111 years after its creation, ESSCA presented Odyssée 2024, an ambitious strategic plan.
The stated objective: to position itself as one of the institutions offering one of the best working, research and learning environments in French higher education by 2024.
Jean CHARROIN, its Dean and CEO, looks back on this key year for achieving the objectives of the plan. A number of projects have been launched, including the creation of an operations department, the upcoming launch of the ESSCA Online Campus and the granting of status as an apprentice training centre.
Schooling, courses offered, course teaching methods… Can you describe the concrete innovations undertaken by ESSCA?
Based on our experience in designing online courses, acquired through the Creative Box MOOC (once again EOCCS accredited by the EFMD), we are launching the ESSCA Online Campus. Intended for learners from all over the world who wish to take 100% online courses, this campus will offer short programmes and eventually degree programmes starting in September. The courses will systematically include “Master Classes”, live sessions with high-level professionals and experts.
In order to differentiate ourselves from what already exists on the market, each of our courses will include teaching to develop students’ creativity. We are convinced that tomorrow’s young leaders must be trained and prepared to find innovative solutions and to think outside the box in all areas of management.
Finally, to illustrate our innovative approach, we are implementing an economic model that favours the social diversity of learners by the modulation of tuition fees according to the resources of each family. This system, which has aroused the interest of our competitors, has won the wholehearted support of our ecosystem: students, alumni and ESSCA employees.
What does ESSCA’s resilient and qualitative model mean in concrete terms?
Let’s first look at the recently renewed international labels and accreditations. Our Bachelor’s degree in International Management is among the very first to be awarded the grade of Licence (French 3 year higher education degree), allowing candidates to better understand the extensive range of Bachelor’s programmes in France. We have noted a 100% increase in applications compared to last year. Our Specialised Master in Digital Management is certified by France Compétences as a level 7 RNCP (French National Certificate of Professional Competence). This registration formalises the professional recognition of our programme at the highest level and now allows the training to be financed under the CPF (French national training fund).
ESSCA has also received approval from the DIRECCTE (French Regional directorate for coordination of the public policy concerning the local economy, work and employment) to develop apprenticeships on all of its French campuses for all of its programmes. This approval is fully in line with our desire to develop work-study programmes and the quality of the support provided to our students in their transition to professional life. By 2024, we will be offering a dozen specialisations in the Master’s cycle that can be accessed through conventional or block release courses, which will triple the number of block release places.
Finally, along with quality, CSR has always been the subject of particular attention. In addition to the strengthening of our policy in this area and the growing share of these topics in our teaching, I would like to draw attention to our position on the scientific level. ESSCA is in the world’s top 10 for its publications on sustainable development according to the Financial Times. In line with this orientation, our range of courses will be strengthened with the opening of a Master of Science in “International and Sustainable Management” in September 2021.
What organisational design actions have been undertaken to better respond to your multi-campus and multi-programme specificities?
Jean Charroin: First of all, an Operations Department has been created to ensure the coherence and balanced development of the activity on all the French campuses. This department ensures, among other things, the optimal allocation of resources for the uniform development of our courses regardless of their geographical location. In the unstable context we have been experiencing over the past year, this new organisation has undeniably favoured the adaptation, efficiency and resilience of our institution.
At the same time, the educational teams have worked on the proper structuring of the programmes offered to candidates who have passed the baccalaureate reform. The School intends to facilitate the choice of baccalaureate students between the 5-year Grande Ecole programme and the 3-year Bachelor’s degree. This is why, from September 2021, the first cycle of the Grande Ecole Programme will focus on foreign languages, mathematics, humanities and issues related to CSR or sustainable development. Management sciences will represent approximately 40% of the teaching volume. For its part, the Bachelor in International Management programme will keep a teaching model mainly centred on management sciences with a short-term operational aim. This segmentation is already bearing fruit. For example, the Parcoursup (French registration platform for higher education choices) 2021 registrations show that only 6% of applicants applied for both programmes.
To conclude, I will come back to the way in which this strategic plan was conceived, which gives it all its strength. In addition to the collective process carried out with all of the School’s stakeholders, it has been adapted and adjusted according to the context. It is not a fixed path, but includes options which can be activated and implemented when the time is right.