KEDGE Business School

KEDGE Business School
Name	KEDGE Business School
Established	2013
Type	Grande École
City	Bordeaux; Marseille; Paris; Toulon; Dakar; Suzhou
Country	France; Senegal; China
Students	~14,000

KEDGE Business School KEDGE Business School is a French grande école of business school origin created by a 2013 merger. The institution evolved from predecessor schools with roots in Bordeaux and Marseille, and participates in international networks including links with Erasmus Programme, Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, and partnerships with universities such as Shanghai Jiao Tong University and University of Cape Town. Its alumni circulate through multinational firms like LVMH, Danone, Accor, L'Oréal, and Air France.

History

The school formed in 2013 from the merger of two venerable institutions, one dating to the 19th century in Bordeaux and the other founded in the 1870s in Marseille. Its predecessors engaged with historical events such as the expansion of French commercial activity linked to Suez Canal trade and the industrialization wave associated with Second Industrial Revolution. Over decades the schools developed programs influenced by reforms like the creation of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles framework and accreditation movements exemplified by EQUIS and AACSB. The merged institution expanded internationally through partnerships with entities such as HEC Paris peer networks, ESCP Business School collaborations, and exchanges within the Erasmus Programme and Fulbright exchanges. Leadership changes involved figures connected to boards that included representatives from corporations such as BNP Paribas and TotalEnergies and connections to public institutions like Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (France).

Campus and Locations

Campuses are located in urban and port cities including Bordeaux, Marseille, Paris, Toulon, as well as international sites in Dakar (Senegal) and Suzhou (China). The Bordeaux campus occupies proximity to landmarks such as the Place de la Bourse and cultural institutions like Musée d'Aquitaine, while the Marseille site sits near the Vieux-Port and industrial zones tied to Port of Marseille. Facilities include lecture halls, research centers, and incubators that collaborate with local actors including Bordeaux Métropole, Aix-Marseille University, and regional chambers of commerce such as Chambre de commerce et d'industrie Marseille Provence. Student accommodation and services interface with transport nodes like Gare Saint-Jean and Marseille Provence Airport.

Academic Programs

The school offers degrees ranging from undergraduate degrees to postgraduate masters, MBAs, and doctoral studies, with program types aligned to frameworks such as the Bologna Process. Professional offerings include a flagship Grande École Programme, specialized masters in subjects tied to companies like Pernod Ricard and Carrefour, executive education for firms such as Schneider Electric, and international double-degrees with institutions including University of Mannheim, London School of Economics, Columbia University, and Keio University. Curricula include concentrations in marketing partnerships influenced by firms such as Procter & Gamble and Unilever, supply chain modules collaborating with Maersk and DHL, and finance tracks engaging with Société Générale and Crédit Agricole. Doctoral supervision participates in doctoral alliances like those involving CNRS-affiliated research units and doctoral schools connected to Université de Bordeaux.

Research and Rankings

Research activities are structured into thematic centers that publish in journals referenced by bodies such as European Foundation for Management Development-linked listings and cite rankings from outlets like Financial Times and The Economist. Areas of concentration include corporate strategy with case studies involving Renault, sustainability projects aligned with United Nations Global Compact principles, and entrepreneurship linked to incubators that have fostered startups entering networks like Station F. The institution has sought accreditations and rankings recognized by EQUIS, AACSB, and the Conférence des Grandes Écoles, and appears in subject-specific rankings that compare alumni outcomes with peers including INSEAD, ESSEC Business School, and HEC Paris.

Student Life and Associations

Student life features numerous associations and clubs covering fields such as consulting, entrepreneurship, arts, and sports; notable student organizations have organized events in collaboration with cultural partners like Festival de Cannes-linked initiatives and sporting competitions near venues like Stade Vélodrome. Student-run career services liaise with recruiters from McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Ernst & Young, and PwC. International student mobility is supported by exchange agreements with institutions including University of Sydney, National University of Singapore, McGill University, and University of São Paulo, and student volunteering projects connect with NGOs such as Médecins Sans Frontières and United Nations Volunteers.

Governance and Accreditation

Governance is overseen by a board comprising academics, alumni, and corporate representatives drawn from firms like Kering, AXA, and EDF and coordinated with academic leadership positions similar to those at Université Paris Saclay or Sorbonne University. Accreditation status has been pursued with major agencies such as EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA, and national recognition conforms to French higher-education oversight mechanisms akin to procedures managed by Commission des Titres d'Ingénieur-style bodies. Strategic partnerships and quality assurance protocols align the school with European frameworks such as the Bologna Process and international networks exemplified by Global Alliance in Management Education.

Category:Business schools in France Category:Educational institutions established in 2013