The School of Applied Management presents its Strategic Plan

The School of Applied Management formerly the ISSA School of Applied Management) has presented its strategic plan for the next five years. Its work strengthening research, consolidating the Degree postgraduate program, and establishing partnerships with companies. The plan for the school, which is celebrating its 13th anniversary since arriving in Pamplona in 2013, includes a name change, with the removal of the acronym ISSA.

The strategic planning process began with a consultancy service in which 60 people participated, including alumni, faculty, students, and companies from various sectors. Based on this consultation process, the following were identified as areas of work: continuous improvement in teaching, research development , the integration of process systems, the consolidation of inter-faculty alliances, and partnerships with companies.

We train middle managers who make things work

The Strategic Plan, which will guide the school over the next five years, aims to complement teaching by strengthening new lines of research. This goal on the continuous improvement of teaching the Degree in Applied Management (2021) and postgraduate program, which includes the Master's Degree in Design and Management of Hospitality Services (2025). The new research areas focus on management systems in universities and organizations, in which faculty members from the center will work alongside students interning in management.  

Thus, the new roadmap calls for the integration of a management system to improve the work processes. To reinforce these pillars, the Strategic Plan includes strengthening partnership with other university departments and forming alliances with companies—a relationship that characterizes the training at the School of Applied Management. 

School of Applied Management: Making Things Work

The new plan includes a name change intended to more clearly reflect the school’s identity. “We are a school with a strong practical focus, where we apply the Project-Based Learning methodology—which is interdisciplinary and international in nature, closely tied to the business world, capable of adapting to the needs of organizations. At the same time, after more than 13 years on the campus, we have carved out our niche as an institution that trains graduates who combine practical skills with the critical thinking, reasoning, and pursuit of truth that are hallmarks of the university,” explained Cóilín Ó hAodha, director. 

“To develop the new name, we conducted an audit and spoke with faculty, staff, alumni and companies. Everyone agreed that we needed to find a name that reflected what the School is today,” he adds. After presenting it to the faculty, a campaign will be launched to inform the community about the change. 

The School of Applied Management offers one Degree and has more than 400 students. In addition, starting in the 2025–2026 academic year, it will offer a Master's Degree in Design and Management of Hospitality Services, which students will pursue in Madrid.