January at ESEI: International Programmes, Industry Speakers and Experiential Learning in Barcelona
January was a strong start to 2026 here at ESEI International Business School, with a full calendar of international academic visits, industry guest speakers and learning experiences outside the classroom. Across all programmes, students engaged with professionals, institutions and organisations connected to business, sustainability, technology, communication and international relations.
This month reflected ESEI’s commitment to practical learning, international exposure and strong links with the professional world in Barcelona and beyond.
International Academic Visits
At the beginning of the year, ESEI welcomed two international university groups to campus.
A group from Tecnológico de Monterrey is attending a one-month academic programme focused on marketing. Their presence adds an important international dimension to campus life and classroom discussions.
ESEI also welcomed students from Kyungpook National University in South Korea. The group consists of undergraduate Business Administration students who are winners of their university’s startup competition and have a strong interest in entrepreneurship and international business. During their visit, they received an introduction to ESEI, a campus tour, and an overview of Barcelona’s business and entrepreneurial environment.
Guest Speakers in Sustainability, Sports and Social Impact
Students from the IMBA and Master in Sports Management programmes, in courses taught by Natalia Ribas, attended a guest speaker session with Nora Torrent, Project Manager at Im-perfect. The session focused on sustainability and social impact in business and sport.
Students from the Sports Management programme also attended a session with Rocío Ruiz Berdejo, former Marketing Director of Real Betis Baloncesto and leader of Forever Green, the sustainability platform of Real Betis Balompié. Under her leadership, Forever Green developed more than 90 initiatives across 75 countries and helped position Real Betis as one of the most sustainable football clubs in Spain and Europe. She shared insights from her professional journey and spoke about her next career step in influencer and athlete marketing management.
Students from the Master in Sports Management programme continued their work on sustainability through a hackathon-style session with IMPERFECT, led by ESEI Co-Director and Professor Carlota Estera. This session built on the earlier sustainability work and challenged students to apply their ideas in a practical format.
Digital Marketing, AI and Automation in Practice
Students from the Master in Digital Marketing, in the Emerging Technologies in Marketing course taught by Kate Busby, attended a guest speaker session with Maja Zavrsnik, CMO of SheAI. The session focused on how to get your business cited on ChatGPT, as well as on building projects using AI and automation tools. Students also gained insight into the reality of working as both an entrepreneur and a marketing professional.
The same class also welcomed Rafa Romero from Happy Operators for a session on building agents and automating marketing operations. The session focused on practical applications of AI tools and automation in marketing workflows.
Learning Walks and Field Visits in Barcelona
Students from Bachelor Level 4 and the Master in Innovation and Entrepreneurship visited Tech Barcelona (Pier 01). The visit included an introduction to Tech Barcelona, an explanation of its role in the city’s technology ecosystem, a guided tour of the building, and presentations on how the organisation connects startups, talent, investors and companies. Students gained first-hand insight into how open innovation environments operate in Barcelona.
Students from the IMBA programme, in the course Sustainability and Social Impact in Business led by Professor Natalia Ribas Pueyo, took part in a sustainability walking tour of Barcelona. The tour explored sustainable architecture, urban mobility, local food systems, waste management and areas where sustainability challenges remain. Students observed real examples, documented their findings and connected their reflections to global sustainability frameworks such as the SDGs and ESG principles.
Students from the Master in International Relations and Business, in the course taught by Hani Anouti, participated in a learning walk to IEMed (European Institute of the Mediterranean). The visit introduced students to the institute’s work in Euro-Mediterranean relations, conflict prevention, mediation, policy analysis, civil society engagement and gender and peacebuilding initiatives, followed by a discussion and Q&A session.
Communication, HR, Marketing and Hospitality in the Real World
Students from Bachelor Level 4, in the course Effective Business Communication taught by Anna Yulusova, attended a guest speaker session with Sophia Holzer. Drawing on her international experience, she led an interactive session on how communication works across cultures, how misunderstandings arise, and how to communicate more clearly and effectively in professional contexts.
Students from Bachelor Level 5 in Human Resource Management and students from the Master in Digital Marketing (Search Engine Marketing) took part in a learning walk to Semrush led by Professor Barbara Casas. The visit included an office tour, a session with a company speaker, and a networking session with professionals from the Barcelona office.
Students from the Master in Tourism and Hospitality Management, in the course Revenue Management for Hospitality and Tourism taught by Walid El Etriby, visited Mandarin Oriental Barcelona. The learning walk included a guided tour of the hotel facilities and a practical session on revenue management strategies and operational decision-making in the hospitality sector.
A Strong Start to the Year
The month concluded with the first ESEI Connect event of the year, where over 70 members of the ESEI community came together to build friendships, strengthen connections and continue nurturing the sense of community that defines life at ESEI.
January demonstrated once again ESEI’s focus on connecting academic learning with real organisations, real professionals and real challenges. Through international partnerships, guest speakers and learning walks across Barcelona, students were able to deepen their understanding of business, sustainability, technology, communication and global affairs in a practical and applied way.
The year has started with strong momentum, and many more academic and professional experiences are still to come.
The month also concluded with the first ESEI Connect event of the year, where over 70 members of the ESEI community came together to build friendships, strengthen connections and continue nurturing the sense of community that defines life at ESEI.
Explore ESEI’s Programmes
👉 If you’re considering starting your own journey in Barcelona, explore ESEI’s Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes and see how we can support you on your study abroad journey.
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