CAMPUS DESIGN
renovated. One brand new feature is the wall of major donors, which illustrates the trust and support of those who have contributed to the school, neatly cementing the idea that the campus is “a real team effort”. A walkway links the tower with the Pierre Nanterme Centre for Responsible Leadership. This 3,000-square-metre building is dedicated to active learning in entrepreneurship and innovation and is aligned with the values of the eponymous former chairman and CEO of Accenture. It is connected to the Singapore and Rabat campuses via integrated screens that allow students to enjoy the same immersive experience in real time, regardless of their location. On the ground floor the school’s incubator, ESSEC Ventures supports project leaders in developing their ideas, while the pitch room stands out for its flexibility. It can be transformed into a presentation space or event venue depending on requirements. The institution’s links with the surrounding area and its citizens are nowhere more apparent than in the recently inaugurated Sports & Recreation Centre, which is open to all local schools and sports associations. Vinzi says he believes that the new centre will help promote “a sense of belonging among students, a connection to other campuses and the community”. As he points out, the school aims to inculcate its cohorts with a sense of leadership and that is not just about learning from an intellectual perspective; sport is part of that in terms of teamwork. Ultimately, the next-generation campus is, as the name suggests, fundamentally driven by and dedicated to the students themselves. The dean sums up this philosophy by underscoring the vital role of those who will inhabit this newly modernised space: “Students own the campus; they bring it to life.”
INSPIRATIONAL INSTITUTES
agility and mindset, enabling them to act by launching new ventures, transforming existing organisations, leveraging disruptive technologies, or scaling up acquired businesses.” Institute for Geopolitics & Business Launched in October last year, the goal of this institute is to equip students with the knowledge they need to analyse the consequences of geopolitical shocks and trends on companies and organisations. Above all, it provides them with the know-how necessary to manage geopolitical challenges effectively. The institute’s academic co-director, Aurélien Colson elaborates: “We explore what drives corporate competitiveness in the post-globalisation era: vigilance, resilience, independence. We aim to foster geopolitics-proof business leaders.” Together Institute for Sustainability & Social Change Based across ESSEC Business School’s campuses in France, Morocco and Singapore, this institute embraces a multi-campus, international perspective, drawing on Europe, Africa and Asia to generate insights and solutions with global relevance. “We work alongside businesses and civil society to invent the sustainable models of tomorrow and train enlightened leaders,” comments academic director Anne-Claire Pache. “The institute capitalises on and strengthens its unique expertise in the creation, management and development of for-impact organisations, the transformation of for-profit businesses and the management of global performance.”
ESSEC Business School’s core research, education and social impact activities are driven by four institutes that align with the pillars of its Transcend strategy and aim to shape a responsible, forward- looking business world. The explosion in the use of generative AI and growing inequalities in technological expertise were just two of the issues behind the decision to create this institute. Described as “the first European institute to cover the full AI value chain”, it helps organisations navigate the social, economic, cultural and ethical impacts of AI and data. As the institute’s academic director, Guillaume Chevillon puts it, “its multifaceted approach includes producing and disseminating research, training Metalab Institute for AI, Data & Society students to become AI-savvy leaders, helping partners adopt AI and contributing to the public debate on the use and impact of new technologies.” Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation The school supports around 400 business projects within its ecosystem of incubators and programmes. It also helps alumni develop their businesses through tailor-made support services. “The institute responds to what we call an ‘entrepreneurial emergency’, ie the urgent need to train and empower changemakers to tackle critical environmental, technological and geopolitical challenges”, notes executive director Nicolas Landrin. “We equip our students with entrepreneurial
The Research Green Tower (above) has been optimised to foster collaboration, housing research spaces, seminar rooms and work environments; the Grand Hall (below) has been completely renovated and modernised
Ambition • ISSUE 5 • 2025 31
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