2007-08 has so far proven a critical year for the Specialized Master’s in Strategy and Management of International Business. Available in part-time and full-time formats and with an increasing number of international students and opportunities abroad, the program has assumed a new dimension in recent times.

Increasing international opportunities

Since its launch just over 12 years ago, the program has seen a leap in the number of participants, from 28 in 1996-97 to 174 for the current year.

The latest class of Asian Track Master's students
at ESSEC's Singapore campus

Also of rising popularity are the various international options open. These comprise the possibility of spending the winter session at Thunderbird (available since 2001-02), a 100% English track (introduced in 2004-05, alongside the existing mixed track), the Asian Track at Singapore also taken during the winter session (since 2005-06), an exchange program with Egade, in Mexico (on a simple exchange or double-degree basis, implemented last year) and the availability from the beginning of the current academic year of a 100% Asian Track.

Add to this a new partnership with Queen’s University (Canada), and the program more than lives up to its international title.

Consistently high ranking

Recent events serve to underline the recognition the program now enjoys. Rankings results bolster the attractive overall package, with a 1st-place position in the SMBG non-MBA International Management rankings for the last six years. The program also continues to rise in the Financial Times Master in Management rankings, progressing from 7th to 5th place over the past three years and achieving the highest rate of satisfaction from its graduates (85%) in the 2007 edition.

A dynamic student body

The dynamism of participating students was evident recently via two events. On December 4, an entirely student-run conference on the political and economic ramifications of Iranian policy was held on ESSEC’s Cergy campus. An audience of over 500 people heard incisive contributions from Mr. Hubert Vedrine (former French Foreign Affairs Minister), H.E. Philippe de Suremain (former French Ambassador in Iran), and Mr. Denis Bauchard of the French Institute for Research in Iran.

The gala evening in celebration of the 1000th participant and
12th anniversary of the program

In addition to painting a very sharp and realistic picture of the current situation in Iran vis-à-vis the West, the conference also served as testimony to the resourcefulness and organizational skills of the participating students.

Of special symbolic importance were the end-of-year celebrations of the program’s 12th birthday, during which a draw was held for the official 1000th participant. The gala evening held on the Cergy campus paid tribute to the various people to have contributed to the success of the program, as well as bringing together the community of graduates to acknowledge the status it has now reached.