The History of ESCE: A “Grande École” with an International Focus
ESCE (École Supérieure du Commerce Extérieur) is a prestigious business school founded in 1968 on the initiative of the Centre Français du Commerce Extérieur (now Business France), with the mission of training experts in international trade.
From its inception, ESCE has specialized in teaching international business, preparing its students to understand the cultural, economic, and geopolitical characteristics of global markets.
100% International DNA
An international focus is at the heart of every ESCE program. All courses are designed to develop a global perspective on business, with an intercultural and multilingual dimension.
Students benefit from internships, exchange programs, and international dual degrees, allowing them to gain practical experience in a variety of markets and enhance their employability upon graduation.
Vijay Pereira, Associate Dean and Faculty Member in Management Sciences, states :
“ I am very pleased to join ESCE at a particularly exciting time in its development. With its strong international focus and recognized expertise in international business, the school has considerable potential to further enhance its visibility and influence on a global scale.”
“My goal is to help develop new academic and institutional partnerships, to support excellence in research, and to promote ESCE’s international reputation among students, companies, and partner universities around the world.”
History of ESCE
Over the decades, the school has grown and become more organized:
- It was founded in 1968 in Paris to train specialists in international trade.
- History of ESCE
- Over the decades, the school has grown and developed:
- It was founded in 1968 in Paris to train specialists in international trade.
- It expanded rapidly, specialising in the fields of international trade and management.
- It gained state recognition and strengthened its academic standing in the 1990s.
- It helped establish the SESAME entrance exam, which facilitates access to business schools for high school graduates.
- It expanded across France with the opening of a campus in Lyon.
- It has become highly internationalised thanks to numerous university partnerships around the world.
- It has joined higher education groups and networks that have enhanced its visibility and resources.
- It was awarded Master’s degree status, followed by international accreditations that validate the quality of its programme.
- It joined the Conférence des Grandes Écoles, confirming its status in France.
- It is now part of the private higher education group OMNES Education (formerly INSEEC Group) and continues to specialise in international business.
- Today, ESCE is recognised for its innovative, internationally-oriented teaching methods, its academic and professional partnerships around the world, and its alumni network spanning numerous countries.
Today, ESCE is recognized for its innovative, internationally oriented teaching methods, its academic and professional partnerships around the world, and its alumni network spanning many countries.
His approach is unique:
To ensure that future graduates are well-prepared to succeed in their international careers.
An Innovative Teaching Approach
Focused on the market economy, but also on social, environmental, and solidarity-based issues.
Teaching methods at the cutting edge of technology and innovation.
A Multicultural Approach
Students from nearly 76 different countries on our campuses, intensive foreign language instruction, and international internships and exchange programs.
A wide variety of specialized programs
Each student can develop a personalized plan and prepare for an international career.
Skills Development and Digital Transformation
Since 2019, ESCE has been supporting each student’s development through the Skills Passport, which tracks and highlights thehard skills, soft skills, and language skillsacquired throughout the program, providing a certified document recognized by recruiters.
At the same time, the school fully integrates digital transformation into its curriculum, with online and hybrid programs that foster independence and critical thinking. Students also benefit from innovative initiatives such as “Les rendez-vous de la Géopolitique,” the “Forum des Humanités,” “Doing Business In,” and the “Mismatch” podcast, which help them deepen their understanding of the world and develop an international perspective.
STRONG INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
ESCE’s reputation as aleading international business schoolis based on its recognized expertise in international management , which stems from its cutting-edge and renowned research, its close ties with all types of companies (from major international corporations to startups) and partnerships with leading international networks.
- Co-founder, along with BUSINESS FRANCE and COFACE, of FORMATEX (Lifelong and Continuing Professional Training in International Trade),
- Member of the CGPME International Commission,
- Member of MEDEF Paris,
- A partner of the French National Committee of Foreign Trade Advisors (CNCCEF),
- Partner with the organization “Apprendre Montessori” to develop a different teaching approach within its programs. This marks the first time the Montessori method has been implemented in higher education.
Last update on