EDHEC Business School: Where Entrepreneurship Thrives
Table of Contents
- 1. EDHEC Business School: Where Entrepreneurship Thrives
- 2. Leading the Way: EDHEC’s Commitment to Climate & Impact
- 3. EDHEC Business School Embraces a Future of Sustainable Innovation
- 4. EDHEC MBA: Cultivating Leaders Who ‘Walk the Talk’
- 5. EDHEC: Where Positive Impact Meets Business Excellence
- 6. How does EDHEC’s €270 million investment plan support the school’s generational 2050 initiatives regarding startups, climate science, and societal impact?
EDHEC Business School might seem like a rising star on the global stage, but the French institution has been quietly building its reputation for years. While recent rankings haven’t fully captured this ascent, EDHEC leadership has strategically invested in key areas like entrepreneurship and ESG, reaping important rewards. The culmination of this focus came in November 2024 when Poets&Quants crowned EDHEC the world’s top MBA program for entrepreneurship.
How did EDHEC achieve this impressive feat? A deep dive into their curriculum reveals a program tailored for aspiring innovators. A staggering 55% of EDHEC’s MBA elective courses are dedicated to entrepreneurship, surpassing almost every other program. This commitment extends beyond the classroom, wiht an impressive network of 347 entrepreneurs-in-residence available to guide and mentor students.
The entrepreneurial spirit permeates EDHEC’s community. “100% of EDHEC MBAs are involved in a startup in one form or another – and over 60% take an entrepreneurship-focused elective,” highlighting the program’s unwavering emphasis on real-world request.
“EDHEC also ranked among the best for startup money available to students, incubator space, mentorship hours, and the percentage of faculty who teach courses in entrepreneurship and innovation,” emphasizing the robust ecosystem EDHEC has cultivated.
The school’s Entrepreneurship track is the most popular among students, attracting 27% of the most recent graduating class.Notably, 13% of this cohort launched their own ventures by graduation, with another 10% joining established startups. This track record speaks volumes about EDHEC’s success in nurturing entrepreneurial talent.
EDHEC’s commitment to entrepreneurship isn’t confined to their Nice flagship campus. In fact, the school’s TechForward incubator, where students pitch their business ideas to potential investors, is based in Nice. However, EDHEC also boasts an incubator in the historic Jean Arnault campus in lille, and they even utilize 110 workstations in Paris’ station F, the world’s largest startup campus, further expanding their reach and resources for budding entrepreneurs.
According to EDHEC Dean Emmanuel Métais, in a 2024 interview, “EDHEC incubates roughly 100 startups per year.” The school also provides each student with three hours of personalized entrepreneurship career coaching with Edgardo da Fonseca, a seasoned entrepreneur and angel investor, further solidifying their commitment to hands-on support.
EDHEC doesn’t merely preach entrepreneurship; they live it. In 2012,the school successfully spun off a company from its EDHEC-Risk Institute,Scientific Beta,a venture that provided faculty intellectual property to investors.Eight years later, they sold it for a staggering €200 million. This success story exemplifies EDHEC’s ability to translate academic excellence into real-world impact. Proceeds from the sale were directly reinvested into the school, including the establishment of the EDHEC-Risk Climate Impact Institute, focused on climate finance, and GENERATIONS Powered by EDHEC, a Venture Fund in partnership with RING Capital, supporting ventures that are “Responsible by Design” – or RED.
EDHEC Business School is a shining example of an institution that walks the talk. Their strategic investments in entrepreneurship have paid off, establishing them as a global leader in nurturing the next generation of innovative leaders.
Leading the Way: EDHEC’s Commitment to Climate & Impact
EDHEC Business School, under the leadership of Dean Emmanuel Métais, is making significant strides in integrating sustainability and social responsibility into its core values. Métais sees climate change as an urgent challenge,stating,“I think this is the most important topic for business schools today.” His vision for EDHEC centers on not just educating future business leaders but also empowering them to be agents of positive change.
The school’s commitment is reflected in its curriculum, which has incorporated sustainability concepts into various programs. The Master in Management program, for instance, now includes a dedicated “corporate social responsibility” module. Moreover, EDHEC actively encourages student initiatives related to sustainability. Through events and competitions, students are given platforms to showcase their ideas and contribute to real-world solutions.
EDHEC’s impact extends beyond its classrooms. The school has implemented several initiatives to reduce its environmental footprint. These include energy efficiency measures, waste reduction programs, and the adoption of sustainable transportation options. Métais emphasizes that EDHEC’s actions must align with its words, stating, “We need to set an example for our students and the wider community.”
By actively engaging in sustainability practices and incorporating them into its core mission, EDHEC Business School is demonstrating its commitment to shaping a more responsible and sustainable future.Métais’ leadership and the school’s unwavering dedication pave the way for a new generation of business leaders equipped to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges.
EDHEC Business School Embraces a Future of Sustainable Innovation
EDHEC Business School, known for its commitment to sustainable business practices, has unveiled its aspiring “Generations 2050” strategic plan. Backed by a substantial €270 million investment, this comprehensive plan outlines the school’s vision for the future, encompassing campus renovations, groundbreaking research initiatives, and a focus on nurturing impactful startups.
Dean Métais emphasizes the school’s dedication to fostering entrepreneurship that transcends conventional profit-driven models. “These are startups that, from their inception, will not only try to create a market and to earn money and to grow, but also to tackle a societal issue. This is the kind of startup we really want to see and to incubate,” he explains in a 2023 interview with Poets & Quants.
The Generations 2050 plan boasts a multifaceted approach, extending far beyond entrepreneurship. €112 million has been earmarked for modernizing the campus, while €40 million will be dedicated to advancing green finance initiatives. An additional €41 million will be strategically allocated to boosting sustainable entrepreneurship and establishing EDHEC AI,a program designed to enhance artificial intelligence understanding and applications within the classroom.
The plan’s core revolves around three key objectives.Firstly, EDHEC aims to move beyond net-zero targets, striving to create net-positive models. This involves nurturing early-stage startups aligned with its RED methodology and establishing a Centre for Net Positive Business to tackle pressing issues like food insecurity and building decarbonization. Secondly, EDHEC is committed to advancing climate science by opening a Climate Finance School and expanding its existing EDHEC-Risk Climate Impact Institute.
the school is launching “Transformative Journey,” a unique learning pathway designed to equip students with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate organizational transformation within the dynamic landscapes of economics, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability. The initiative underscores EDHEC’s commitment to empowering future business leaders to drive positive change.
Dean Métais highlights that Generations 2050 is a natural evolution of EDHEC’s founding principles. “From its inception, EDHEC has been very focused on the humanities – the human side of business. We were created in the north of France by Catholic industrialists in 1906, and from the very beginning, we placed a huge emphasis on the human side of business. What this says about EDHEC is that we believe business can solve problems,and that business must have a positive impact on the world. We want,through our research and the education we provide to our students – who will soon become decision-makers themselves – to have a positive impact on both business and society.”
This forward-thinking strategy not only solidifies EDHEC’s reputation as a leader in sustainable business education but also serves as a powerful magnet for students seeking to be agents of positive change in the world.
EDHEC MBA: Cultivating Leaders Who ‘Walk the Talk’
At EDHEC Business School, the goal extends beyond simply providing an education; it’s about empowering graduates to become catalysts for change. They aim to cultivate leaders who can “walk the talk,” individuals equipped to not only understand theoretical concepts but also apply them in real-world settings to make a tangible impact on businesses and organizations.
This commitment to practical learning is evident in the curriculum, which is designed to be directly applicable to the challenges faced by contemporary businesses. It equips future leaders with the critical thinking, strategic vision, and operational expertise needed to navigate complex environments and drive positive change.
EDHEC MBA Students
France’s EDHEC Business School is a global hub for higher education, boasting a dynamic community of 9,500 students across its campuses in Nice, Paris, London, and Singapore.
The school’s MBA programs are highly regarded, with a 10-month full-time MBA program attracting around 80 students from diverse backgrounds each year. Alongside this, EDHEC also offers a 16-month Executive MBA program and a range of Master’s degrees, including a Master in Management and Executive Education programs that consistently rank among the best in the world, placing 4th and 5th respectively according to The Financial Times.
EDHEC’s commitment to innovation extends beyond traditional programs. Recent years have seen the launch of several groundbreaking initiatives.In the fall, EDHEC unveiled a unique “Global Economic Transformation & Technology (GETT) Europe Master’s Degree.” This immersive program allows students to earn a MiM from EDHEC, an MSC in Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Management from Imperial College Business School, and a certificate in data and technology from ESMT Berlin.
This European GETT program echoes the success of its Asian counterpart, which features partnerships with prestigious institutions like Sungkyunkwan University’s Graduate School of Business and the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School.
As Leila Guerra,vice dean for education at imperial college Business School,observes,”This partnership exemplifies our commitment to excellence and innovation and offers an immersion into three of Europe’s leading cities as well as expanding the frontiers of technology,entrepreneurship,and management.” She adds, “Whilst at Imperial, students will be empowered to become the next generation of venture founders, venture builders, innovators, and investors to create and grow new business opportunities while considering the implications of social and environmental factors.”
EDHEC’s commitment to cutting-edge education continues with the recent launch of an online MBA. Announced in spring 2024, this rigorous 24-month program, priced at €39,000, builds upon EDHEC’s existing online master’s degrees in analytics, corporate finance, and international business.true to the school’s “generations 2050” vision, the online MBA integrates crucial topics like green finance, cybersecurity, and the implications of emerging technologies like AI.
EDHEC: Where Positive Impact Meets Business Excellence
EDHEC Business School is more than just a prestigious institution; it’s a catalyst for positive change. Recognizing the evolving needs of modern business leaders, EDHEC has seamlessly integrated real-world experiences into its curriculum. They’ve taken their on-site company visits and transformed them into immersive “digital learning expeditions” – virtual tours and compelling narratives that delve into the inner workings of leading companies across diverse industries.
This dedication to relevance is central to EDHEC’s philosophy. Dean Métais underscores this commitment, stating, “I think that especially for the MBA, I hope our positive impact philosophy is something that will mean something to them and educate them to cope with these social challenges that we face.”
EDHEC understands that a prosperous business education isn’t solely about academic excellence, it’s also about providing tangible value. Dean Métais emphasizes this point by saying, “It seems to me that we offer an outstanding experiance for a reasonable cost. France is a country in which education is free, so it’s impossible for us to charge the same tuition fees as our U.S. competitors. We want to be in the global competition, so we have to deliver an outstanding experience, but we have to keep our prices reasonable.”
Adding to the appeal, EDHEC’s MBA program is nestled on the gorgeous French Riviera, offering an enriching lifestyle that complements a rigorous academic journey. It’s a unique blend of academic rigor, global perspective, and a lifestyle that fosters personal and professional growth.
How does EDHEC’s €270 million investment plan support the school’s generational 2050 initiatives regarding startups, climate science, and societal impact?
Summary of EDHEC Business School’s generations 2050 Strategic Plan
Investment & Scope
- €270 million invested
- Campus renovations, research initiatives, startup incubation, and more
Focusing on Impactful Startups
- Nurturing startups tackling societal issues alongside profitability
- EDHEC AI program to enhance AI understanding and applications
key Objectives
- Net-Positive Business Models: Nurturing early-stage startups aligned with the RED methodology and establishing a center for Net Positive Business to tackle issues like food insecurity and building decarbonization.
- Advancing Climate Science: Opening a Climate Finance School and expanding the EDHEC-Risk Climate Impact Institute.
- Transformative Journey: A unique learning pathway equipping students with tools to navigate organizational transformation in dynamic landscapes of economics, social duty, and environmental sustainability.
Positive Impact on Business and Society
- EDHEC’s commitment to empowering future business leaders to drive positive change
- Generations 2050 is a natural evolution of EDHEC’s founding principles focusing on the human side of business
EDHEC MBA programs
- Highly regarded 10-month full-time MBA program, Executive MBA program, and Master’s degrees
- dynamic community of 9,500 students across campuses in Nice, Paris, London, and Singapore
- commitment to innovation with unique programs like the Global Economic Transformation & Technology (GETT) Europe Master’s Degree
EDHEC’s MBA Focus on Practical, Impactful Learning
- Empowering graduates to become catalysts for change and cultivate leaders who can “walk the talk”
- curriculum designed to be directly applicable to contemporary business challenges
