In August 2012 Les Roches Marbella expanded its educational offering with a new BBA specialization in Entrepreneurship and Small & Medium Enterprises Management. The need for such a specialization became obvious when we realized that over 20% of our graduates were creating their own businesses (many of them soon after entering the hospitality profession). From this encouraging statistic came the idea to create a specialized program for students that want to start their own business but lack the knowledge and resources needed to get their entrepreneurial ambitions off the ground.
The aim of this new program is to apply to small & medium enterprises (SMEs) what students have learned previously about large entities. Under the BBA in Hospitality, during the first three years (6 semesters) our students progressively learn how to lead a hospitality company and its various departments through the combination of an intensive craft-based curriculum and professional internships in international hotel establishments. The 7th and final semester is dedicated to the specialization in Entrepreneurship and SME Management studies.
This specialization semester focuses specifically on small business management and the hands-on experience needed by entrepreneurs in order to adapt their knowledge to the specificities of a real-world business start-up. It encourages ambition and gives aspiring entrepreneurs the ability to become “One-Man-Shows” whom can run their businesses with flexibility, efficiency, and a global vision. Particular attention is given to learning how to overcome difficulties as an entrepreneur while gaining the insights needed to capitalize on market evolutions and opportunities.
The course outline we chose is one that is designed to enhance general management skills. It’s not weighted down by heavy financial subjects but instead utilizes practical case studies delivered by guest lecturers from the business world and at times, even former students’ successes and their innovative business models.
If your ultimate dream is to run your own business after finishing your BBA in Hospitality at Les Roches Marbella, the Entrepreneurship & SME Management specialization will undoubtedly provide you with the tools you will need to make it happen.
As a lecturer of accounting and finance in the BBA program, I hope to see many of you pursuing the entrepreneurial spirit in my classes in the future. Please join me and let’s live this wonderful learning experience together.
