Ravensbourne University London students tackle business challenges through international industry project in Romania
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Students from Ravensbourne University London recently travelled to Timișoara, Romania, to take part in the International Applied Research Experience Project, an immersive collaboration designed to strengthen cross-cultural collaboration and industry-focused learning.
The initiative brought together selected students from Ravensbourne’s MSc Project Management, MSc Strategic Marketing and Analytics, MBA, Undergraduate Business Management and Marketing courses alongside students, academics and industry partners from Romania, the UK and Switzerland.
Delivered in partnership with the West University of Timișoara and the University of Applied Sciences in Business Administration, Zurich, the project was created to give students the experience of working in international consultancy teams while engaging directly with live organisational challenges.
Centred around the theme 'From Experience to Aspiration', the seven-day initiative encouraged learners to connect academic study with organisational practice through company visits, consultancy challenges, applied research, collaborative problem-solving and final consultancy presentations.
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Some of the most powerful learning happens when students step beyond familiar environments and begin applying knowledge in real organisational contexts. This experience is designed not only to develop skills, but to expand confidence, aspiration and students’ understanding of what they are capable of professionally and internationally.”
The week began at the West University of Timișoara, where students were introduced to the project and met the partner organisations behind the consultancy challenges. A visit to MEWI gave them an early opportunity to explore organisational culture through company-led team-building activities, encouraging collaboration and communication from the beginning.
Students were then assigned to live consultancy projects with Amdaris, Wipro and Everience, working in UK–Romanian teams to investigate challenges, gather research, frame business problems and begin developing evidence-based solutions.
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In the middle of the programme, students visited Kimball Electronics Romania, gaining an insight into how processes and organisational systems combine to support performance in a complex operational environment. Discussions with senior leaders explored topics around structural transformation, leadership and human resource management, helping them connect academia with working practice.
As the week progressed, teams refined their consultancy recommendations, tested their ideas with industry mentors and prepared to present their findings to company representatives.
The project culminated in a series of presentations, where students demonstrated practical recommendations to organisations (Wipro, Everience and Amdaris). Drawing on research and continuous feedback from their mentors, all teams exhibited critical thinking and the ability to respond confidently to questions from both academics and employers. Company representatives praised the quality of the students' analysis, noting that many of the recommendations were practical and capable of being implemented within their organisations.
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Before coming here, I thought this would mainly be about visiting companies. Now I can see it is much more about learning how to think, communicate and work with people in a real international environment.”
By combining academic learning with live industry challenges, the International Applied Research Experience Project demonstrates Ravensbourne's commitment to learning with industry, giving students opportunities to work alongside organisations and graduate with the confidence needed for the future of work.
To find out more about Ravensbourne University London’s Business and Management courses, click here.
