French B-school ESSEC keen to attract Indian students

Bruno Heraud, director of international recruitment, ESSEC, who is in India as part the French Edu Fair, told MBAUniverse.com: Out of 1,200 Indian students in institutes all over France, we have only 10 Indian students, which is not enough. In future, we will try to attract more students. I expect 20 students by October of this year and more than 30 by the end of the year.

In India, ESSEC has exchange partnerships with three IIMs: IIM-Ahmedabad, IIM-Calcutta and IIM-Lucknow. Its tie up with IIM Ahmedabad is more then just an exchange partnership as they have also signed a double degree partnership. After 20 years of getting to know each other, last year, in the presence of French President Jacques Chirac and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh we signed a double-degree agreement with IIM Ahmedabad -- one year with IIM and one with ESSEC. It is a one of a kind agreement, whereby students get a double degree. In addition to that, there is common research, exchange of professors etc, Heraud said.

Keeping in mind the different business environments and economies of both countries, ESSEC believes its emphasis is more on understanding complexities of human beings. Heraud pointed out: Understanding complexities of human beings is much tougher than understanding business. Managing is not about a technical thing its about a human being.

How important is a French language qualification for perusing an MBA program in this leading French B-school? According to Heraud, French language is not criteria in recruitment. If a student is not comfortable in French, he can follow English, as the program is conducted in both in English and French. Besides, we also offer French classes.The ESSEC Business School was founded in 1907, and offers a regular MBA program, an executive MBA program, and an MBA in Luxury Management.

To meet rising expectations, ESSEC is placing increasing emphasis on the international dimension of its resources: it is shoring up its international faculty, courses, student profiles, and the obligatory international experience (by systematically exposing students to international aspects of the economy and management).