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As environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges move to the core of corporate strategy, sustainability skills are becoming essential for future managers. Long committed to developing responsible leaders, IÉSEG School of Management is strengthening this ambition through a new partnership with EcoVadis, a global leader in ESG ratings for supply chains. The collaboration aims to reinforce teaching and research in sustainability, while giving students direct access to leading professional tools and expertise.

EcoVadis, a global reference in sustainability ratings

Founded in 2007, EcoVadis is the world’s most widely used sustainability ratings platform for supply chains. It assesses more than 175,000 companies across 250 industries and 185 countries, evaluating performance in environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. EcoVadis has become a trusted partner for organizations looking to structure and improve their CSR and ESG practices.

Beyond its rating activity, EcoVadis is a mission-driven company under France’s PACTE law. Its mission—“Guiding all companies toward a sustainable world”—is supported by a strong commitment to education, including the goal of helping train the next generation of sustainability professionals. This shared ambition provides the natural foundation for its partnership with IÉSEG.

A hands-on learning partnership

At the core of the partnership is a strong educational focus. IÉSEG students and faculty will have privileged access to the EcoVadis Academy platform, an online learning hub offering training modules on key ESG topics such as human rights due diligence, decarbonization, responsible sourcing, non-financial reporting, and environmental risk management.

Students enrolled in the Master in Management for Sustainability and the Sustainability Minor within the Master cycle of the Grande École Program will follow a certification pathway through the platform. Highly valued by employers, this certification will equip them with the skills needed to lead CSR and sustainability initiatives across global value chains, and to step into operational roles from the start of their careers.

The partnership also includes guest lectures, student challenges, and co-designed hackathons with EcoVadis teams. Students will also benefit from site visits across the company’s global offices, including Paris, Barcelona, Warsaw, Toronto, and Hong Kong. These immersive experiences will help them better understand how sustainability is implemented in practice and connect directly with professionals in the field.

“This partnership with EcoVadis goes far beyond a formal agreement. It is a concrete opportunity to give our students the tools and skills to become real agents of change. By exposing them to professional-grade tools and certifying their competencies in areas highly valued by companies, we help them build careers with impact. What particularly stood out to us is EcoVadis’ genuine commitment to education and its willingness to share its expertise with the next generation. We strongly believe sustainability cannot remain theoretical—it must be taught, practiced, and embodied.”

Myriam DEGRAVE, Associate Director for Social and Environmental Impact at IÉSEG

New opportunities for research

Beyond teaching, the partnership also opens new opportunities for academic research. Researchers will gain unique access to data on CSR trends, practices, and challenges drawn from thousands of companies worldwide.

“At EcoVadis, we believe the sustainable transformation of business depends on educating future decision-makers. That is why we have made collaboration with schools and universities a strategic priority. IÉSEG shares our vision of a more responsible economy and our conviction that sustainability must be at the heart of management education. What convinced us about this partnership is IÉSEG’s strong commitment, its ability to integrate sustainability throughout its programs, and the enthusiasm of both students and faculty. We are not just providing tools—we aim to inspire a new generation of professionals who can challenge the status quo, rethink established practices, and help build a fairer and more sustainable economic model. IÉSEG is a natural partner to carry this ambition forward,”

Nicole Sherwin, Chief Impact Officer at EcoVadis.

This partnership is fully aligned with IÉSEG’s CSR strategy and its ambition to train responsible managers capable of addressing tomorrow’s challenges. By combining high-level teaching, innovative research, and real-world exposure, IÉSEG reinforces its role as a driver of positive change in the business world.