From undergraduate degrees to doctorates, business schools do not adhere to the traditional, one-size-fits-all model.

A wave of programmes has emerged that combine flexibility with deep specialisation, enabling learners to target precise career outcomes, develop niche expertise, and study in formats that match their professional and personal realities. Business education PR experts Alex Lopez and Stephanie Mullins-Wiles explore some examples.

Targeting leadership through literature

At NEOMA Business School in France, a new elective for first-year students draws on great works of literature to explore leadership and creativity. “Lessons from Great Literary Texts: Management, Business, and Leadership” builds on students’ earlier humanities studies, linking classical portrayals of leadership with modern management challenges. This interdisciplinary approach offers a personalised route into leadership development, complementing technical business skills with cultural and ethical perspectives. 

Dual doctorates with geographic reach

In a similar spirit of targeted learning, Woxsen University in India and Porto Business School in Portugal have partnered on a Dual Doctorate (DBA & PhD) launching in 2026. Designed for senior executives and policymakers, the three-year, part-time programme offers three specialist tracks — Digital, AI and Data Innovation; Strategic Business Leadership; and Global Policy and Operations Management. Participants learn in both Asia and Europe, combining online study with extended residencies on each continent. 

Executive MBAs with a global and regional focus

INSEAD and Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management (Tsinghua SEM) have renewed their partnership for the Tsinghua–INSEAD Executive MBA (TIEMBA) for another seven years, extending a collaboration that began in 2007. The 22-month, dual-degree programme blends East and West in both curriculum and delivery, with modules taught across campuses in Beijing, Shenzhen, Fontainebleau, Singapore and Abu Dhabi. Designed for senior leaders, TIEMBA’s modular structure allows participants to balance work commitments while building expertise relevant to both global and Chinese business contexts. 

Modular MBAs for career-tailored learning

Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands is also embracing flexibility, replacing its traditional MBA formats with the Impact MBA. Students choose from a one-year Fast Track or a two-year Executive Track, with the option to switch between online and on-campus delivery once during the programme. Sustainability and digitalisation underpin every core module, while optional courses allow learners to tailor their studies to career ambitions. 

Geographic specialisation at the undergraduate level

Hult International Business School will open its Dubai campus in September 2025 as a home base for undergraduates majoring in marketing or entrepreneurship. Located in Dubai Internet City, the campus offers students immersion in one of the world’s fastest-growing business hubs. By embedding location into the learning experience, Hult adds a geographic dimension to specialisation, attracting students who see the Middle East as a strategic career launchpad. 

From marketers to marketing leaders

Vlerick Business School in Belgium has redesigned its Masters in Marketing and Digital Transformation as the Masters in Marketing Strategy. The repositioned programme develops strategic marketers who can combine data-driven insight with creative vision. Students gain skills in budgeting, analytics, customer management, and ethics alongside a three-month market research consultancy and an international study tour. The shift reflects market demand for marketing leaders who can connect operational execution with long-term strategic impact. 

These initiatives reflect a broader trend in management education: the rise of highly targeted, career-aligned learning pathways. For institutions, offering bespoke specialisations and flexible formats is increasingly a strategic necessity in a competitive, globalised education market. For learners, it means more opportunities to acquire exactly the expertise they need, in a way that fits their professional trajectory. 

As these examples show, personalisation is not limited to content, it also extends to delivery modes, geographic reach, and the integration of interdisciplinary perspectives.  

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