International dimension

This is multi-faceted, and manifests itself, for example, through the School’s diversity, its “internationalization at home” activities, its research, and the careers of its alumni.

IÉSEG’s DNA is intrinsically intercultural. Not only are programs taught in English, but more than 80 percent of the permanent academic staff come from outside France and more than 2,500 international students come to study on our campuses each year. With 336 partner universities in 76 countries, our students can also take part in academic exchange programs across the world.

Through its “internationalization at home” activities, the School looks to take its international dimension one-step further, by providing students with a truly intercultural learning environment on our campuses. This pedagogical approach includes specifically designed intercultural training courses that involve guided interactions and work between students from different cultures. Students also benefit from the international perspectives of top professors from across the world.

Furthermore, the School’s mission is to create an international research hub that brings together experts in a variety of fields, who develop and publish high-quality research in some of the leading international academic journals.

Finally, IÉSEG’s international dimension is reflected in the careers of our alumni when they leave the School. For example, in 2022, about one quarter (21.8%) of young graduates from the Grande Ecole Program began their careers abroad (based on the CGE young graduate survey in 2021). IÉSEG currently has partnerships with over 2,500 companies in France and abroad.

Internationalization at home @IÉSEG

Internationalization at home is a term that is generally used to describe the internationally focused activities of universities/schools outside of academic mobility exchanges (staff and students). These may therefore include course content, student interactions, research, etc., and focus on the benefits that students can gain from international activities ‘at home’ without being mobile.

In order to become a truly international hub, as stated in its 2025 Vision, not only does the School ensure that its students take part in exchange programs and internships abroad, but it has also developed an international and intercultural learning environment “at home” on its campuses in Lille and Paris La Défense.

English taught programs and an international, intercultural community

All of IÉSEG’s Bachelor and Postgraduate programs are taught in English by leading professors from all over the world. In effect, over 83 percent of the permanent academic staff, along with many of the administrative staff, is international.  Similarly, IÉSEG welcome each year more than 2,500 international students on its campuses.

Cultural Intelligence and training for students and staff

Through a variety of activities aimed at developing cultural intelligence, the School aims to provide students and staff with a ‘working together’ toolbox and a common understanding of the challenges linked to working in an intercultural environment.

In the Grande Ecole program, for example, each student in the Bachelor cycle must validate a “Cultural Diversity Passport” composed of a specific training module “Understanding Cultural Diversity” and pedagogical activities involving interactions between students of different nationalities.

Students are also encouraged to participate in one of the many multicultural projects proposed at the school.

During the Master cycle, students must take the ‘Managing cultural diversity in vivo’ course and can attend a number of elective courses in connection with intercultural competencies.

They also have the opportunity to obtain a certificate in cultural diversity that they can highlight on their CV.  To obtain this, they must also (in addition to courses) either write a master thesis or complete an internship with an explicitly intercultural/diversity theme. The certificate also involves students doing two IDI (Intercultural Development Inventory) profiles and establishing an individual intercultural development plan.

Developing staff competences:  IÉSEG aims to provide all staff with the tools needed to better understand cultural diversity in everyday life and help them embrace these differences. It runs a 3-day compulsory training program for academic and administrative staff (and two further levels are also proposed).

Cultural Diversity

In line with its 2025 Vision*, IÉSEG is seeking to foster the development of cultural intelligence throughout the School and to ensure it is a key element of the DNA of all students and staff. IÉSEG welcomes students and professors from more than 100 different nationalities.

The School provides students and staff with a cultural diversity training, which helps them cope and deal with different types of diversity, in terms of people’s personality, disciplinary and cultural differences.

Notably, the School has also created a Center of Excellence for Intercultural Engagement (ICIE), which combines multidisciplinary research in business, management and education, with expertise in education and training. It aims to enhance knowledge on the development of intercultural mindsets and the way this can be applied in different organizations. This facilitates the development of individual skills, processes and strategic understanding of markets to give companies and organizations a competitive edge.

Other initiatives

IÉSEG has also signed the French Diversity Charter, a charter that seeks to promote diversity and non-discrimination in French organizations. This is one of many ways that IÉSEG highlights its commitment to different types of diversity. In line with the School’s values, the charter also corresponds to IÉSEG’s 2025 Vision: “Empowering Changemakers for a Better Society” and reflects the fact that IÉSEG aims to be an international, intercultural and socially inclusive School.

 IÉSEG also signed a partnership agreement with the association “Passeport avenir”, which seeks to assist youth from disadvantaged backgrounds in their academic and professional achievement.

Student-led activities and associations

Not only has the School’s administration implemented numerous initiatives to encourage diversity, the students are also actively involved in different activities and initiatives.

One example is the International Club, a student association established to provide support to international students and to facilitate interaction between French and international students. The Association, in collaboration with the School, organizes events during the “orientation week” as well a series of cultural and social events throughout the academic year for French and international students.

*“In 2025, IÉSEG will be a unique international hub empowering changemakers for a better society”.

Research (International Research Hub)

The School is developing an international research hub of academic researchers from across the world who publish in leading academic/scientific journals. They are actively engaged in research in all the different domains of management and economics and collaborate with colleagues and co-authors internationally. These research activities are specifically designed to support their teaching activities and the interaction with companies and other societal stakeholders.

International academic faculty

Permanent faculty come from over 50 different countries, and have doctoral degrees from some of the most prestigious research institutions in the world. Their expertise covers a wide range of domains, from issues concerning gender equality to the impact of big data for companies.

Many of the professors at IÉSEG have spent more than a decade developing and publishing high-quality research in some of the leading academic journals. Their scientific research looks at problems that managers and governments deal with every day. They participate in important international events and conferences, and some of them consult with governments and corporations.

Centers of excellence and research lab

Together with HEC, IÉSEG is the only French business school whose Research center (IÉSEG Research) is incorporated into a laboratory (Lille Economie Management – LEM – UMR – CNRS 9221) of the CNRS, Europe’s largest fundamental science agency.

Furthermore, IÉSEG has developed four centers of excellence to promote and extend its activities in four areas linked to research/academic expertise: Negotiation, Marketing Analytics, Organizational Responsibility and Intercultural Engagement.

The School organizes international conferences, workshops, and other events regularly in coordination with these centers, to gather leading experts from around the world.

Shanghai Global Ranking

IÉSEG is ranked in the Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects for two subjects in the field of Social Sciences (management and business administration). The ranking indicators used include those measures of research productivity, research quality, extent of international research collaboration, and the highest “academic recognitions”.

Careers

IÉSEG prepares its graduates for careers in multicultural environments in France or abroad. In 2019, about one quarter (21.8%) of young graduates from the 2021 class of Grande Ecole Program began their careers abroad (based on the CGE young graduate survey in 2022).

Internships and partner companies

As an integral part of their preparation, all students in the BIB, Grande Ecole, Specialized Master and MBA programs participate in internships locally and around the world.

IÉSEG currently has partnerships with over 2,500 companies in France and abroad. Corporate partners contribute to the academic programs at the School (by participating in classes, reviewing its content, coaching students, etc.) and to other activities at the School.

Every year, a partner company with a strong link to the international market, and with an alumnus/alumna from the School as a dedicated sponsor from the company, sponsors the end-of-year graduation ceremony, and participates actively in the graduating class’ academic year via dedicated activities, such as corporate talks.

Learning expeditions

IÉSEG also organizes learning trips for managers and students, in France and abroad, during which participants visit companies and attend courses (for example, in partner universities).

These learning expeditions provide participants with a human insight into different management cultures and leadership style.

IÉSEG Network

All alumni also have access to IÉSEG Network, the School’s alumni association. Currently over 13,400 strong around the world, the association organizes events regularly (afterworks, networking activities, etc.) to bring alumni together.

IÉSEG Network also provides alumni with an international connection to each other, which at times leads to professional and personal opportunities on a global scale.