of Europe’s most exciting cities and yes, I was aware picture postcard photos of Barcelona’s charming beaches could prove awkward to explain to fee-paying parents and staff looking exam workshop-weary and eager for a break from relentless marking and report deadlines.
Assistant Head Mr Burns (our former Head of 6th), is, of course, a wise man, but just this once, his cynicism proved unwarranted as the Headmaster, aware that our L6th was out of town on exam leave, my tutor group had left, the European university maze was worth trying to unravel and that ESADE Business and Law School would be paying for flights, accommodation, food and transfer, sent his approval by return ‘post’ with, as yet, very few strings attached.
Bablake had hosted a Student World fair in September 2014 and I had attended a local gathering of further international HE institutions earlier this summer, so I had already experienced the warm welcome of a number of world-ranked universities first-hand via their marketing teams, but I was keen to see the exciting opportunities for myself.
So, arriving at Birmingham airport, disguised as a careers adviser amid a cacophony of hens and stags heading to Barcelona for a less than cultural weekend, I eagerly awaited my Spanish Higher Education lesson. Armed with O Level Spanish – linguistically impoverished ashamedly - and an excess of baggage for the two day visit, I soon found myself on Spanish soil, awaiting transfer to the Room Mate (Emma) hotel. This turned out to be a hip, boutique establishment that I’d recommend for its location, substantial breakfast, piped musical offering of Paolo Nutini and Sade, and chic furnishings. Furnishings so chic in fact that it took me almost 24 hours to discover the 2 cupboards and I was not even sangria-infused!
One of the immediate delights of the trip was the realisation that my early flight had presented me with 4 hours to explore Barcelona before the official walking tour began at 5pm that day. (Before Mr Burns notes I could therefore have done cover until break and still made the tour, ESADE booked the flight times!) Walking Las Ramblas seemed an essential! Keeping to the shade – the city’s tree-lined avenues and amazing decorative balconies stood out - with my trusty camera at hand, there was a chance to do some gift-shopping and, guiltily enjoy some Häagen-Dazs sampling. Unsurprisingly this pleasurable downtime in the 40 degree sunshine soon vanished!
It is fair to say Barcelona the city, with its culture, laidback lifestyle, low-rise architecture, blend of the past and present, maritime chic and elegant residents, is impossible not to fall totally in love with; yes, the lengthy Woodward bucket list of cities to revisit has another jewel added! Close your eyes and you could feel a Parisian charm, but once open again, the warmth was distinctly Mediterranean. It felt as if a couple of weeks could not do the city justice, but roll on retirement for the chance to test this theory!?
So much for the background, what about ESADE and the Careers mission? It is of course a golden rule of travel that you cannot take the Bablake out of anywhere in the world. This maxim was once again confirmed when Jon Barfield, a member of my tutor group from 1999-2001, alighted from the lift to join the walking party. Jon proved exceptional company for the visit and it was excellent to catch up on his role at Brentwood School where he teaches Philosophy and RE and is in charge of their IB programme. We even proved a formidable team at rounding up the stragglers on our walking tour and in true ‘never off duty’ style, the whole pack of advisers, bar a couple dispatched in a taxi, safely made the impressive Restaurant Barceloneta 195 minutes and a few kilometres later. I need not mention the detour disappearance taken by the aforementioned pupil for the wise purchase of a painting spotted in the Old Town – Bablake students being inquisitive and rebellious to the last.
Looking out over the harbour as the sun set slowly, with a glass of chilled mineral water, fine food and great conversation, I did not miss my usual drive home via Coventry’s ring-road, accompanied by Simon Mayo’s Drivetime, nor did I think I could tire of missing it! The meal at Restaurant Barceloneta was a wonderful mix of tapas, hake, paella and calorific desserts. All in the charming company of lecturers and staff from ESADE’s Barcelona campus.
Day 1 was complete, and I had unselfishly followed my own advice to Bablake pupils: ‘Always carefully check the area and facilities in the city you are going to spend three or four years in as a student.’ What I had seen was impressive!
The following day would complete my insight into ESADE, established over 50 years ago, with a key mission to train individuals to become highly-competent professionals fully aware of their social responsibility and asserting a firm commitment to intellectual rigour, critical analysis and academic excellence. The pedigree of its alumni is unquestioned: almost 40,000 alumni in over 100 countries, holding top-level posts in companies, public administration and the non-profit sector. ‘Inspiring futures’ is the ESADE mission statement and there was nothing to question delivery of that aim.
We were not going to see the Law School at ESADE since this was not currently an option for students outside Spain, but we heard that the present site in the centre of Barcelona would be moving out to the suburbs of Sant-Cugat where the Business School is located. An overland FGC train away or 30 minutes by car from the centre, I felt a little disappointed the location was more suburban but this was a small regret and the town of Sant-Cugat seemed very welcoming.
I had approached day 2 with the mindset that a Humanities or International Business degree would be more advantageous if set outside the UK for the majority or totality of a course and convinced that studying a foreign language would make more sense in the native land. So would I be promoting ESADE’s business programme at the end of the visit?
The first signs were impressive – we met in the E-Garage, a business growth hub. Everything felt purposeful and custom-built for dynamic personal development. That’s the feeling I always have on any campus dedicated to one faculty, even in the UK. The explanation of courses, obligatory Q and A, sample lecture, tour of the campus and conversations with the ESADE ambassadors all impressed. I don’t believe for a minute I was seduced into a positive frame of mind by the glorious sunshine, but it cannot harm productivity and focused thinking!
The students we met were exceptional: typical of the Bablake variety, they were both charismatic and dynamic, clear advocates of the value of their course. One a local rugby player, heading to London for a summer internship, was studying on a scholarship hot on the heels of his sister who was graduating from ESADE on a starting salary of 40k (euros); another the daughter of a Russian editor was a part-time wedding photographer, who had just shot a magazine cover. The student from Ampleforth – soon to be the new home of young History teacher and Bablake alumnus Chris Starkey – was convincingly positive about the ESADE experience. It struck me that the truly international cohort of students at ESADE would have its instant world network, with currently just over 1400 students from 89 different countries.
At 14,800k euros a year for the 4 year Bachelor of Business Administration degree, paid upfront rather than retrospectively in the UK, some might question the sense. While it is rumoured UCAS may soon include European universities in its application process, the less hardy might also shy away from time necessary for the individual application to ESADE.
However with a Master’s degree in the UK rising in cost and popularity, will a UK graduate really stand out from the crowd? An ESADE graduate will have a degree that is accredited worldwide, and have mastered the challenge of moving to a new country, gained fluency in a new language, experienced innovative teaching, completed internships, maybe studied at a prestigious university for a semester ‘abroad’ and taken advantage of a globally advantageous education recognised by the Financial Times as the 4th best European Business School.
Some might question the journey time to ESADE, but in the time it can take to defeat the M6 or M1 or traverse the M25, Barcelona’s welcome awaits as well as offering a fantastic beacon on a CV or digital profile.
With this debate whirring in my mind, the party split, with advisers heading to all parts of the globe. The arranged flight back to Birmingham allowed me an extra evening in Barcelona. After a relaxing meal with two advisers from Athens, another Woodward favourite city, there was time for more walking and further exploration of a wonderful city; the pledge to extol its virtues on Trip Advisor had also been made! Life as a student in such a beautiful environment could only be magical, but it might just become a little addictive! As I failed to visit the beach, trust that my conclusion is totally impartial.
Footnote
Thank you especially to Celia Escudero Van Der Beek from the ESADE Admissions Team and Mónica Valls Bara, Key Account Manager (who had visited Bablake in September) for ensuring such an excellent visit.
