The first students for the new Master in International Business (MIB), a 12-month program aimed at the brightest post-graduate students, arrived at HEC in September 2007. Pierre-Adrian Irlé talks about his experiences of the MIB so far.

A bridge between academic and working life
With a Bachelor of Business Administration already in hand from Bocconi University (Milan, Italy), Pierre-Adrian sees the MIB as a logical next step for preparing his career. "It's a useful stepping stone for students with economics or management degrees who want to hone specific skills before entering the world of work. It helps establish valuable contact with firms and provides access to the all-important HEC network and brand. I'm delighted to have an opportunity to continue my studies while building links with professionals in the field I intend to enter."

Pierre-Adrian is using this year of further study to take a wide range of options in finance, marketing and strategy and continues to pursue his first passion: cinema. "I'm interested in the economics of the film industry, which is an entrepreneurial activity par excellence. My dream is to produce feature films. I believe that the MIB will give me the grounding I need to be a success in that industry. If you are lucky enough to have a passion in life, I firmly believe that you should follow it." Pierre-Adrian has already put his skills to work producing a short film on the MIB.

International flavor
"MIB classes are held in English. My undergraduate degree was in English so I'm already used to reading academic papers and giving presentations in that language. That said, another year of intensive study will definitely give me an extra degree of confidence when it comes to using English in my working life. The language factor also makes the program particularly attractive to international students: we come from Europe, Asia and the Americas," explains Pierre-Adrian.

Meeting expectations
"Being part of the first MIB class meant we were entering uncharted territory but it's been an extremely positive experience. We are fully integrated with other year 3 HEC students, enjoying the advantages of the HEC specialized year without having to repeat all the fundamentals of year 2. I'm pleased to have taken the plunge!"