Opinion on new bachelor double-program Bocconi-HEC

Question

This message to help my son to decide.

Next Monday 03/11 will be released the Bocconi results of the winter cession of undergraduate programs.

If and depending the options my son could be admited,  Bocconi remains his first choice.

His 2nd choice tends to be now the double program Bocconi-HEC newly launched " Data, Society and Organisations track".
He has already been admited for this program and needs to confirm by the 03/11 also!
Next Monday needs to be the decision day for him.

This program is different than his initial will to take the Finance or Business route, but he seems also very interested by the new challenges that our world will face with all the big changes in front of us (environment, AI,...).

This is a new program, supposedly to address a new job market but difficult for me to help him and give him some perspectives of what could be the kind of carrier he could touch.  His target would also to push to a Master,  he seems that this new double-program will be elligible to apply for a PGE at HEC (Programme Grande Ecole), but how difficult will it be compare to other "standard" bacchelors or diplomas.... also difficult to say as it is new.

I know also, that this is business, bachelor type of study is quite new in France and HEC is one of the latest school to launch a bachelor, to address a new business for sure!! I guess there is a serious business case behind that not to launch something useless... but, I prefer to ask.

I am not in the business, finance or world, government related jobs, I am in the private sector, in the manufacturing industry, maybe some of you would have better perseptives of what kind of job is opened to this new double bachelor.  Below a presentation of this program.

Thank you for your help !!"

With data and AI revolutionizing the furthest reaches of society, business and government policy, an inter-disciplinary training in data and social sciences is crucial today for understanding and supporting these societal and organizational transformations. With this in mind, Bocconi University is launching the  Data, Society and Organisations  track, a double program in the BSc in International Politics and Government, offered in collaboration with HEC Paris.

This new program, which will kick off in academic year 2024/25, uniquely merges social science critical thinking with problem solving and data analytical skills, featuring in-depth training in quantitative methods and data science. for students who want to work at the intersection of data science and social sciences and provide effective solutions to the main challenges of society and business. The course is delivered over three years, with the opening three semesters at Bocconi in Milan and the following three at HEC in Paris.

At the end of the program, students will be awarded the Bachelor of Science in International Politics & Government from Bocconi University and the Bachelor of Arts in Data, Society & Organisations from HEC.

This course, which responds to the major challenges of the 21st century, is organized around an innovative theme that combines data science and human and social science

"

bb · Answer

mysterymanrog  and  Kudron  - is this something you can comment on?

Posted from my mobile device

clecocq1 · Answer

At the end of this program you will develop your skills in :
 
 Participation in the development of company strategy 
 Supervision and animation of teams in project mode 
 Documentation, collection and processing of information 
 Carrying out an organizational and/or financial analysis 
 Management control, evaluation of tools and proposal of new methods 
 Establishment of a budgetary architecture

Kudron · Answer

Honestly I believe that mostly depends on what your son would like to do after his Bachelor/University career.

Personally, I wouldn't be too caught on by the marketing gimmick that the other one is jointly administered by HEC and Bocconi. Bocconi is definitely a Tier 1 school in Europe and provided he maintains a good academic track record in his undergrad, that alone would open pretty much any door for a future Master's in Europe anyway.

Also, usually quantitative subjects are far more respected by the job market than qualitative ones. It is much easier to secure a Management track after doing a Master's in Finance than it is the other way around.

To conclude I would consider this new joint program if your son actually prefers the subjects and a more broad teaching style, but I would not change my mind otherwise.

clecocq1 · Answer

This is the approach my son and I have.
Definitively, if admitted to Bocconi for BIEF (I doubt because his SAT score is not strong enough) or BIEM or BIEMC, he will go to this option.
This is Option 1.

The question is, if not admitted in any of the 3x bachelors of Bocconi, he received admission from:
- Double program Bocconi - HEC
- IE business school
- McGill  (Business - major to decide)
- Essec Global BBA
- and some universities in England (Bath, Manchester, Warwick) in Finance but last option as of today, because very expensive.

and it is difficult to take the good decision.

Kudron · Answer

Does he already have sort of an idea on what Master's he would like to do after?

Anyway I think the analysis is on point: Bocconi and HEC are top schools in Europe, IE, Essec and Warwick are still good, just a bit lower ranked.
I personally don't know McGill so I don't have much information on that one.
About English universities: overall they are all really good, the main problem is that Bocconi is #1 in Italy, HEC is undoubtedly #1 in France, the ones you mentioned in England albeit very good do have to step down to more prestigious ones in England, especially if financial resources are a concern, I would focus my efforts in trying do get the best Master's post the bachelor rather than spending a ton on the bachelor.

clecocq1 · Answer

Yes, this makes sense definitively.
Again, as the double program is new, difficult to know what kind of Master it can open to...

My son is primarely targeting a Master in finance or Ecomnomics & Management or Management...., but, at this age, things can change during the early university years, he will get to know what he really like and wants...

Anyway, thank you for your advices.

clecocq1 · Answer

Finally, my son has been accepted to Bocconi for the bachelor in International Economics and Management.It is his first choice... super happy.

Still waiting for LSE and the WBB World Bachelor, but this is end of April for decision and the price for the WBB is way way more expensive....

mysterymanrog · Answer

I would take Bocconi only bachelor. If he does well in Bocconi, he will surely be able to earn admissions to any Master's programme of his choice. Bocconi is a feeder to the HEC MiM and MIF classes. While the new bachelor might seem great, it will not have the same gravitas as a sole Bocconi bachelor. If your son is truly interested in AI, Data Science, etc, he would be better off pursuing a bachelor in mathematics or statistics, and then specialise.

mysterymanrog · Answer

Huge congrats to your son! That is an excellent programme! I would only reject it for LSE. Great job!

Kudron · Answer

Congrats

He has a bright path ahead of him!

Art200 · Answer

Best is LSE then Warwick then Bocconi then McGill then Bocconi-HEC in that order. The that told you Warwick undergrad is bad does not know anything. Severe mistake.

Kudron · Answer

I did not say that Warwick is "bad". In fact, none of the universities in the list are. I am saying that there are a lot of good universities in Britain, and many better than Warwick, you even mentioned LSE in your post. On the other hand, there is nodoubt that Bocconi and HEC are #1 in their respective countries

Art200 · Answer

What competition do you see in Italy?

Kudron · Answer

In Italy, as an italian, I would quite honestly say 0. In Europe there is quite much competition, and Bocconi still always manages to be on the top spots (and rising consistently in the rankings in the last years). In France there is quite a lot of competition, yet HEC is still #1. FT European Busines Schools 2023: Bocconi #5, Warwick #11 QS University Rankings (Social Sciences & Management, 2023): Bocconi #14, Warwick #40 US News (Economics and Business): Bocconi #20, Warwick #30 To be fair, couldn't find Bocconi on the Times Higher Education, probably because it offers only Economics and Social Sciences courses, but I believe there are enough data points for reflection above

Then if someone wants to stay in the UK or is looking towards the UK job market is another story.

PeatearIss · Answer

Hey there,

It sounds like your son has some exciting decisions ahead! The Bocconi-HEC double program in Data, Society, and Organizations seems cutting-edge, blending social sciences with data analytics. It's tailored for the changing landscape of our world, offering unique career opportunities at the intersection of data science and social sciences.

Considering the growing importance of data-driven decision-making across industries, graduates from this program could find themselves well-equipped for roles in various sectors. Think about positions in data analysis, policy research, consulting, or even roles in tech companies focusing on AI and data-driven innovation.

While it's a new program, the collaboration between prestigious institutions like Bocconi and HEC adds weight to its credibility. The mix of rigorous quantitative training and social science perspectives could position graduates favorably for both further academic pursuits, such as a Master's degree, and entry into the job market.

Ultimately, encourage your son to consider his interests, long-term career goals, and how this program aligns with them. Exploring internships, networking opportunities, and speaking with alumni or professors from similar programs could provide additional insights.

Best of luck to your son on his decision-making journey!

Opinion on new bachelor double-program Bocconi-HEC

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