A Longstanding History and a Mission to Make Positive Change
In 1964, IÉSEG School of Management, the business school that is supported by the foundation, was created. Its core mission has been “to train and empower changemakers for a better society.” IÉSEG is a non-profit association under the French law of 1901, with international triple crown accreditation (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA). IÉSEG is recognized by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research as an Institution. It offers more than twenty degree programs on its Lille and Paris – La Défense campuses, mostly taught in English, including Bachelor, Grande École program, Specialized Masters, MBAs and Executive Mastères Spécialisés®. Students benefit from the school’s “internationalization at home” activities, through its curriculum, research, and faculty, as 85% of international permanent academic staff come from abroad. IÉSEG Research center is an essential component of a CNRS Mixed Research Unit (French National Center for Scientific Research). In 2022, Fondation IÉSEG was established to assist the school in its sustainable and global transformation.
As highlighted by Lorena Zanelli, Director of International Relations, “IÉSEG has strong ties with American higher education institutions, mainly through student mobility programs (exchange, double degree, summer and customized programs) and is a favorite destination among IÉSEG students. The appeal is so strong that the institution implemented the IÉSEG Excellence Program,” opening doors to the world’s top academic institutions in the US for them (with financial support and long-term guidance). Fondation IÉSEG is a vital ally for this program. The number of students sent to the USA represent 7% of the outgoing student mobility.
The School is also fortunate to currently host about 70 American students through its diverse programs. Future American degree seeking students can establish a private student loan through Sallie Mae to study at IÉSEG, while students participating in our High School / Summer / Winter short programs can gain European ECTS credits which they can transfer back home.
France, one of the top five host countries for international students, is implementing the “Welcome to France” strategy, via Campus France (French Agency for the Promotion of Higher Education and International Mobility, a public institution under the dual supervision of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation). IÉSEG was awarded the “Welcome to France” Certification Label by Campus France, certifying the quality of the welcome of international students.
Providing Pathways to Better Futures
Students awarded financial support may have encountered difficulties depending on their social background, financial resources, or home environment. Giving students the chance to follow a path that leads to academic success and a career offers students hope for the future despite any previous academic or financial challenges. “Financial resources should no longer be an issue when it comes to students’ ambitions and the heart of quality training,” expressed Hélène Genéty, Head of the Fondation IÉSEG. With scholarships, mentoring, and coaching programs, students are given the necessary tools to thrive academically.
One of the main developments that US donors can support is an initiative aimed at improving equal opportunities and diversity, the “Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship”. This scholarship helps French and international selected students based on their academic merit and financial need. The primary objective of this program is to improve the living conditions of students undergoing training, regardless of their social, cultural, or geographical background. “Our objective is to ensure that diversity is fully integrated at IÉSEG, while stimulating the ambitions of all our students and graduates,” continued Hélène Genéty. Although IÉSEG has always been a recognized leader in cultural diversity, the current priority is to find new solutions. For example, in less than two years, the School and its Foundation have created three new positions in the “Diversity, Equality and Inclusion” (DEI) field. In addition, more than ten staff members have been appointed to provide specialized support (i.e.: stop violence unit, students with disabilities).
Tackling the Future & Partnering with Companies
IÉSEG is committed to bringing a new energy to the foundation, in line with the school’s 2022-2027 Strategic Plan:
- INSPIRE
> To propose an engaging student learning experience
> To become an interdisciplinary hub, integrating AI and humanities - CONNECT
> To develop an entrepreneurial and innovative ecosystem
> To be an intercultural, diverse and inclusive community - TRANSFORM
To reinforce the systemic and global approach to sustainability
Some examples of projects done by students since 2020 on the topic of “Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion” can be found below.
- On racial discrimination: How do consumers respond to brand activism?
- On preventing domestic violence in France: How to increase the effectiveness of communications against domestic violence on women.
- The role of Women in African modern economies: The case of Rwandan Women, from 1994 to 2020
Apart from providing a high-quality education, the foundation offers students chances to integrate into the professional world. Companies accompany and support the foundation in integrating the young people in accessing a wide range of companies and organizations through different formats as part of educational programs: business lunches, apprenticeship sponsors, etc.
Partnering with Friends of Fondation de France
Since Fondation IÉSEG’s partnership with Friends of Fondation de France in 2023, Fondation IÉSEG began developing its activities in the United States and now hopes to expand. New York City’s tie has provided the foundation with a crucial link to form new connections with those in the United States. If you are compelled to give, thanks to Friends of Fondation de France, US Donors from the United States who appreciate the work of the IÉSEG Fondation can back their endeavors and make tax-deductible donations to the maximum extent permitted by law. U.S. donors can support a scholarship program favoring equal opportunities, diversity, and research and innovation by supporting academic research projects.
