As with all double bachelor’s programmes, there is an overlap between the two bachelors’: Some courses from the academic Bachelor’s above accounting for 100 ECTS are also validated as part of the Bachelor’s in Business and Leadership.
The other part (80 ECTS) gives you the opportunity to put your knowledge into practice and equip you with the mindset and skills that fit your career aspirations. Business acumen and leadership develop mainly through guided practice and reflection, not lectures.
It consists of 3 blocks: Entrepreneurship & Project Management, personal development, foreign languages and an internship.
Entrepreneurship & project management: 3 year-long projects
It is time for you to be in the driver’s seat and experiment with entrepreneurship. Each year, you will work in teams on a problem or an opportunity of your choice with the support of a dedicated Forward Leadership Fellow who will guide you and teach you the necessary methodologies and techniques so that you progress step by step towards making an impact.
You will carry out a total of three different projects, one project each year.
Along the way, you will not only make a concrete difference; you will gain highly valuable skills for your future career such as design thinking, SCRUM, research methods, interviewing, surveying, data analysis, project management, performance management, teamwork, and impact evaluation.
You can choose three of these entrepreneurship modules (research and consulting are mutually exclusive):
Digital entrepreneurship
This certificate is designed for students who wish to venture into creating a digital solution from scratch to explore a social or business opportunity they have identified.
Expected working time: approx. 8-12h/week on average
Read more about Forward’s Digital entrepreneurship
Research Project
Research is entrepreneurial as it requires courage, creativity, and rigor at the same time. Available in Year 3, you will work individually or in a team in close collaboration with one of our Forward academic Fellows.
Expected working time: approx 8-12h/week on average
Read more about Forward’s Research Project
Consulting projects with external organisations
Working as a consultant is an opportunity to develop professionally and collaborate with an external organisation on a real life problem. Available in year 3, this project is not compatible with the research project.
Expected working time: approx 8-12h/week on average
Read more about Forward’s Consulting projects with external organisations
Personal development
Personal development (15 ECTS) supports you in growing your social and emotional skills and mindsets for adaptive futures. Students develop high self-awareness and resilience, cultural competency, and an approach to leadership that is impact-oriented, practical, empathetic and collaborative.
Students will attend the following 9 modules throughout the 3 years
• Manage my own balance (time management, getting organised and other student skills)
• Manage tensions and conflicts (interpersonal, in teams and in communities)
• Decipher and manage my emotions (motivation, energy levels, anxiety and stress…)
• Networking and building trust
• Impactful communication
• Decipher and respond to others’ emotions
• Making the right decision… and sticking to it
• Leadership, ethics and influence
• Prepare masters’ application
The Forward 360 Skills Assessment consolidates feedback from your peers and tutors on four core categories of skills: cognitive, social, emotional and practical.
This tool allows students to assess their progress and, with the guidance of personal coaches, set your goals and aspirations for the coming year.
This assessment provides Forward Graduates with a Skills Map that supports their applications for master programmes and career options.
Personal development
Personal development supports you in growing your social and emotional skills and mindsets for adaptive futures.
Expected working time: 3 to 5 hours/module over 8 weeks
Read more about Forward’s Personal development
Internship
In the third year of your bachelor’s degree, you will do an internship (10 ECTS). An internship gives you the best opportunities to gain valuable work experience, whilst also exploring and testing a career path. Students who accomplish their research or consulting project with an external organisation will ipso facto validate their internship.
Foreign language
As part of their learning expedition, we encourage students to immerse themselves in the local culture. In the quest for cultural immersion, one of the most important factors is the language. Passing this course equates to 7 ECTS.
As most students are beginners in Portuguese, you will attend weekly classes throughout the year.
In Paris and Berlin, beginners’ courses will be offered at the start of the year in French and German respectively. For non-beginners, specific provisions and objectives will be set based on their current levels. Regular feedback sessions to monitor their progresses will be provided.
Foreign language
We encourage students to immerse themselves in the local culture and one of the most important factors is language.
Expected working time: 1h/week (term 1)
Read more about Forward’s Foreign language
