Lobbying and Decision Making in the EU - Metropolia Business School on a Study Trip in Brussels

14.12.2018

Metropolia Master’s students in Business Development participated in a study trip to Brussels in early December. The highlight of the three-day trip was a visit to the European Parliament and a meeting with MEP Ms Lieve Wierinck.

The first part of the trip focused on the decision-making processes in the EU. This took place in ZUYD, Metropolia’s partner school in Maastricht. The second part included a field trip to Brussels. Five speakers from many international companies like KLM, Europa Insights and Bayer, gave interesting guest lectures about lobbying, policy and public affairs. During the last day, the group visited both Business Europe and the European Parliament.

Mr Sauli Salonen, one of the Master’s students who participated in the trip, was positively surprised by the experience. ”I was hoping to learn more about the decision making in the EU and to get new experiences. The trip turned out to be more than I had hoped for. We got to hear experts sharing their first hand experiences in the work of commission and the parliament, and also in public affairs and lobbying.”

The event was organised for the third time. This year, 23 Master’s students from Metropolia and 18 students from ZUYD’s European Studies participated in the trip. “It is great that Metropolia UAS has partner universities such as ZUYD. Together we are able to offer our students experiences that would otherwise be out of reach. For the Masters’ students who study part time, the possibility of spending three days together makes it possible to focus on both the content and growing their professional network,” says Development Manager Minna Kaihovirta-Rapo.