Bachelors, How to choose ?

Economist or Manager?

The training is common at the Bachelor's level and differs at the Master's level. Indeed, although economics and management are very complementary disciplines, the tools used by economists and managers are quite different. The career opportunities of the two disciplines remain similar and in general tend to contribute to the development of the company and society. Both disciplines therefore require a desire to understand how the company, the market(s), the State and the economic system as a whole work.

Several specificities separate them:

Managers focus on legal, societal and human aspects. They will focus on major corporate functions such as corporate finance, human resources management, marketing, law, entrepreneurship, etc. 
Economists reflect on societal issues and seek the best ways to use the scarce resources at our disposal to meet contemporary challenges: unemployment, social fractures, sustainability of social policies, climate change, use of energy resources, digitalization, innovative business models, consequences of crises such as the Covid crisis on public finances and growth... The work of economists allows them to provide relevant answers and solutions to companies and governments in order to adopt appropriate policies. Economists will work as analysts or managers in companies, banks, consulting firms, research centers, senior administrations, unions, European or international institutions, ministerial offices, NGOs, etc.

Some questions managers are interested in?

How to make the company more efficient?
What financial investments should be made? 
How to increase sales?
How to optimize production and inventory management?
How to motivate the staff within the company or organization?
How to analyze (mega)data to make strategic decisions?
How to position and develop a brand?
How to develop and make effective tactical decisions about products, pricing, distribution and promotion?
How to manage all facets of a cross-functional project in a company or organization?

Some questions economists are interested in?

How to fight against climate change?
Should digital platforms be regulated?
Does robotics destroy jobs?
What are the consequences of the COVID crisis on public finances, employment, GDP and growth?
Is the Euro overvalued compared to other currencies?
How to fight against poverty, inequalities?
What are the consequences of the Brexit?

Management or Business Engineering ?

The foundations of the Bachelor in Business Engineering are the same as in Economics and Management:

courses related to Economic and Social Policy, the functioning of markets, monetary and financial economics, the labor market, growth and development ;
learning about the major functions of business: finance, marketing, human resources management ;
methodological tools: mathematics, statistics, computer science ;
languages: English and another language (Dutch, German, Spanish, Italian or Chinese);
a critical view of a simple field situation and/or in a transversal context;
a capacity for synthesis and oral and written communication.

Many of the courses are therefore identical in both programs, although each has its own specificity. In Business Engineering, the emphasis is more on analytical reasoning and quantitative methods (operational research, modeling and simulation), and there is an additional important dimension: the foundations of science and the interactions between science, technology and industrial innovation, which are reflected in science courses (chemistry, physics, etc.).

In a company, the Business Engineer will be involved in both management and technology. He or she will play an interface role between these two poles. Learning the sciences is therefore an indispensable asset. It encourages open-mindedness and sharpens the critical and analytical sense. It gives Business Engineers the necessary tools to interact with the technological side of the company.

What about you?

Tableau bacheliers

The Bachelor in Economics and Management is the program that allows you to train simultaneously in the two subjects (management and economics) during the first three years before moving on to either a Master in Economics or a Master in Management.

The Bachelor in Economics and Management offers you a high quality multidisciplinary training that focuses on :

the basics of economics and management (political economy, microeconomics, macroeconomics; business functions: finance, marketing, human resources management) 
the human, social and legal context (law) 
methodological tools (mathematics, statistics, computer science)
languages (English and one other language chosen from Dutch, German, Spanish, Italian or Chinese) - more info on languages at HEC Liège
Skills workshops aimed at developing soft skills or tool-skills, operational skills, through participation in a project, a competition or a complex training course. In this way, you build your own professional project.