IÉSEG is strongly committed to being an ethical, socially responsible, and sustainable organization. We recognize the importance of encouraging an environment that promotes effective learning and that provides the tools and competences that empower our students and staff to become responsible changemakers for a better society.
Our Values, Mission, and Vision reflect this motivation to inspire change.
At IÉSEG, we believe that sustainability must be embedded in the DNA of the organization and must be integrated transversally in everything we do: in the classroom, in our research, in our culture, and in our operations.
Empowering Students
IÉSEG aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills to be responsible actors in society. Integrating CSR into our students’ learning experience is thus essential. To do so, we base our strategy on the 6 U.N. Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). Throughout their time at our School, students are exposed to different CSR, sustainability, and ethics problematics in different management fields and different contexts. As part of our strategy, our goal is that by 2024, 100% of our courses will include a social and environmental dimension.
An Inclusive Approach
The social and ecological transition of the School can only be achieved through a collaborative process. IÉSEG has worked closely with its stakeholders in order to co-construct a common social and environmental impact strategy. The participation of students, faculty, staff, alumni, companies, and others is essential to our success. IÉSEG’s sustainable development strategy is currently led by the Sustainability Team, under the direction of our Dean. It is support by the Social and Environmental Impact Steering Committee, as well as the different centers of excellence and research centers.
Created in 2016, IÉSEG’s Sustainability Steering Committee provides guidance and oversight of the Sustainability Strategy of our School and monitors change towards a more sustainable model. Furthermore, it ensures that projects, initiatives, and policies implemented by different services or departments of the School align with our Sustainability strategy and objectives. It is composed of the Social and Environmental Impact Director, the Social and Environmental Impact Manager, the Dean, the Director of Operations, the Head of ICOR, the Head of ICIE, the Head of Management and Society Department, the Head of Communications, and the Corporate Relations Manager.
4 key pillars
Our sustainability strategy is based on 4 overarching pillars that aim to cover all aspects of our business and operations. These pillars emerged through a consultation process with various stakeholders that took place between 2019 and early 2022.
Developing sustainability knowledge, skills and passion
Discover the 1st pillar
Establishing a responsible campus
Discover the 2nd pillar
Catalyzing change through research and partnerships
Discover the 3rd pillar
Creating a diverse and inclusive environment, supportive of everyone’s well-being
Discover the 4th pillar
Key facts (2023-2024)
> 79 core courses and 76 elective courses addressing social and environmental impact issues in initial training programs.
> Nearly 400 dissertations and consulting projects (37%) deal with social and environmental impact issues.
> Over 80% of administrative and academic staff have taken the “Transition 2026” training course on social and environmental impact.
> 1,900 students have taken part in the introductory impact seminar.
> Nearly 1/4 of research publications on topics related to social and environmental impact.
> 70 start-ups incubated at IÉSEG with a social/environmental mission.
> 55% women on the management committee.
> Nearly 5,650 students have taken part in the “Prevention of sexist and sexual violence” training module since 2020.
STAKEHOLDERS And PartnershipS
IÉSEG aims to be a proactive member in the community and be a catalyst in the development of a responsible and sustainable economic and social environment.
Our School is convinced that active engagement and strong collaboration are the best ways to address the social and environmental challenges of today and tomorrow.
IÉSEG is thus committed to several initiatives and partnerships at a local, regional, and international level.
Labels and Awards
- DD&RS Label: signed on June 27th, 2023, the DD&RS (développement durable & responsabilité sociale) label is a recognition of the relevance and impact of IÉSEG’s Sustainability Strategy and actions.
- Financial Times Responsible Business Education Award: in 2024, IÉSEG won the Financial Times Responsible Business Education Awards on the category ‘Best business school demonstrating system-wide responsible business principles integrated throughout teaching, research, operations, and student outcomes.
Commitments
Along with its university partners as well as the city of Lille, IÉSEG signed the Engagements Lille Bas Carbone (Lille low carbon commitments) on June 18th, 2021, to limit its environmental footprint on the territory and act against climate change.
On January 24th, 2022, IÉSEG became a signatory of the Accord de Grenoble (Grenoble Agreement). This agreement is based on thirteen propositions created by a student collective to urge higher education institutions to integrate the challenges of the socio-ecological transition in curriculums and on campuses.
Charte d’engagement post-carbone pour les acteurs de Paris La Défense : On July 21st, 2023, IESEG signed the Charte d’engagement post-carbone (post-carbon commitment charter) for Paris La Défense stakeholders, commiting to several carbon reduction targets.
Sustainability Reports and Publications
Impact Report
Discover IÉSEG’s 2022-2023 Impact Report, which illustrates the School’s commitment to sustainable development and social impact through its four pillars. This document summarizes the key initiatives, innovative projects and strategic partnerships that have shaped IÉSEG’s action.
PRME Reports
Discover the different reports published by IÉSEG for the UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME):
Climate Action Plan
Discover our School’s latest Climate Action Plan:
> Climate Action Plan (2022 – 2026)
Professional Equality Index between women and men
Have a look on the IÉSEG scores:
IÉSEG Gender Equality Plan (GEP)
Discover the strategic objectives that our School has mapped out for the next five years (2022-2027) regarding gender equality, and in line with the requirements and recommendations made by the European Commission.
IESEG Sustainability team
Sustainability at IESEG is led by the Social and Environmental Impact Direction. Its director is a member of the Management Board and reports directly to the Dean. This directly works closely and transversally with all other departments at IESEG, both on the administrative and the academic side, and actively engages with students and other stakeholders. The team is composed of 6 staff members and is supported by IESEG student interns.
