Make a change – make a difference: It’s the people in this master who share their experience, knowledge, skills, cultural backgrounds, personalities: with an unending will to develop and grow together. This master gives us the platform, the opportunity, and resources to do so. It’s us – students and professors – who have to take action. We did new things we have never tried before; things we wanted to learn for the future or just because we have had the chance to discover and explore them. I am sure our generation made a change for the WOP-P Master. And I am convinced we will make a difference in our personal and professional life in the future.

In September 2011, a new era has begun with a new WOP-P generation graduating this summer in 2013: WOP-P has offered an English track for the first time, a joint diploma of all European member universities of the consortium has initiated its first step, students have now the opportunity to make an exchange with partner universities in Canada and in Brazil; additionally, an alumni network has been founded, students are partners – and both students and teaching staff continue taking an active role in designing and redesigning an excellent platform for learning.

Language = Challenge and Opportunity
It was a tough way the University of Valencia chose with the decision of offering the master program in English only: Staff studied hard for improving their English speaking skills, teaching and learning materials had to be translated, recruitment methods had to be adjusted. It was worth the change since the diversity of students which could be reached now enriched the learning experience greatly, not only because of different educational backgrounds but mainly because of a new level cultural variety. Important is to emphasize the opportunity that is given now to students from all over the world where they did not have the resources to study a language of any of the participating partners of the consortium. Working together as partners, students and professors could make it work together: New learning approaches have been tried and approved. Students design and conduct and evaluate in teams workshops of two to eight hours for the others, business consulting projects are simulated, leadership trainings and complete simulated selection procedures are created and implemented.

New Initiatives
Based on the first years’ experience, second year students have set up a short time- and stress-management workshop in order to prepare the next generation for their role. Without the master’s platform this mutual learning event could have never taken place. Teaching and coordinating staff are open for students’ suggestions and take extra efforts to provide them with as much resources as available.

Joint Diploma
Another goal has been achieved by the leading coordinators, which has only been possible by their endurance: This year the joint diploma has begun its first stage before being finally approved. In the near future, the WOP-P master’s quality will be recognized by all countries. Thus, the entry of graduates into the job market in all of the four countries will be facilitated in the future, no matter where they have studied. Higher mobility is an employee’s asset which is – no need to emphasize – crucial in today’s world labor market. The beginning of the joint diploma is a first step to open the borders for graduates of the European WOP-P master to all four European countries: Spain, Portugal, Italy, and France.

Global Partnerships
This spring, students of the second year have had the chance to spend their internship in Brazil or Canada. Thanks to the social and professional network of professors of the consortium and the good reputation of the program, the University of Brazilia and the University of Guelph have been the first universities outside of Europe to participate in the exchange program as partners of the Consortium. Students can take part in projects in which up-to-date academic knowledge is directly applied to business challenges, guided by experienced professors.

WOP-P Alumni Network
One graduate of 2012 has taken the initiative to create a network of WOP-P alumni. The aim of this network is to stay professionally connected beyond studies and borders. Once students have graduated they are invited to a join this professional network. Beside virtual exchange about professional news, job opportunities, and participation in educational events, yearly in-person-conferences are planned for the following years. The organization will be in hand of alumni only, though support has already been presented by the master’s coordinating staff. The launching of the network has taken place at the platform of the VI Winter School in Gandía, where all this year’s graduates have been sharing a very intensive learning experience together. The benefits of the network will grow with every generation and link WOP-Alumni all over the world together – making it a better one – making a difference.