With the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon underway and France poised to assume the presidency of the European Union, 2008 will be a year when all eyes are on Europe.

HEC's roots are in Europe and we have a long-standing reputation for engaging with and leading debate on European issues. Twenty years ago, HEC was one of three co-founders of the Community of European Management Schools (CEMS) which, thriving on a culture of excellence, diversity and mobility, embodies the strengths of European higher education. In February this year, Noëlle Lenoir, former French Minister for European Affairs and Chair of the HEC Europe Institute, brought together a select group of high-profile politicians and business leaders for a closed-chamber Symposium to discuss the strategic priorities of the European Union. This commitment to our roots is a key component of our identity.

Nevertheless, in today's increasingly global market we must continue to broaden our reach to attract students from all corners of the world. Encouraging dialogue between cultures, each with its own customs and business practices, enables European business schools to capture the benefits of globalization. Our students gain crucial insights into different business mindsets and our graduates, having broadened their horizons by working in multicultural groups, embark on truly international careers.

This international dimension of European schools is a key competitive advantage that we must continue to develop. In this respect, the success of HEC Paris and other European business schools stems from cooperation as much as competition. Partnerships, such as CEMS in Europe and the TRIUM Executive MBA, offered in collaboration with NYU Stern School of Business and London School of Economics, have made us stronger than we could ever be on our own.

Our reputation as one of the best business schools in Europe for all management programs is a key selling point for attracting partners outside Europe. Likewise, our strong presence in Asia with the HEC Executive MBA in Beijing, home to some of the world's fastest growing economies, is vital to the advancement of our reputation in Europe. Although we already have an established presence in countries such as China, we are continuing to explore ways to expand and innovate across the whole region.

As we work to forge new ties in France and beyond, becoming a world leader in business education remains one of our greatest challenges.


Bernard Ramanantsoa
Dean of the HEC School of Management