I remember it clearly—I had that thrilling feeling already when boarding the plane, as I had probably the most exciting two weeks of my life in front of me.
Fourteen days spent in Monaco – the jewel of the French Riviera. But this time it wouldn’t be about relaxing beach clubs or world-known restaurants only, as I was about to attend the Summer University program in Luxury Business & Communication at the International University of Monaco (IUM).
Arrival
As I landed one day before the official school start, I had some time to explore the surroundings. IUM is conveniently located in the Condamine district of Monaco, which is known for its market, often frequented by the locals. It is also very close to the train station, making it practical for students who choose to live outside of Monaco. My accommodation choice fell for Beausoleil, a cozy French town located within walking distance of the school.
First Day
On our first day, the IUM team gave us a heartwarming welcome accompanied by fresh pastries. As we were in a French-speaking country, the croissants were a must!
Right after breakfast, we found our seats in a classroom that was about to become our studying hub for the next 14 days. The course kick-started with classes in Etiquette in Business Communication. As an etiquette teacher myself, I enjoyed these classes very much and – as learning never stops – I definitely extended my knowledge in the etiquette sphere!
Learn, Network, and make friends from all around the world.
Thanks to the small size of Monaco, everything was within a 15-minute walk from the school, which created a great base for our field trips. So, we not only absorbed the theoretical knowledge in class but also had the opportunity to apply it right into practice. For example, our Digital Luxury Marketing & Communication class introduced us to new trends in luxury shopping experience which we got to research straight away in the many luxury shops in Monte Carlo.
One of the things I enjoyed the most about the course was meeting all my classmates from different parts of the world. It was interesting to get to know various cultures and to utilize everyone’s experience, especially during group work.
Professional Opportunities
Despite its small size, Monaco is buzzing with various events all year long. During my stay, I was lucky to visit the Longines Global Champions Tour, Monaco Art Week, or the Artcurial auction at the Hermitage Hotel. These events gave me the opportunity to meet many new people with whom I could exchange contacts and introduce my etiquette consulting business.
My 2-week Summer University stay at the International University of Monaco was full of new friendships and learnings, but also one-of-a-kind experiences and loads of content for my social media pages. My only regret is that it only lasted for 2 weeks 🙂
Written by Katarina Bradacova
www.katarinaetiquette.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katarina.etiquette/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katarina.etiquette
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katarina-bradacova/