Beginnings In 1979, a group of leading Italian CEOs identified the need for a business school, where business executives could further develop their management skills. The business school, MIP, was thus created out of a collaboration between key Italian companies and Politecnico di Milano. MIP and its shareholder companies Throughout its history, MIP has enjoyed a privileged relationship with its shareholder companies and this has been extended over the years to include foreign multinationals as well. Indeed, such partnership is evident throughout the MBA program in its real-life business simulations (Field Experience, Business Plan, Organizational Check Up and Project Work) and in its regular collaboration with the professional community from which students also derive great benefit and real-world experience. MIP’s customized executive education programs were recently recognized in the Financial Times Executive Education 2011 Custom Ranking. The program was placed at number 40 amongst the 65 best programs in the world. Amongst the European schools, ours is number 17 and according to the category of post-course “follow-up”, we have been placed at 7th in the world. Executive education is an educational offer designed by schools of management in close collaboration with the client organization for the organization’s employees. This is further recognition of MIP’s commitment to its company network and extensive collaboration with the corporate world. MIP is evolving In 2009 MIP opened its new site – a brand-new self-contained campus that houses 25 new study rooms for 140 students and 11 lecture halls for another 530 students. All of MIP´s academic, cultural and research activities are located within these 3800 square metres, a unique environment and forward-looking campus that supports an international environment and provides a meeting place in which students, faculty members and researchers can interact closely. Students can take dvantage of advanced technological resources and can work and study in a friendly, modern and innovative environment. Living and studying in Milan, Italy’s economic capital and an economic powerhouse of Europe, offers broad exposure to an international business community and opens up an array of opportunities thanks to its rich entrepreneurial network and the wide variety of sectors present in the territory. Home to 400 banks and major industrial companies, Milan is often described as the “locomotive of Italy”; it is at the heart of a manufacturing system that generates 21% of Italy’s GDP and its strong economic base has made it one of Italy’s most influential cities. Milan is also an international centre for the fashion industry and a world leader in design. Here the ingrained manufacturing tradition is flanked by a culture of progress and experimentation, enterprise and production. It is a dynamic, cultural city at the forefront of modern Italy where the most important events, shows and exhibitions take place. Trade fairs are an important resource of the city which allow enterprises, particularly small and medium ones, to connect with international markets. Milan possesses an efficient infrastructure system and its well developed road, rail and airport connections make it a hub of transport for much of Europe. The city’s excellence on the international stage has been recognized with the awarding of the World Expo which Milan will host in 2015.