emlyon Business School (France)
Tomomi Sasaki
Exchange Programs
August 2024 - December 2024
Tell us the reason why you decided to join the program.
With Lyon cityscape
I wanted to learn about the academic and practical aspects of business in an environment outside of Japan, and to deepen and broaden my learning beyond knowledge of what is common only in Japan. In addition, I had not studied abroad since I was an undergraduate student, so I had wanted to take on this challenge from the very beginning of my studies at the university.
Sample of courses you took
・Consumer Experience and Service Quality
・Rethinking Marketing
In addition to the above, French lessons and sports classes for international students are available.
・Rethinking Marketing
In addition to the above, French lessons and sports classes for international students are available.
Tell us about the classes and research during your study abroad.
Most of the classes are small (30-40 students at most), and there is a lot of group work, homework assignments, and reading assignments. Most assignments are due in class or on the day of class, and students are expected to be ready to discuss the issues on the spot and deliver the results immediately, rather than having a perfect appearance and content.
Many classes have a test (online or in-class paper) on the last day of class.
I participated in my own research (Workshop) online. Because of the time difference, I sometimes had to participate early in the morning, but the professor was considerate and flexible, allowing me to participate only in my own progress reports, etc.
Many classes have a test (online or in-class paper) on the last day of class.
I participated in my own research (Workshop) online. Because of the time difference, I sometimes had to participate early in the morning, but the professor was considerate and flexible, allowing me to participate only in my own progress reports, etc.
Tell us about the school’s environment (Facilities, faculty and staff members, students, etc.).
Campus
The campus is new since the 2024 FALL semester and is urban and modern.
The faculty and staff are very passionate about education, and the classes are academic oriented. However, even within the academics, the classes are designed to provide suggestions for practice.
Almost none of the students have working experience (the program I enrolled in is not an MBA in the first place). This is the case not only at Emlyon, but also in France and Europe as a whole, except for a few students from Asia and the U.S., who were MBA graduates with work experiences.
Emlyon itself is one of the top business schools in France, and the quality of the classes and instructors is good, and the students are very talented. However, it was difficult to have discussions and gain practical knowledge based on business experience like at Kyoto University or Japanese MBA schools, and in this sense, I felt that the program was somewhat limited for my needs. In addition, the number of exchange students is quite large (several hundred students), and it is not an environment where one naturally gets to know people, so it is essential to take action to find one's own place and close friends.
The faculty and staff are very passionate about education, and the classes are academic oriented. However, even within the academics, the classes are designed to provide suggestions for practice.
Almost none of the students have working experience (the program I enrolled in is not an MBA in the first place). This is the case not only at Emlyon, but also in France and Europe as a whole, except for a few students from Asia and the U.S., who were MBA graduates with work experiences.
Emlyon itself is one of the top business schools in France, and the quality of the classes and instructors is good, and the students are very talented. However, it was difficult to have discussions and gain practical knowledge based on business experience like at Kyoto University or Japanese MBA schools, and in this sense, I felt that the program was somewhat limited for my needs. In addition, the number of exchange students is quite large (several hundred students), and it is not an environment where one naturally gets to know people, so it is essential to take action to find one's own place and close friends.
Did you participate in any activities besides lectures and research?
I actively participated in frequent career seminars.
Reflect your study abroad and tell us about your thoughts.
Working at my favorite café
Although it was only one semester, I spent a very intense four months both on and off campus, which cannot be expressed in a single word, "exchange program". I learned a lot of things about life that were not limited to my studies at school, and the experience definitely had a significant impact on my life and way of thinking.
What kind of impact or changes has your experience of studying abroad given you? (Finding a job, future vision, point of view, etc.)
As I talked with workers from various countries, I realized that the current situation, with its many challenges such as the declining workforce, work-life balance, high suicide rate, and barriers to women's advancement, is most affected by the underlying values of the people, as well as differences in politics and social policies. I would like to make an effort to develop new values and measures to overcome these problems.
What I have gained as a significant value is the importance of relying on others and dialogue. These two are very important for living in a diverse environment where it is often inconvenient and difficult to solve problems on one's own. It is very difficult to realize this in Japan, where things are convenient, efficient, and based on unspoken agreements. I feel that this is an important change not only in my sense of values in my life, but also in the way I take the initiative in my business and projects.
What I have gained as a significant value is the importance of relying on others and dialogue. These two are very important for living in a diverse environment where it is often inconvenient and difficult to solve problems on one's own. It is very difficult to realize this in Japan, where things are convenient, efficient, and based on unspoken agreements. I feel that this is an important change not only in my sense of values in my life, but also in the way I take the initiative in my business and projects.
Please give some advice and message to the prospective students who are thinking of studying abroad.
Language skills are a plus. You do not need to speak French. As for English, your conversational skills will greatly affect your understanding of the classes and the quality of group work. I strongly recommend that you strengthen your conversational skills as much as possible, regardless of your scores on the various language tests.
Many people are concerned about the high exchange rate and the high cost of living in Europe, but it is only a few months. You will be able to manage.
What I felt when I came to Europe is that it is not unusual to move between countries as a place to study or work. Not only in Europe, but all over the world, people are moving from one country to another country as a matter of course.
Should the situation allow it, I would encourage you to give it a try.
Many people are concerned about the high exchange rate and the high cost of living in Europe, but it is only a few months. You will be able to manage.
What I felt when I came to Europe is that it is not unusual to move between countries as a place to study or work. Not only in Europe, but all over the world, people are moving from one country to another country as a matter of course.
Should the situation allow it, I would encourage you to give it a try.