IAE's Story

Born in the 50s

The origin of IAE goes back to the 50s. At the time, in France, there was not even management within the university. In United States, by contrast, economic growth is powered by batches of engineers and managers from the best business schools attached to universities. In the midst of reconstruction, France have a lack of managers while the Thirty Glorious begin. In 1955, Gaston Berger, Director of Higher Education, Ministry of National Education, created the Institute of Business Administration (IAE) in American style, to provide academic knowledge management that complements the professional know-how and bringing the university's business world.
In the beginning, IAE were schools with a single diploma, “CAAE” - Certificate in Business Administration with a pioneering position on the "dual skills". This degree was designed to give management skills to engineers and graduate students of the faculties of Law, Letters and Sciences, mainly. Recognized degree, designed to be followed on a year, during the evening, is a “MBA à la française”. The teaching is based on the case method, innovative approach at the time. It has been for nearly 20 years, the common degree of most IAE in becoming “DESS CAAE” and continues today through the “MAE” (Master of Business Administration).

Marked changes in the 70

The IAE has "grown" in the 70's with on the one hand, the gradual recognition of management sciences in universities (state diplomas, Contests Aggregation, DEA and doctoral program, management in center of research CNRS) and on the other hand innovative development in university of partnerships with business (professional qualifications, executive education, consulting). The creation of famous degrees in management  will during this period with MSG (Maîtrise of Management Sciences), the MSTCF (Maîtrise of Engineering Sciences and Financial Accounting) and DESS (Master).

New turn in the 2000s

In 2005, the “LMD reform” changes the landscape of higher education in France. In this new scheme, IAE are very well placed to drain the best candidates and become elite sectors, since the transformation of MSG and DESS in Masters, has only reinforced the already great resemblance with private schools or Consular. Today, the Network has 31 IAE, with unique histories in their university and regional context.

Key dates

1955: Creation of the first 5 IAE Aix-en Provence, Bordeaux, Dijon, Rennes and Toulouse.
1956: Creation of IAE Caen, Grenoble, Lille, Montpellier, Paris and Poitiers.
1957: Creation of the National Association of IAE (IAE Network) and IAE Lyon, Nancy and Strasbourg
1958: Creation of IAE Nantes
1963: Creation of IAE Pau-Bayonne and La Reunion
1966-67: Creation of IAE in Clermont-Ferrand and Nice
1974: Creation of IAE Amiens
1985: Creation of IAE Orleans
1988: Creation of IAE Metz
1990-91: Creation of IAE Corse, Perpignan, Rouen
1996: Creation of IAE Tours, Valenciennes
2001-2002: Creation of IAE Brest and Toulon
2007: Creation of the IAE Gustave Eiffel (Créteil)
2007: Creation of the IAE Limoges