The MBA at Copenhagen Business School is one of the leading programs in the country. But what are the benefits of getting an MBA in Denmark? We spoke to Ning Li, a recent graduate of the program, to find out.
Just 1% of business schools worldwide have received accreditation from the leading three accrediting bodies: AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA. One of the schools to have received this highly-coveted triple accreditation is Copenhagen Business School. It’s also the only school in Denmark to have received triple accreditation.
Each accrediting body has a slightly different scope. AACSB, based in the United States, assesses the quality of a school’s business and accounting programs. EQUIS assesses the quality of teaching at the business school as a whole. Meanwhile, AMBA only looks at the portfolio of MBA programs at a school.
By joining a triple-accredited business school, you’re not only joining an exclusive club, but you’re studying somewhere that has had the quality of its programs assessed independently by three leading global bodies. It’s a mark of quality that employers take note of.
Denmark is famed for its progressive approach to sustainability. It was the first country in the world to set a target of being fossil fuel-free by 2050 and has one of the highest recycling rates in the world.
This focus on sustainability bleeds into its MBA programs, too. Coming from China, one of the first things that struck Ning Li about studying an MBA in Denmark was the country’s approach to sustainability.
“Sustainability has been the focus of the program, which is very interesting to me,” she says. (03:16)
“In Denmark, they talk a lot about sustainability and CBS [has] a strong academic background in sustainability, so I’m curious to learn more about what’s happening with it here. It has been a great learning experience for me,” she adds. (05:22)
The MBA program at Copenhagen Business School is structured around a central theme of Sustainable Management. You’ll learn why it’s so important to pursue a strategy of corporate sustainability, how business initiatives can support sustainable objectives, and the skills and strategies needed to achieve them.
“It was one of the key facets of the program. Although I’m not currently working in sustainability, it has made me realize that everyone should have some awareness of sustainability, no matter where they work,” Ning adds. (13:35)
With a pioneering approach to learning, a unique way of life, and high-quality business schools, Denmark punches above its weight when it comes to business education. It’s probably why it attracts so many international students every year.
Across the country, 10% of students here come from abroad, which is well above the OECD average of 7.8%. At CBS, 20% of students are international. The CBS MBA, meanwhile, has a staggering international-student ratio of 90%. Ning Li points out the lack of a language barrier as a key reason why Denmark is such a welcoming environment for foreigners.
“In Denmark, a lot of people speak English,” she explains. “That helps a lot as a foreigner because it means it’s easier to settle here. I was able to get by just speaking English, whether I was going to the shopping mall, hospital, or even looking for a job.” (10:23)
As with many other things, Denmark takes a pioneering approach to leadership. Here, leadership is not simply seen as the ability to lead other people, but also how to lead yourself.
“Before I went on the program I was focused on the leadership focus program,” says Ning. “It’s basically a personal journey across the whole year. So sort of understanding myself, bringing more awareness…it’s not just about leading others, it’s also how to lead ourselves.” (04:56)
CBS MBA students learn about leadership through the program’s Leadership Discovery Process. This is split into three different sections. The first of these is all about understanding leadership in a cognitive sense, and how this influences your own leadership style.
The second component of the process is Action-Based Learning. Students will take part in a so-called “leadership simulator” off-site, where they’ll be able to develop their leadership skills by leading their colleagues on different tasks. You’ll receive feedback from your peers and coaches to help you further crystallize your leadership style.
Finally, CBS MBA students are also assigned a leadership mentor throughout the program. This mentor will be an actual executive working in a Scandinavian firm, meaning you can get practical advice from real-life leaders. It completes a holistic, 360 approach to leadership that equips students with all they need to become their own leader.
Denmark is famed for its unique work culture. Work-life balance is very important to people here, while the business environment is much more informal than in other countries. Having studied in both China and the United States, Ning admits that it took some getting used to at first.
“There are a lot of cultural differences for sure. I came from China (a different culture), lived in the US (a different culture), and Denmark is also different. I think it takes some time to understand and adapt to the working culture – but it’s not a problem,” she says. (11:08)
“People are open-minded here,” she continues. “I learned some very interesting things about the work-life balance in Denmark. I experienced how people live in Copenhagen versus Boston or the US, and the different lifestyles.” (11:37)
The country’s approach to work-life balance is reflected in the way employees are treated by their employers. In general, workers in Denmark have a lot of independence and are expected to perform tasks on their own, with minimal interference from managers. As long as you demonstrate you’re doing your work, you won’t have a boss keeping an eye on you.
There are many reasons why an MBA in Denmark is such an attractive prospect for so many international students. If you’re interested in studying in Denmark, feel free to reach out to one of our MBA ambassadors in Denmark to learn more!
