A few days ago, together with FEP U. Porto, QTEM organized an Alumni & Student Meeting hosted in Porto, bringing together students, alumni, academic representatives, and corporate partners from across the QTEM network.
The event provided an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas on future corporate partnerships, upcoming QTEM initiatives, and the continued development of the QTEM community in Portugal. Throughout the meeting, participants discussed ways to further strengthen the connection between academia, students, alumni, and industry partners.
We were also pleased to interact with our corporate partner Millennium BCP, as well as visiting companies including Adidas, Banco de Portugal, Amkor Technology Portugal S.A., and MDS Group. Their participation contributed valuable insights regarding career opportunities, collaboration possibilities, and the evolving demands of international business and analytics-oriented profiles.
An important topic of discussion during the meeting was the organization of the QTEM International Student Meeting, which will take place on March 12, 2027, in Porto. This two-day international event will welcome students from all over the world and aims to further reinforce QTEM’s global community spirit through networking activities, corporate engagement, and academic exchange.
QTEM would like to sincerely thank everyone who participated and contributed to the discussions and organization of the event.
The QTEM International Student Meeting took place at the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) in Amsterdam, bringing together more than 70 participants, including corporate partners, students, alumni and academics. The event opened with welcome remarks from Roel Beetsma, Dean of the University of Amsterdam, and Paul Fornoff, representing the QTEM Student Association (QSA). The day started with a masterclass by Reacfin, “Climate Risk in the Banking Industry,” delivered by François Thirion, Director and Head of Risk Management & Finance at Reacfin, and Mathieu Demarets, Actuarial Engineer at Reacfin.
The masterclass combined a concise introduction to climate risk concepts with a hands-on simulation in which participants, working in teams, acted as risk advisory groups managing a large mortgage portfolio over the long term.
The central conference focused on “Agentic AI: From Capability to Organizational Impact,” moderated by Michelle Sisto, QTEM Dean and Associate Professor at EDHEC Business School. Dr. Inez Zwetsloot (University of Amsterdam, AI4Business Lab) presented how challenge-based learning prepares students to become decision-makers in an AI-driven economy, while Frederik Van Hecke and Barbara Jepma (McKinsey & Company) discussed how organizations can scale AI from experimentation to enterprise value. Maribel Tejada and Nicole Onuta (ING) addressed governance and risk oversight for autonomous AI systems, followed by an open discussion with the audience.
After a coffee break, participants joined parallel sessions: a McKinsey “Crack the Case” workshop for students led by Colomban Basset and Martin Papageorges, and an alumni session hosted by Jelmer van de Mortel (Acorn), together with Ruben Spruit and Sofie Löhr, on scaling climate impact through data-driven agroforestry initiatives supporting smallholder farmers.
The day concluded with a networking reception, followed the next day by a cultural program including a visit to the Van Gogh Museum, a city walk and lunch at the Foodhallen.
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QTEM is pleased to announce the upcoming QTEM Student International Meeting, taking place on 6 and 7 March and organized together with the University from Amsterdam (UvA) and the QSA. The sessions will take place at the KIT Institute, near the University, this international gathering will bring together QTEM students, academic leaders, alumni, and corporate partners for two days of learning, exchange, and networking in a truly global environment.
The event will officially open on Friday, 6 March, with a welcome and registration session followed by opening remarks from the Dean of the University of Amsterdam. The academic program will begin with a standing lunch and continue with a Master Class led by Reacfin, titled “Decoding Climate Disaster Risk Through Data”, offering students insights into how advanced quantitative methods are applied to climate-related financial risks.
In the afternoon, participants will take part in a joint Master Class by ING, QuantumBlack (a McKinsey company), and AI4Business, focused on “Agentic AI & Financial Risk”. This session will explore the growing role of autonomous AI systems in financial decision-making and risk management. In parallel, QTEM alumni will be invited to an exclusive session on “Leading with Agentic AI: Governance, Ethics and Human Capital”, fostering high-level discussions on leadership challenges in AI-driven organizations. The day will conclude with a networking reception at a nearby terrace.
On Saturday, 7 March, the program will shift toward cultural immersion and informal exchange, with a guided visit to the Van Gogh Museum, followed by lunch at the iconic Foodhallen Market. This combination of academic excellence, corporate engagement, and cultural experience reflects QTEM’s commitment to developing globally minded, analytically strong, and socially aware professionals.
Register here if you want to attend.
Hosted by EDHEC last October, the QTEM Annual Event & Graduation took place in Nice, welcoming 250 attendees from around the world. EDHEC is one of the pioneering members of QTEM, an expanding global network.
During the two-day meeting, Deans from leading universities engaged in discussions and networking with representatives from top companies, including Cartier, Deloitte, McKinsey & Company, EY, Reacfin and more.
On Saturday, October 25th, an emotional graduation ceremony was held at EDHEC’s amphitheater. Among the speeches, a highlight was the motivational talk by Samuel Majerus, a successful engineer in the construction sector and co-founder of the NGO Bright, which works to reduce barriers for students accessing education. He shared insights on overcoming fear to realize one’s dreams.
This year, four finalist student teams presented their analyses of real-world data provided by French energy leader Engie. Students assumed the role of energy managers, making strategic decisions that balanced finance, sustainability, and long-term impact.
The event was both emotional and vibrant. The warm welcome by EDHEC was exemplified by Emanuel Mettais, the Dean of EDHEC, who emphasized how closely aligned EDHEC’s objectives and mission are with those of the QTEM network.
We are proud to share that QTEM has been featured in the latest Financial Times article on the 2025 Masters in Management ranking. The mention highlights the strong career outcomes achieved by our students and alumni, with significant salary growth in the three years following graduation. This article defines QTEM as one of the leading global Academic Alliances.
The article also emphasizes the high levels of satisfaction reported by QTEM graduates, who rate the achievement of their professional and personal goals above the global average of participating schools. In addition, QTEM stands out for its diversity, with a larger share of international and female faculty and students than the overall average. These elements confirm the impact of our commitment to preparing a new generation of globally minded leaders.
Being acknowledged by the Financial Times is both an honor and an encouragement to keep pushing boundaries. We will continue to strengthen our academic network, expand international opportunities, and provide an outstanding learning environment that empowers our students to reach their full potential. We thank our community of students, alumni, universities, and corporate partners for making this achievement possible.
Brussels, July 2025 – QTEM (Quantitative Techniques for Economics and Management) is proud to announce that Dublin City University (DCU) Business School, has officially joined its international network of prestigious academic partners. Marking a new milestone in the expansion of the global QTEM community.
Located in Dublin, DCU is a Triple Crown-accredited institution renowned for its academic excellence and international outlook. With strong foundations in Economics, Business, and Management, the university has expanded its expertise in recent years to include cutting-edge fields such as Data Analytics and Digital Innovation. DCU’s commitment to rigorous methodology, applied research, and societal impact makes it a natural fit for the QTEM network.
Professor Dominic Elliott, Executive Dean of DCU Business School said “We are delighted to join the QTEM network, an alliance that resonates deeply with Dublin City University Business School’s Mission. We collaborate with industry, to prepare graduates who are not only analytically skilled but also globally minded and industry ready. This QTEM partnership expands the horizons for our students, enabling them to engage with top international peers, developing cutting-edge quantitative expertise, and to gain
invaluable exposure to diverse business environments.”
Dr Gary Sinclair, Associate Dean forInternationalisation said “It is an honourto be selected as the first Irish university to join the QTEM network. This partnership represents a great opportunity for bothour students and faculty to collaboratewith a group of world class business schools that share our core values concerning academic and cultural exchange. QTEM operates at the very cutting edge in quantitative techniques and we can’t wait to share our expertiseand start working together.”
Prof. Jean-Philippe Bonardi, Chair of QTEM stated: “At QTEM, we are thrilled towelcome Dublin City University into our international network. DCU is a risingforce in innovative education and research, with a clear commitment to analytics, data, and global engagement—making it an excellent match for QTEM’s mission. With Dublin being one of Europe’s most vibrant and connected business ecosystems, this partnership strengthens our European presence and opens exciting new opportunities for our students and academic partners worldwide.”
Brussels, July 2025 – QTEM (Quantitative Techniques for Economics and Management) is proud to announce that Insper, a non-profit institution dedicated to teaching and research has officially joined its international network of prestigious academic partners. With unanimous support from all QTEM member institutions, INSPER becomes the 20th university to be welcomed into the global QTEM community.
Based in São Paulo, Brazil, Insper is a Triple Crown and ABET accredited institution recognized for its academic excellence and international outlook. With strong roots in Economics and Business Administration, it has expanded its academic portfolio in recent years to include Law, Engineering, and
Computer Science, always guided by rigorous methodology, applied research, and a strong focus on social impact.
Insper Joins the QTEM Network as first partner in South America “We are thrilled to now be part of the
QTEM Network,” said Flavia Piazza, Associate Dean for International Development at Insper. “We see this as an exciting opportunity not only for our students—who will benefit greatly from the academic and global experiences the program offers—but also for INSPER as an institution. We look forward to contributing actively to the network and exploring the many forms of collaboration QTEM fosters.”
QTEM offers selected master’s studentsthe opportunity to study at 20 top-tierinstitutions across Europe, Asia and NorthAmerica. Through academic exchanges,international internships, andparticipation in activities as the QTEMData Challenge, where students gainhands-on experience in data analysis, teamwork, and problem-solving withcases provided by industry leaders suchas Cartier, Engie and others.
Prof. Jean-Philippe Bonardi, Chair of QTEM stated: “At QTEM, we are delighted to welcome INSPER into our international network. As a globally recognized institution with a strong focus on quantitative methods and analytics, INSPER is aperfect fit for the QTEM vision. São Paulo is a dynamic business hub, and we areproud to expand our reach into Latin America through such a prestigiouspartner. We look forward to seeing INSPER students thrive at QTEM’s outstandingacademic partners across Europe, Asia, and North America.” .
The world is changing fast – climate disruptions, resource constraints, and social inequalities are challenging our economic and societal models. But with the right tools, we can turn these crises into opportunities for transformation.
We are happy to indroduce the QTEM & SBS-EM Analytics for Sustainability training, this optional training both for QTEM students and alumni is developed by SBS-EM and QTEM, and will equip you with the analytical skills and sustainability expertise needed to drive real change in business, policy, and beyond.
Begin by diving into the scientific evidence behind today’s global challenges, using hard data to uncover the unsustainability of our current systems. From there, explore the evolution of sustainable development, from the landmark Brundtland Report to policy frameworks like the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the OECD Beyond GDP agenda, and the European Green Deal.
Gain insights into how governments and businesses shape sustainability through policy instruments and private governance mechanisms. Unveil the critical role these can play in the transition to a sustainable economy and the key leverage points they can use to make an impact.
But here’s where this training stands out: bring data and analytics into the sustainability equation. With an explosion of new sustainability metrics and advances in computing power, we now have unprecedented access to insights that can drive smarter, more effective decisions. Throughout this training, explore how to utilize these data sources – uncovering strengths, limitations, and applications – to monitor progress, design solutions, and track real-world impact.
But this is not just about theory! Put your knowledge into action with hands-on experiences, e.g.:
- Climate Fresk workshop to map out the causes and consequences of climate change.
- Personalized carbon footprint analysis to assess your own impact.
- Life Cycle Assessment of a product to uncover hidden environmental costs.
- Capstone project, where you’ll develop a decarbonization strategy for a real company, using real datasets and business targets.
With a structured approach you will build a solid understanding of sustainability while gaining practical skills to be applied it in the real world.
Whether you’re looking to shape policy, transform business, or drive innovation, this training will equip you to lead in the era of data-driven sustainability. Want to be part of the change? Join us!
Great news! The location of the next QTEM Annual Event has been revealed. During the last QTEM Annual Event, EDHEC Business School generously offered to host the 2025 QTEM Annual Event and Graduation.
EDHEC Business School, with campuses in Lille, Nice, Paris, London, and Singapore, is ranked among Europe’s top 15 business schools. Renowned for its excellence in research and strong connections with the business world, EDHEC has a stellar reputation for training entrepreneurs and managers who can anticipate and adapt to changes in the global business landscape.
The EDHEC campus in Nice is ideally located just steps away from the French Riviera, facing the Mediterranean Sea. The campus is easily accessible and within walking distance of Nice Airport. In October, the weather in Nice is mild, with temperatures ranging between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius, offering a perfect setting for the event.
The QTEM Annual Event is a key networking opportunity for all stakeholders, including academics, corporate partners, students, and alumni. Over the course of two action-packed days, participants engage in a range of activities beyond the graduation ceremony. These include the QTEM Data Challenge (QDC) final, a job fair, student meetings, the General Assembly, and more.
The event also features cultural activities, a gala dinner, and opportunities to explore the local culture. Mark your calendars: all members of the QTEM network are invited to attend on October 24 and 25, 2025, in Nice. Don’t miss this exciting occasion to celebrate achievements, connect with peers, and experience the vibrant culture of the French Riviera!
Every year, the World Happiness Report ranks the world’s happiest countries, based on responses to the Gallup World Poll. In 2024, Finland topped the rankings for the seventh consecutive year, with all the other Nordic countries featuring in the top 10. Other high performers included the Netherlands and Switzerland. Given that work takes up a major part of many adults’ lives prior to retirement, we can assume that management approaches in these nations contribute to their citizens’ happiness.
So, what can leaders learn from the world’s happiest countries?
1. Low power distance fosters wellbeing
“Traditionally, Finnish organizations have low power distance between their leaders and the rest of the organization,” says Sami Itani, professor of practice for the department of management studies at Aalto University School of Business in Finland. “Anybody can approach the CEO, even in large organizations.”
Itani believes that the Finnish workforce culture reflects the country’s society more broadly since levels of socio-economic polarization in Finland are among the lowest of all the countries that belong to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. “When business leaders have a shared social background with their employees, it makes their organizations socially more united and generates trust between the leaders and their internal and external stakeholders,” he says.
Transparency is also prized in Finnish society, with all annual incomes being public information. As a result, there is little gender difference in terms of salaries for people doing a similar job.
“Another aspect of general happiness for us is a balance between work and free time, which managers not only understand and respect, but also use themselves,” Itani explains. “Despite the possibilities for remote and flexible work in most professions, the evenings and weekends are for friends and family.”
2. Empower remote workers
In the Netherlands, which ranked sixth on this year’s happiness index, more than half (52%) of workers work from home for some or most of the time. This is a higher proportion than in any other EU country.
Hybrid working fits the Dutch national culture, according to Dr Pascale Peters, professor of HR management at Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands. A study by Peters and her colleagues, commissioned by the Zadelhoff Nyenrode Institute for Real Estate Research, found that workers value hybrid working because it allows them to balance their work and non-work obligations while maintaining or even improving their productivity.
Nevertheless, the study revealed that while employees like flexibility, this factor is not the primary source of their workplace happiness. They also value the psychological safety provided by a physical office, having autonomy and the ability to share knowledge, and leaders who demonstrate an empowering management style (signaling trust and providing support where necessary). “All these factors can contribute to employees’ perception of self-determination, which in turn can contribute to their autonomous motivation to be proactive and innovative,” Peters says.
3. Provide psychologically satisfying work
“We know that having a psychologically satisfying job is key for overall happiness,” says Mads Nordmo Arnestad, associate professor of the department of leadership and organizational behavior at BI Norwegian Business School in Norway (the country ranked seventh on the index). “After all, we spend most of our waking hours at work. The Norwegian management culture favors trust and empowerment, allowing employees to experience a high level of autonomy. This autonomy has also been tied to intrinsic motivation, lower levels of stress and increased productivity.”
Arnestad adds that while autonomy and task variety are key to worker satisfaction, a job still has to pay. He says that in Scandinavian countries, low-paying jobs are awarded higher wages than in other countries. “A big part of the Scandinavian success story is adequately paying employees so that they are able to focus on their tasks and not constantly having to worry about their personal finances,” Arnestad explains.
4. Build consensus
In Switzerland (ranked ninth on the index) consensus underpins the national management style. Managers proactively seek out the opinion of others before coming to important conclusions – a process that is thorough, even if it has the drawback of being slow.
“For any managerial decision to be made, this decision has to be perceived as positive for the whole team or even the whole organization,” says Dr Jean-Philippe Bonardi, a professor at Swiss business school HEC Lausanne and board member of QTEM (Quantitative Techniques for Economics and Management) network. “This is why the process of consensus building, in which many people are involved, is so important for key decisions.”
Nevertheless, their focus on building consensus doesn’t stop the Swiss from being pragmatic. “The final decision is taken at the top once the process of consensus building has taken place,” Bonardi explains. “This is certainly one of the strengths of the Swiss managerial style and something that I think is closely related to happiness as it avoids two typical types of frustration: not being consulted and no decision made in the end.”
