How Three Business Schools Make Christmas Special for the Local Community

Christmas – everybody’s favorite time of the year. While most full-time workers can enjoy a few weeks off in December with their families and friends, some students and employees are often stuck at school, swamped with upcoming deadlines and exams.

This is why some business schools have created Christmas traditions for both students and faculty to enjoy. From artisanal markets to group activities and charity initiatives, these traditions celebrate the school’s community while filling campuses with a good dose of Christmas spirit.

Here’s three examples.

MIP Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Business

Founded in 1979, MIP’s Graduate School of Business in Milan features outstanding MBA and EMBA programs.

On December 13 2019, MIP will host its third MIP Kids Christmas Party, where employees will bring their children into the office for a day filled with fun activities. This tradition was first organized by a group of employees in 2017, enabling attendees to celebrate Christmas while also creating a happy atmosphere in the office. Employees and their children will enjoy a number of activities, including competitions, Christmas carols and a special visit from Santa, who will be on hand to distribute festive gifts to all.

But how did the tradition start? The school’s dean Andrea Sianesi says: “We spend a big part of our days working, this is why it’s important to feel good on the workplace.

“Traditions and employee-oriented initiatives like our Christmas Party are important to reconnect with the staff and remind them that we care about them and their well-being.”

And there’s more. Because MIP staff are extremely passionate about sustainability and ethics; the Christmas Party offers a great opportunity to promote the school’s values to employees and particularly their children. This year, to encourage environmental responsibility, some of the activities will include activities surrounding waste and recycling, such as creating Christmas trees and Santa drawings out of office scrap waste.

NEOMA Business School France

NEOMA Business School, located in the beautiful city of Rouen, is one of Europe’s top management schools. It offers over 20 programs in English in all disciplines of Management Sciences and has an alumni network active in over 127 countries.

On December 4 2019, NEOMA students will have the opportunity to attend the school’s fifth Christmas market. The event helps local businesses expand their clientele by selling their products to students, who usually attend with friends and family.

Charlotte Guénault, Event Organizer for NEOMA’s Student Office, decided to be a part of this project to feel closer to Rouen’s student community. She says the Christmas market is a particularly impactful event because it helps students enjoy their time on campus despite the challenging exam period.

She says: “It’s good to have a little celebration and to feel good energy on campus, even if just for one day.”

However, the organization process wasn’t always easy. Charlotte worked extremely hard to ensure that as many businesses as possible attend and comply with the Christmas theme. Nevertheless, she says it was worth it, and it seems that the market will be a great success once again.

Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Business

Located in Astana, Kazakhstan, Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Business has an ambitious academic approach to programs and development. The b-school’s mission is to impact generations of international business leaders to come and make Kazakhstan and the wider Central Asian region a competitive business market.

Since 2013, NU GSB has been hosting an annual Christmas charity campaign throughout November and December. The aim of the initiative is to help orphans and families with low income survive cold winters in the Nur-Sultan region by providing them with warm clothes, food and children’s toys.

A student from the university says: “I believe most people enjoy making some miracle happen before the New Year.”

Every member of the school’s community, from faculty to students and administrative staff can donate as much as they wish to. The organization committee also created a group of volunteers who buy and distribute gifts to the families.

However, the group wants to ensure the gifting process remains private, which is why the initiative isn’t promoted on the school’s social media. A volunteer says this keeps the campaign as genuine as possible and makes the people who receive donations feel more comfortable.

They say: “The initiative is just between us and the families. The most exciting part is the happiness we bring to them. We see mothers that look at clothes for their children realizing that this winter will be warm for them. They’re so grateful.”