In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, traditional MBA programs are undergoing a significant shift to meet the demands of modern leadership. Beyond theoretical knowledge, business professionals must develop practical skills, adaptive thinking, and hands-on experience to navigate real-world challenges effectively. A practice-based MBA in Spain offers a powerful solution by integrating real-life projects and work-based assessments into the curriculum. These programs equip graduates with the expertise and confidence to tackle complex business scenarios, ensuring they are both knowledgeable and industry-ready.
A "practice-based MBA" emphasizes experiential learning and real-world application of business knowledge, often through projects, internships, and simulations, rather than solely relying on traditional lectures and case studies. These MBA programs prioritize hands-on experience and the ability to solve real business problems.. Students engage in projects, internships, and simulations to gain practical skills and experience. Some programs, like the University of Bath MBA's Multi Project Suite, involve students working on projects with real clients, including venture capitalists, global corporations, and non-profits.
A practice-based MBA emphasizes applying academic theories to real-world business problems. Practice-based MBA programs can help students develop a broad range of business knowledge and skills, and can be an opportunity to accelerate their careers. Hands-on, experiential learning enhances employability by providing practical business acumen that prepares individuals for real-world challenges. Compared to traditional methods, this approach leads to greater knowledge retention, as students actively engage with concepts rather than passively absorbing information. Additionally, collaborative projects and real-world applications help develop essential leadership skills, equipping learners with the ability to manage teams, make strategic decisions, and adapt to dynamic business environments.
Enrolling in an MBA program with a practice-based learning approach allows students to apply academic theory to real-world business challenges, enhancing their employability, business acumen, and practical organizational experience. Research indicates that while traditional learning methods result in a knowledge retention rate of just 5% among business employees, experiential learning can increase retention to nearly 90%. Recognizing its value, many business schools have integrated experiential learning into their curricula, offering a range of short-term and long-term projects, internships, and international business programs to better prepare students for dynamic professional environments.
‘’Through the rich case- and experience-based curriculum at C3S Business School School, our MBA students build deep cross-functional management and leadership skills, setting the foundation for lifelong impact on how they lead in varied real-life situations.’’ says Dr. Maria Fernanda Dugarte, dean and director of Institutional Affairs at C3S Business School, ‘’The case method brings leadership to life and our students in MBA step into the shoes of case protagonists, real business leaders, and learn to make tough decisions as they are challenged by the diverse perspectives of classmates.’’
Some schools use virtual business simulations to help students learn how to respond to challenges they might face in their future management roles. Other schools use an experiential learning process to help students develop key mindsets for effective management and leadership.
The Harvard Business School (HBS) MBA program emphasizes a practice-based approach, utilizing the case method to immerse students in real-world business scenarios, and the Harvard Business Review (HBR) provides insights and best practices for leaders. The HBS MBA program is a two-year, full-time program with a general management curriculum focused on real-world practice. The curriculum is designed to help students develop deep general management and leadership skills, setting the foundation for lifelong impact. The case method is central to the HBS curriculum, where students step into the shoes of real business leaders and learn to make tough decisions in a global environment. HBS fosters a global community, challenging and supporting students to find and accelerate their paths.
Students put their learning into action through experiential field programs and independent studies, allowing them to practice leadership in real-world contexts. ‘’These diverse learning platforms provide a comprehensive global experience, including international case studies, culturally diverse classrooms, and hands-on project-based work,’’ says Dr Aida Mehrad, head of academics at C3S Business School in Barcelona, adding‘’Graduating from C3S equips students not only with enhanced knowledge but also with practical experience in making complex decisions and assuming leadership roles within a globalized framework.’’
Adds Hiren Raval, CEO of C3S Business School, ’this combination ensures that they are prepared to lead and make a meaningful impact in today's interconnected world.’’
Tens of thousands of Stanford GSB alumni worldwide are actively transforming lives, organizations, and industries. Each of them has benefited from Stanford University's practice-based MBA, which equips graduates with the skills to drive meaningful change.
It is found that the practice-based MBA underpins experiential learning. The traditional MBA once focused heavily on classroom instruction, case studies, and textbook learning, has evolved to embrace a more experiential approach. Business schools worldwide, particularly in innovation hubs like Barcelona, Spain, are at the forefront of this evolution. Schools such as C3S Business School in Barcelona, which offers a practice-based MBA, are creating programs that reflect the realities of today’s business challenges by embedding real-world projects and assessments into the curriculum.
‘’MBA programs like these emphasize experiential learning, where students work on live projects with real companies, interact with industry leaders, and gain hands-on experience that simulates the pressures and complexities of professional business environments,’’ says Dr. P. R. Datta, executive chair of Centre for Business & Economic Research (CBER) and teaching at MBA program at multiple London based universities, adding, ‘’This shift is helping graduates not only secure jobs but also thrive in leadership roles upon entering the workforce.’’
Leading business schools such as the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), Indian School of Business (ISB), SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), XLRI – Xavier School of Management, and Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) have embraced practice-based MBA programs to enhance employability, critical thinking, and leadership skills.
In response to the rapidly evolving business environment, top Indian B-schools have recognized the need to bridge the gap between academic theory and practical application. The adoption of experiential learning models ensures that students not only understand business concepts but also develop the ability to apply them in real-world situations. These models include case studies, live projects, simulations, internships, and consulting assignments, which collectively prepare students for the complexities of modern business challenges.
For instance, IIM Ahmedabad’s Case Method Approach immerses students in real-life business scenarios, compelling them to analyze data, make decisions, and justify their strategies in front of peers and faculty. This method, originally pioneered by Harvard Business School, enables students to develop problem-solving and decision-making skills critical for leadership roles. Similarly, IIM Bangalore’s Experiential Learning Programs (ELP) connect students with industry projects, allowing them to work on real-time business problems in collaboration with top companies.
Many business schools collaborate with leading corporations to provide students with real-world projects. These projects require students to work on actual business problems faced by organizations, offering them a firsthand experience of decision-making in corporate environments. XLRI Jamshedpur, for example, integrates live projects into its curriculum, where students work with industry leaders on strategic challenges in marketing, finance, and operations.
Case studies form a critical component of experiential learning, helping students develop analytical and strategic thinking skills. Indian business schools often use global and local case studies from renowned sources such as Harvard Business Publishing and Ivey Business School. SPJIMR Mumbai places significant emphasis on case-based pedagogy, encouraging students to discuss, debate, and derive insights from real-world business challenges.
Simulations allow students to engage in risk-free decision-making while learning the intricacies of business management. Programs like IIM Calcutta’s Management Simulation Games expose students to complex market dynamics, enabling them to understand financial modeling, supply chain management, and business strategy in a controlled environment.
Internships are an integral part of any MBA program, offering students hands-on experience in different business functions. ISB Hyderabad’s Experiential Learning Programme (ELP) connects students with organizations, allowing them to solve business problems through extensive industry projects. Many other top-tier B-schools, including NMIMS and MDI Gurgaon, offer summer internships that act as a bridge between classroom learning and corporate experience.
With globalization influencing business dynamics, top Indian business schools facilitate international collaborations through exchange programs, global internships, and study-abroad opportunities. IIM Bangalore’s International Immersion Program allows students to study at partner universities across the globe, providing them with a broader perspective on global business practices. ISB’s Global Management Practicum (GMP) sends students to work with multinational organizations, enabling them to gain cross-cultural business insights.
Experiential learning is an opportunity to boost your employability, develop your business acumen, and gain practical organizational experience. Studies of MBA show the knowledge retention rate for business employees who have trained through traditional modes of learning is much less as compared to those whose training involved experiential learning. ‘’Many leading business schools recognize the value of implementing experiential learning into their curricula, offering a variety of short-term and long-term projects, internships, and international business programs,’’ says Prof Philip Mayer, a London-based faculty at Regent's University London.
‘’C3S Business School has adopted a practice-based approach to its MBA program, where students engage in real-life projects and internships as part of their academic coursework,’’ says Professor Maud Christophe, who is known for popularizing gender equality in the business tech industry and faculty at C3S Business School, adding, ‘’The school collaborates with various businesses across Spain and Europe, offering students opportunities to work on actual business problems, from market entry strategies to digital transformation projects. Internships and flexible class schedules ensure that students can simultaneously gain theoretical knowledge while applying their skills in a real-world setting.’’
Another prime example of a practice-based MBA program is at Aspire Business School in Barcelona, where students complete a consulting project as a mandatory component of the degree. ‘’Teams of students work with companies on projects that range from sustainability initiatives to market expansion strategies,’’ says Dr Marc Sanso, head of academics, Aspire Business School based in Barcelona, adding, ‘’This type of experiential learning ensures that graduates have direct experience tackling contemporary business challenges in industries like technology, finance, and healthcare.’’
C3S is currently trying to model one of its MBA programs on Said Business School, the business school vertical of the University of Oxford. ‘’We are adopting Said Business School’s model of action-oriented problem-solving program GOTO (Global Opportunities and Threats Oxford), where students work on real-time global challenges like climate change and cybersecurity,’’ reveals says Professor Xavier Puertas at C3S Business School, adding, ‘’This unique program pushes MBA candidates beyond classroom learning by requiring them to work on global issues in collaboration with companies and organizations worldwide.’’
''We are not merely copycating the GOAT but innovating in terms of redefining its goals for MBA, calling for appropriate participants, format, process, challenges and partners to go with this'', says Prof Renato Valer, faculty at C3 Business School, Spain, the top business school in Barcelona, adding, ‘’for instance, we have a representation of students from 40 countries who work with faculty and external experts to create, debate, and drive new business ideas.''
‘’The challenges for our GOTO students in MBA are how intensely they engage with topics such as AI, climate change, the emerging geopolitics in the face of armed conflicts, as some 56 armageddons are going on including Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine, etc,’’ says Prof Sarat C Das, director of the research development unit (RDU) at C3S Business School.
''C3S's adopted GOTO partners with organizations to provide students with "actual" challenges,'' says ‘’The top teams for each challenge pitch their solutions to the organizations' top leaders,’’ says Dr. Fernando Velasquez Villalba, a senior faculty at C3 Business School, Spain.
''To address some of the world's most complex issues through business ideas is the way forward for C3S' GOTO students,'' says Dr. Jose Bifano, a prominent academician and researcher and a visiting faculty at C3S Business School, adding ''this participation involves all, students, faculty, alumni, industry personnel as invitees''.
The value of practice-based learning in MBA programs is supported by data. According to a 2021 survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), MBA graduates who participated in experiential learning, including real-life projects and internships, were 15% more likely to report higher job satisfaction compared to those who did not. Additionally, graduates of MBA with hands-on project experience were 30% more likely to secure leadership positions within five years of completing their degree.
Furthermore, research by the Financial Times in 2022 found that business schools incorporating real-life projects into their MBA curricula reported higher employment rates within three months of graduation. ‘’Schools like C3S Business School in Barcelona, which combine work-based learning with a traditional academic foundation, have seen an uptick in both student satisfaction and post-graduation employability,’’ says Professor Josep Torrente, a hospitality management faculty at C3S Business School.
Leading business educators and industry captains strongly advocate for the practice-based MBA approach. According to Prof Renato Valer, faculty at C3 Business School, “MBA in Spain that immerse students in real-life projects create a new breed of business leaders—those who can think critically under pressure and bring fresh ideas to traditional industries.”
Similarly, says Prof Eduardo Ortiz of C3S Business School emphasizing the role of real-life assessments in fostering adaptive thinking: “When students work on live projects, they aren’t just learning—they’re evolving. They’re developing the capacity to pivot, adapt, and innovate in ways that simply can’t be taught through textbooks alone.”
Moreover, Dr Daba Chowdhury, an associate professor in Digital Entrepreneurship at the Christ Church Business School in Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), praises the MBA programs in Spain for their focus on practical learning. “Spain, particularly Barcelona, has become a global hub for experiential learning in business. Schools like C3S have mastered the art of integrating the classroom with the boardroom,”
There are plethora of benefits of real-life projects and work-based assessments of MBA. ‘’A practice-based MBA offers significant advantages by allowing students to immediately apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios. Unlike theoretical coursework, which may take years to become relevant, real-life projects require students to use their skills in real-time, enhancing retention and preparing them for the fast-paced business environment,’’ explains Dr. Fernando Velasquez Villalba of C3 Business School. ‘’Additionally, such programs help students develop critical soft skills like teamwork, communication, and leadership—qualities essential for business success but difficult to teach in traditional classrooms.’’
Dr. Jose Bifano, a visiting faculty at C3S Business School, highlights that working on collaborative projects with real businesses allows students to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics and lead diverse teams under pressure. Furthermore, practice-based MBA programs facilitate industry connections through internships and company projects, often leading to job opportunities or partnerships, notes Dr. Yelena V. Smirnova at C3S Business School.
Beyond skills and networking, experiential learning provides students with a realistic preview of the business world, helping them set accurate career expectations. As Professor Xavier Puertas of C3S Business School points out, this exposure allows students to explore different industries and discover career paths they may not have previously considered.
Spain has emerged as a leading destination for practice-based MBA programs. MBA in Barcelona, in particular, is known for its dynamic business environment, driven by entrepreneurship, innovation, and a robust startup culture. ‘’Schools like C3S Business School in Barcelona have leveraged these advantages, offering MBA programs that blend classroom learning with real-life business projects,’’ Dr. Sergey Yablonsky at C3S Business School.
The city's diverse economy and strong global business ties provide an ideal environment for students to engage in international projects. Whether collaborating with tech startups, consulting for multinational corporations, or contributing to sustainable development initiatives, MBA students benefit from the city’s strategic role as a gateway to Europe, Latin America, and beyond.
The practice-based MBA is transforming business education by equipping students with the hands-on experience necessary to thrive in today’s fast-changing corporate landscape. Institutions like C3S Business School in Barcelona are leading this shift, integrating real-world projects, internships, and work-based assessments into their curricula. This approach not only imparts essential technical skills but also cultivates critical thinking, adaptability, and a global mindset—key attributes for the business leaders of tomorrow.
As more MBA programs worldwide embrace this model, the next generation of business graduates will emerge not just academically proficient but truly prepared to lead, innovate, and drive meaningful change in real-world settings.
By Sarat C. Das
(The content of this article reflects the views of writers and contributors, not necessarily those of the publisher and editor. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only)
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