ESADE recognised by international educational association AACSB for leading the way in entrepreneurial education
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), the world’s largest global education network, has recognised ESADE for its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship in the next generation of business leaders and creating and incubating cutting-edge business innovations. ESADE is one of 35 business schools around the globe – and the only one in Spain – to earn this distinction.
The association’s annual conference in Houston, Texas (USA) highlighted AACSB-accredited schools that deliver innovative and creative best practices and offer a range of distinctive entrepreneurship programmes and a variety of impactful centre formats. Accredited schools were invited to submit one example of how they demonstrate a unique commitment to student learning, while providing opportunities for students to gain the skills required to be successful in business, either in a startup or within a world-renowned corporation. A central aspect of the Entrepreneurship Spotlight Challenge, in which ESADE has been recognised, was “uncovering schools’ unique approaches to engaging the business community, expanding the reach of education beyond the classroom and positively impacting society – aspects characteristic of ESADE’s new Student First commitment.
“I am pleased to recognise ESADE for its commitment to developing thoughtful, dynamic education experiences that instil entrepreneurship and creative thinking in its students, commented Thomas R. Robinson, President and CEO of AACSB International, at the event in Houston. “Entrepreneurship is about problem-solving and working to make improvements – whether on a business or society at large – and AACSB celebrates ESADE for striving to instil that same sense of responsibility in its business education curriculum.
A total of 120 nominations were submitted by AACSB-accredited schools from 34 countries, all of which highlighted unique approaches to fostering and developing entrepreneurship in students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Initiatives of the ESADE Entrepreneurship Institute
ESADE earned this distinction thanks to its close ties to students, alumni and society, as well as the efforts of one centre in particular: the ESADE Entrepreneurship Institute (EEI), which plays a transversal role in the university community through initiatives such as EGarage, a space for ESADE students who want to embark on entrepreneurial projects; EWorks, a business accelerator programme and co-working space; the soon-to-be-completed Rambla of Innovation, an outdoor promenade lined with various innovation labs; and many other initiatives and projects developed by the EEI.
Luisa Alemany, Director of the EEI, commented: “This recognition is a reward for our entire entrepreneurial ecosystem – those of us at ESADE as well as all the entrepreneurs and innovators in Barcelona and throughout Spain. It’s an award that encourages us to keep working, providing support and taking risks on new adventures that will lead to a more entrepreneurial society on all levels.
As part of the selection process, the nominations were reviewed by a panel of business leaders from various fields, including venture capital, consulting and accounting. As an inherent part of the sector’s collective vision, AACSB promotes collaboration between the business world and executive education.
About AACSB International
As the world's largest business education network connecting academe with business, AACSB provides business education intelligence, quality assurance, and professional development services to more than 1,500 member organizations across 97 countries and territories. Founded in 1916, AACSB accredits 780 business schools worldwide. Its global headquarters is located in Tampa, Florida, USA; Asia Pacific headquarters is located in Singapore; and its EMEA headquarters is located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
