The Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM) has welcomed close to 80 students from FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management for the latest edition of the International Business Certificate, a programme offering practical training in international management and global professional skills. The initiative is coordinated by UCAM’s Eduprojects team and academically led by the University’s Faculty of Communication.

Hands-on training for international business

The academic pathway addresses key competencies for today’s business environment through modules including Project Management, Digital Skills and Public Speaking. The programme combines theory with applied learning designed to strengthen participants’ transferable skills for international contexts.

Two formats: short stay or full semester

Almost half of the cohort—many of them ALDI employees and managers—will complete a two-week academic stay in Murcia. The remaining participants will continue their training until May, spending a full semester at the University.

Teaching is delivered by a joint academic team from both institutions, including Matthias Eschweiler, professor of Finance and Economics at FOM, and Pablo Blesa, vice-rector for International Relations and Communication of UCAM.

A strategic partnership since 2010

UCAM and FOM began their collaboration in 2010, which was later consolidated through the launch of the International Business Certificate in 2013. Since then, the programme has been delivered continuously and has trained more than 1,000 German professionals.

Pablo Blesa highlighted that the collaboration has enabled hundreds of German students to study at UCAM through a programme created by both institutions 14 years ago. He also noted that the partnership extends beyond this certificate programme, including a joint PhD, summer programmes, and internship and study exchanges.

Executive profile and international experience

According to Blesa, many participants are Master’s students working as managers or executives in major German companies, for whom this stay in Murcia supports professional development, Spanish-language learning and career internationalisation. For some, he added, it represents their first full-time international academic experience.

Internationalisation as a core institutional priority

UCAM frames the programme within its broader internationalisation strategy, which includes a significant international student community and a portfolio of English-taught undergraduate and Master’s programmes. Blesa pointed to UCAM’s long-standing commitment to internationalisation and the role of partnerships such as UCAM–FOM in strengthening academic cooperation in Europe.

Interested in studying in an international environment in Spain?

Explore UCAM’s English-taught degrees and Master’s programmes and discover study options for international students on the university’s official website.