Back

As early as January 2023, IÉSEG began implementing a series of awareness-raising, training, and support actions aimed at administrative staff and professors, as well as its students and stakeholders. This systemic approach was accelerated in 2024 to expand the use of artificial intelligence, particularly through generative AI tools, across all school activities.

Generative AI: training and supporting everyone in their daily use

By early 2023, many individual initiatives had emerged at the School to test the use of generative AI, whether for drafting syllabi or case studies, creating quizzes and multiple-choice questions for more personalized assessments, or even using tools that integrated generative AI into their operations.

Quickly, the CETI (Center for Educational and Technological Innovation – a department under IÉSEG’s Teaching and Learning Department, tasked with promoting and supporting the use of technology to enhance teaching and learning experiences at IÉSEG) developed a comprehensive training program for the faculty, which was soon adapted for administrative teams as well. This training, structured into six modules, aims to ensure that everyone understands how generative AI works and, based on numerous real-life examples already implemented at IÉSEG, learns how to prompt AI tools to effectively integrate them into their daily professional activities. Less than a year after its launch, nearly 400 school employees had enrolled in the training.

In addition to this training, which is accessible to all, some of the School’s departments also organized specialized sessions with external experts. For instance, the Brand and Communications Department invited all its communication representatives to a day-long workshop focused on using generative AI in communication roles and learning how to create effective prompts for different AI tools. Moreover, tools designed to lighten the administrative burden on school staff are being progressively implemented (e.g., AI that generates meeting minutes or others that provide translations of messages in multiple languages), enabling staff to reallocate the time saved to student engagement.

Similarly, thanks to the advanced integration of AI in its tools, CETI has significantly optimized the time required to produce digital resources. This technological advancement now allows, for instance, AI-generated videos with avatars using tools such as Synthesia or Heygen, completed in just one-third of the time previously required for traditional production involving shooting and post-production editing. Additionally, the use of tools like Canva AI or Articulate 360 simplifies graphic creation while accelerating the design process significantly. This major time-saving advantage opens up new creative possibilities: CETI now has more time for reflection, design, and continuous improvement of the digital learning resources offered by the School, thereby enhancing students’ overall learning experiences.

Training students to meet businesses’ changing needs

IÉSEG has also quickly chosen to train its students in the responsible use of generative AI, not only to raise awareness of these new technologies but also to enable them to develop new skills. Indeed, companies are also facing the integration of AI into their business models and are highly demanding of these new skills and knowledge.

As of September 2024, IÉSEG launched an adapted version of the generative AI training module: a version tailored to a younger audience, with examples more aligned with their expectations, incorporating videos, tests, quizzes, and practical exercises to make the experience more engaging. Over 1,200 students have already completed at least one module of the course, and nearly 800 students have earned the certification badge.

Training students also involves revisiting curricula to integrate AI usage into teaching and courses. For instance, a course on “No-Code and Generative AI” was added to the core curriculum of the Master’s cycle in the Grande École Program, alongside an introductory course on AI, which is mandatory for all Bachelor’s cycle students. Many other courses (such as Ethics of AI, AI and Machine Learning for Finance, Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Finance…) have been made available to students since September 2024.

The AI dimension has also been incorporated into many subjects (Digital Marketing, Data Management, etc.), and the specialized Master’s program in Data has been completely revamped to become the Master in AI & Data Analytics for Business. This program now trains students in cutting-edge AI and data science methodologies and technologies, both rapidly evolving fields that meet the needs of businesses. A summer immersion cycle has even been developed to help all students joining the program in September to refine their AI skills and get up to speed.

This training initiative extends beyond IÉSEG, with two professors from the School currently co-authoring a book on the impact of AI on business strategies, which will be published internationally in September 2025.

Finally, beyond theoretical teaching, students are also immersed in very practical business cases. For example, students in the Bachelor in International Business program supported Kiabi in developing and deploying its AI strategy for employees and customers. Like many businesses, KIABI is aiming to integrate generative AI into its strategy, with a strong focus on identifying uses that enhance both the customer and employee experience. Reflecting on this issue helps students to engage with a real-world case they could encounter during their internships or first jobs.

Training students and corporate leaders via executive and tailor-made programs

IÉSEG also trains corporate leaders through its Executive programs and tailor-made courses. For example, IÉSEG supports the Cité de l’IA initiative by MEDEF Lille-Métropole in creating an excellence track titled “Leaders Data/AI.” Launched in April 2025, this certification program is designed to train those leading digital transformation within companies (CIOs, Data Leaders, Innovation Managers, etc.) to strengthen their leadership and managerial skills and equip them with the tools to transform business models by integrating these new technologies and practices.

Supporting faculty with a Test & Learn approach

Delivering an engaging and high-quality learning experience requires freeing up faculty from time-consuming, low-value tasks through the responsible use of AI. Released from these technical and repetitive constraints, professors can now devote more time to creating innovative, high-value educational activities.

With solutions like Wooclap and Nolej, professors can now quickly generate personalized educational content for student revision or in-depth learning. These tools also allow them to easily create full course sessions and organize interactive activities that are engaging for learners.

CETI is also working with professors on implementing an AI tutor, integrated with the School’s course platform, to guide students in their learning by helping them review and better integrate course material. This solution is currently in a test phase with a limited number of courses, before being rolled out with the most suitable tool for students’ needs.

Many projects (e.g., combining AI with Virtual Reality to enhance soft skills like public speaking or transforming course documents into podcasts) are under consideration or advanced testing. As with many other topics, the School’s strategy is proactive, aiming to offer students the best learning and skills development solutions. The CETI team invests significant time monitoring AI developments to explore their potential educational applications, such as with agent-based AIs.

Just as the emergence of the Internet revolutionized many professions and practices in the early 2000s, AI’s potential seems vast. This is why IÉSEG has accelerated the deployment of AI in both teaching and pedagogy, as well as in its everyday operations, in a systemic yet reasoned approach. IÉSEG is also actively involved in drafting the CGE White Paper on the use of Digital Technologies and AI in Grandes Écoles. The special chapter “Artificial Intelligence: For a Responsible and Critical Use of AI in Grandes Écoles” was co-directed by Loïc Plé, Director of Pedagogy at the School.