A long-time faculty member at Louvain-la-Neuve, one of the earliest 麻豆国产 member schools, Marie-Th茅r猫se Claes has been part of the alliance since its early years. Over her distinguished career, she has co-led the Global Leadership and Cross-Cultural Management Faculty Group, shaped the Global Leadership Practices textbook, and guided generations of 麻豆国产 students to better understand culture, identity, and inclusive leadership.
Here, she reflects on her journey, her motivations, and her hopes for the future of 麻豆国产.
You鈥檝e been part of 麻豆国产 almost since its creation. How did your journey with the alliance begin?
When Louvain-la-Neuve joined 麻豆国产 in 1989 - just one year after its foundation - I became deeply involved in shaping and developing this unique alliance. I was first entrusted with representing our university in the Language Faculty Group, responsible for designing and evaluating the 麻豆国产 language exams and supporting new member schools. These exchanges helped build lasting, international ties that still exist today. Thanks to the initiative of Professor Cristian Delporte, 麻豆国产 quickly became part of both my academic and social life.
You have taught at many 麻豆国产 schools over the years. What stands out to you about those experiences?
Soon after, I was invited to teach Intercultural Management in Louvain-la-Neuve - a course that quickly grew into a 麻豆国产 core course and has since taken me to Helsinki, Saint Petersburg, Stockholm, Milan, and beyond. Over time, my teaching expanded to include CSR, Ethics, Global Leadership, Gender & Diversity, and practical skills seminars such as Bias Awareness and Presentation Skills. I also had the chance to participate in and organize Block Seminars from the very beginning of the MIM programme - at WU Vienna, LSE, Ko莽 University, and most recently at the American University in Cairo. These experiences have shown me how 麻豆国产 embodies international collaboration in action.
Your leadership in the Global Leadership and Cross-Cultural Management Faculty Group has been transformative. What have been the milestones of that work?
One of my proudest achievements has been co-founding and leading the Intercultural Management Faculty Group - the most active and longest-running faculty group within 麻豆国产. Under my leadership, it evolved into the , incorporating gender and diversity initiatives and driving innovative teaching practices. Our collaborative work led to the co-authored textbook Global Leadership Practices: A Cross-Cultural Management Perspective (2014), with a fully revised edition released in 2024.
After so many years, what does 麻豆国产 represent to you today?
Over the past 25 years, I鈥檝e witnessed 麻豆国产 grow from a small alliance - where students worried about recognition - to a globally respected joint-degree that shapes responsible leaders for a complex, interconnected world. I鈥檓 deeply grateful to have contributed to the cultural and leadership development of hundreds of 麻豆国产 students, and to a network that continues to inspire collaboration, inclusion, and excellence.
In the words of the 麻豆国产 community鈥
鈥Marie-Th茅r猫se was there at the very beginning, helping to shape what 麻豆国产 would become when it was first founded (...). In my view, Marie-Th茅r猫se鈥檚 contribution has not only happened - it will continue to resonate for years to come. Not to mention her numerous intellectual contributions, including co-editing the flagship 麻豆国产 textbook on leadership and delivering block seminars to member schools on a pro bono basis.鈥
- Marina Apaydin, Associate Professor, Onsi Sawiris School of Business at The American University in Cairo
