IÉSEG is strongly committed to being an ethical, socially responsible, and sustainable organization. We recognize the importance of encouraging an environment that promotes effective learning and that provides the tools and competences that empower our students and staff to become responsible changemakers for a better society.
Our Values, Mission, and Vision reflect this motivation to inspire change. 

At IÉSEG, we believe that sustainability must be embedded in the DNA of the organization and must be integrated transversally in everything we do: in the classroom, in our research, in our culture, and in our operations. 

Empowering Students 

IÉSEG aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills to be responsible actors in society. Integrating CSR into our students’ learning experience is thus essential. To do so, we base our strategy on the 6 U.N. Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). Throughout their time at our School, students are exposed to different CSR, sustainability, and ethics problematics in different management fields and different contexts. As part of our strategy, our goal is that by 2024, 100% of our courses will include a Sustainability dimension.  

An Inclusive Approach 

The social and ecological transition of the School can only be achieved through a collaborative process. IÉSEG has worked closely with its stakeholders in order to co-construct a common sustainability strategy. The participation of students, faculty, staff, alumni, companies, and others is essential to our success. IÉSEG’s sustainable development strategy is currently led by the Sustainability Team, under the direction of our Dean. It is supported by the CSR Steering Committee, as well as the different centers of excellence and research centers.  

Created in 2016, IÉSEG’s Sustainability Steering Committee provides guidance and oversight of the Sustainability Strategy of our School and monitors change towards a more sustainable model. Furthermore, it ensures that projects, initiatives, and policies implemented by different services or departments of the School align with our Sustainability strategy and objectives. It is composed of the Social and Environmental Impact Director, the Social and Environmental Impact Manager, the Dean, the Director of Operations, the Head of ICOR, the Head of ICIE, the Head of Management and Society Department, the Head of Communications, and the Corporate Relations Manager. 

4 key pillars

Our sustainability strategy is based on 4 overarching pillars that aim to cover all aspects of our business and operations. These pillars emerged through a consultation process with various stakeholders that took place between 2019 and early 2022.    

Key facts

> In 2021-2022, around 20% of our electives were on social or environmental impact and core courses on sustainability in the PGE program represent a total of 17 ECTS
> In 2023, IÉSEG has a score of 89/100 on the Gender Equality Index
> IÉSEG is ranked 4th in the ranking of French business schools most committed to the ecological and social transition by ChangeNOW – Les Echos START
> In 2021-2022, about 150 students were involved in sustainability-related student organizations
> IÉSEG’s has been in the top 30 schools in Positive Impact Rating for three consecutive years
> 2,200 international students with over 100 nationalities; and 83% of permanent faculty are international with over 50 nationalities
> In September 2022, more than 1,400 students participated in the Sustainability and Diversity Induction Week
> Since 2020, about 4,000 students have completed the 2.5-hour online training module “Gender and Sexual Violence Prevention”

STAKEHOLDERS And PartnershipS

IÉSEG aims to be a proactive member in the community and be a catalyst in the development of a responsible and sustainable economic and social environment. 
Our School is convinced that active engagement and strong collaboration are the best ways to address the social and environmental challenges of today and tomorrow. 

IÉSEG is thus committed to several initiatives and partnerships at a local, regional, and international level. 

Discover our stakeholders and partnerships

Commitments

Ville de Lille

Along with its university partners as well as the city of Lille, IÉSEG signed the Engagements Lille Bas Carbone (Lille low carbon commitments) on June 18th, 2021, to limit its environmental footprint on the territory and act against climate change. 

Accord de Grenoble - Cop2

On January 24th, 2022, IÉSEG became a signatory of the Accord de Grenoble (Grenoble Agreement). This agreement is based on thirteen propositions created by a student collective to urge higher education institutions to integrate the challenges of the socio-ecological transition in curriculums and on campuses.

Sustainability Reports and Publications

PRME Reports

Discover the different reports published by IÉSEG for the UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME):

> PRME Report – 2022

> PRME Report – 2019

> PRME Report – 2017

> PRME Report – 2016

Climate Action Plan

Discover our School’s latest Climate Action Plan:

> Climate Action Plan (2022 – 2026)

Professional Equality Index between women and men

Have a look on the IÉSEG scores:

Score – 2023

IÉSEG Gender Equality Plan (GEP)

Discover the strategic objectives that our School has mapped out for the next five years (2022-2027) regarding gender equality, and in line with the requirements and recommendations made by the European Commission.

Download the plan 2022-2027

IÉSEG Sustainability Team

Contact us