duration2 weeks
languageEnglish
locationMadrid
1st EditionMonday, 26th of May – Friday, 6th of June
2nd editionMonday, 23rd of June – Friday, 4th of July

GAIN SKILLS FOR PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS

Unlock your career potential with a hands-on program designed to boost your professional skills toolkit. Over two weeks, you’ll explore self-discovery techniques, learn practical strategies and gain expert insights to help you take control of your career.

The Upskilling for Professional Development program is all about turning your strengths and ambitions into real-world growth. Through interactive projects and guidance from industry leaders, you’ll sharpen your decision-making skills, learn to identify growth opportunities and develop the confidence to drive results.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?
days to start your best summer
40days
:
14hours
:
59minutes

Course Overview – Typical Day in the UPSKILLING FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM​

Each day is designed to challenge you, push your boundaries and help you grow—leaving you with actionable insights to elevate your future career.

You’ll have up to three sessions per day, each lasting 80 minutes. Some days will feature double sessions with a short break in between:

  • A group of students engaged in a discussion in a modern classroom.

    Week 1:

    • Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
  • Week 2:

    • Monday to Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
    • Friday: The last day is dedicated to final projects and a fun graduation ceremony.

Your First Look at the Program

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WHO IS THIS PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR?

  • This program is right for you if…

    …you are a driven and ambitious individual, ready to take your career to the next level. Whether you’re a student eager to gain hands-on experience or a professional looking to refine your career strategy, this program is ideal for learners who are serious about developing the skills and confidence to succeed in today’s fast-paced world.

  • Participant profile

    The Upskilling for Professional Development program is specially designed for university students and recent graduates between 18 and 26 years old.

Focus Areas

Prepare to take charge of your career journey with skills that go beyond the basics. From understanding your values to crafting a personal brand, this program will help you enhance your employability and align your professional life with what matters most.

  • 01.

    Career strategy development

    Gain the skills to draft a clear, actionable career strategy that aligns your values and aspirations with practical goals, helping you make confident decisions that fast-track your professional trajectory.

  • 02.

    Personal branding

    Develop the ability to create a compelling personal brand that highlights your unique strengths and makes you memorable to employers, building a profile that allows you to compete effectively in today’s dynamic job market.

  • 03.

    Pitching

    Master the art of the pitch and learn how to present your ideas clearly and persuasively. Whether you're pitching to potential investors, partners or clients, this skill will help you communicate your value effectively in any business environment.

  • 04.

    Digital skills

    Explore emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and their applications to productivity, leadership and career planning. This understanding of innovation will prepare you to leverage advanced tools and set you apart in the job market.

  • 05.

    Self-awareness

    Discover your strengths, values and passions in order to make informed career choices that resonate with who you truly are, both professionally and personally

Unique Value

Foster ownership of your career strategy by developing high-impact skills essential for success in today’s professional environment. This program helps you enhance employability through targeted skill development, cultivate self-awareness to align personal values with career aspirations, and build a powerful personal brand to effectively market yourself in competitive industries.

Learning Outcome

Gain a solid foundation in career development with the tools needed to craft a personalized application package. Develop the confidence and strategy to create a clear and impactful professional career plan, setting yourself apart in the job market.

Program Structure

Dive into a curriculum that immerses you in hands-on learning. Through a mix of interactive classes, collaborative group work, presentations and our innovative media lab, you’ll develop essential skills for success.

What You're going to do
2 Weeks
Week 1
    Week 2
      Final Project

        Foundation of Self-Discovery and Core Skill Building

        Key themes: Building high-impact skills for career growth.

        • Day 1

          Orientation, Intro to self awareness, what does success look like for you? (setting intentions)

        • Day 2

          Critical Thinking (decision-making in real-life scenarios, tools for everyday strategic decisions)

        • Day 3

          Problem-Solving

        • Day 4

          Apply critical thinking and problem solving to create your personal branding, LinkedIn and networking (how to build connections in person and online)

        • Day 5

          Initial pitch practice

        Practical Tools and Professional Empowerment

        • Day 6

          AI Productivity + Learning how to Learn and adapting to evolving job market

        • Day 7

          Persuasion & Influence - how to better use AI to enhance customized outcomes

        • Day 8

          Story Telling and Presentations – effective communication and pitch practice (the pitch will be a mock interview)

        • Day 9

          Story Telling and Presentations – persuasive communication and pitch practice (the pitch will be a mock interview)

        • Day 10

          Reflecting on growth, Setting a goal for continued growth, Pitch in front of a panel + graduation

        Upskilling for Professional Development

        The final presentation involves students delivering a mock interview, where they pitch themselves and demonstrate how they have leveraged the skills and insights gained throughout the course.

        This includes showcasing their personal branding, career aspirations, and the application of critical thinking, problem-solving, and persuasive communication in professional settings.

        Students would also reflect on their growth during the program, discussing how they’ve developed skills and tools for career advancement, such as enhancing their LinkedIn profiles, networking strategies, and adapting to the evolving job market.

        The presentation culminates in a formal pitch in front of a panel allowing students to confidently demonstrate their ability to create and communicate their professional career strategy.

        What You're going to do
        2 Weeks

        Discover the program's agenda

        Dive into a curriculum that immerses you in hands-on learning. Through a mix of interactive classes, collaborative group work, presentations and our innovative media lab, you’ll develop essential skills for success.

        A man in a business suit with a concerned expression sits in an indoor setting.

        OUR PROGRAM LEAD FACULTY

        Brendan Angil – Professor in International MBA and Master in Management.

        Brendan Anglin has taught over 10,000 students in the past 20 years, from negotiation and intercultural communication skills to social sciences, humanities and research and writing.

        He is the coordinator of the IE Writing Center and the Academic Director of the AlTamayyuz Enrichment Program with IE Exel which brings together a diverse range of corporations from the world of banking and finance.

        He is also the director of Fresh Ideas International Training, author of several books and his area of research is negotiations, trust and culture.


        DISCOVER THE RIGHT PROGRAM FOR YOU

        IE University Summer Program is a combination of flexible programs that allow you to mix and match the topics that interest you most, giving you a taste of your future degree or career. Each program lasts two weeks—except for the four-week Entrepreneurship program—and you can combine up to three programs to create a personalized learning journey.

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        • A young man and woman are walking and smiling together in a sunny, outdoor setting, with the woman holding a volleyball.
        • A group of young adults studying and discussing together outdoors on a grassy area.
        • Two women walking and chatting in a modern outdoor shopping area.
        • Two young adults, a male and a female, are looking at a red folder together at an outdoor table surrounded by others.
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        DISCOVER THE SUMMER 2025 CALENDAR

        Take a look to see how you can structure your summer with our various combinations.​

        Abstract for Tuition | IE

        TUITION

        2 WEEK PROGRAM

        • 3,500€
        • *5,900€ Bundle Price (2 weeks + 2 weeks)

        CREDIT RECOGNITION

        Earning academic credit at your home institution for joining IE University’s Summer Program is designed to be as straightforward as possible. Many institutions routinely award credit for summer courses, but we highly recommend that you check with your University’s International or Study Abroad Office regarding any specific requirements you might need to fulfill.

        If you join IE University’s Summer Program for at least four weeks (= two two-week modules or with the four-week Entrepreneurship Summer School), you’ll complete an academic workload equivalence of 6 ECTS credits (or 3 US credits). If you spend more time with us, you can earn even more credit equivalence, also spread over consecutive summers. To qualify for credit recognition, you need to fulfill all the course requirements and submit one final essay within two weeks of finishing your last course.

        To make the credit transfer process easier, IE University provides all the necessary documentation and evidence required by your home university’s Study Abroad Office or academic department. Additionally, we actively work to pre-agree credit recognition with key partner universities to ensure a faster and smoother process for you.

        THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS

        A graphic illustration of a woman interacting with a large, symbolic interface, handling documents and folders.

        1. Online Application

        You will need to complete the online application with the following documents: 

        1. Academic transcripts.  
        2. CV (cv template).
        3. Video Assessment: in this section you will complete two live video questions on general knowledge topics.

        *You must complete all sections of the application in order to submit it.

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        2. Submit your Application

        Once you complete all sections you may submit your online application to be evaluated by our team.


        A stylized illustration of a woman walking confidently with a large checklist and a check mark, symbolizing task completion or approval.

        3. Admissions Final Decision

        Within 2 weeks of submitting, the Summer School Team will contact you with the final resolution of your Admissions process. Should it be positive, you will be guided through the next steps for your enrollment.

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        START YOUR APPLICATION

        Spaces are limited, so enroll now to guarantee your place!