More importantly the ESA will have a new tool

"Marseillaise" and Lebanese anthem, solemn speech and child good atmosphere... Under the giant ficus of Clemenceau campus, formerly the seat of French diplomatic Chancery, the superior school of Beirut (ESA) Affairs celebrated with great pomp, there are a few days, its ten years of existence, though it gave degrees to its students.

More than a simple "business school", is ESA figure symbol: the French presence in this region. Its creation is indeed nothing random: it is the fruit of an agreement between the Governments of the two countries, the cockpit of the school being entrusted to the ICC of Paris, in conjunction with the French Foreign Ministry and the Central Bank of the Lebanon. "We wanted to create a school of reference for our model of management, with a French education training here," says Bernard Emié, the Ambassador of France. Ambitious bet, in a Lebanon bruised by the war, and where competition is not lacking there are some good 40 universities.

However despite the difficulties, in ten years, ESA has been able to find its place in the Middle East. There are now more than 1,500 graduates, and welcomes this year 430 students. Its catalogue, six degree courses, all taught in French and double degree: MBA "full time" and an "executive MBA", which are respectively at their ninth and seventh promotions, two masters specialized in finance and marketing, and a master's degree in management, in two years. Finally, a cycle dedicated to the management of health. Each of these programs is offered in partnership with a university or high school, starting with the ESCP-EAP, including the ESA is a partner. The IAE of Poitiers, the ESC Reims, the ESC Rouen or the Bocconi in Milan and among its partners. ESA develops further the training of Council business, research and promotional activities of la francophonie. "ESA gave French fashion in the business world", observes Riad Salame, the Governor of the Central Bank, which employs about 20 of its graduates.

As the annual budget (EUR 3 million), it is now almost in balance, tuition fees (around 17,000 euros for the EMBA) covering 95 of the total. "We are less expensive that the large American universities, says Roger Osada, the Director-General." We want to stay accessible for Lebanese families.

A Bahrain antenna

A system of aid and scholarships has been implemented, enjoyed by 15 to 20 of the students. "We do not seek to train large numbers, but to develop"learning labs", adapted to the reality of the country, and working with partners.", for its part said Anne Stefanini, Director of education at the CCIP. Result, ESA has become one of the most rated institutions of the Middle East. And if most registrants are Lebanese, ESA also began to attract students from the Gulf countries, Egypt or Jordan, or even of young French engineers in search of a francophone MBA, for to "re-export" then. The school thus positions itself as a kind of "hub" for the training on the whole of the Middle East.

For their part, French companies like find on-site graduates well trained, and speaking to at least three languages (French, Arabic and English). "We are beginning to send abroad of young people from ESA that we hired here," said Marco Fabian, CEO of l ' Oréal Lebanon. "We recruit only graduates of the ESA, because they respond well to our needs", ensures his side Jean-François Rolland, delegated regional for Air France. About Société Générale, which employs 50 graduates from ESA, it signed a partnership with the school for recruiting, the home of trainees, training, and student loans.

Today, the school displays new ambitions. It plans to expand its range of programs. More importantly, the ESA will have a new tool. She has just announce the creation of a Bahrain antenna. For the France Ambassador, Bernard Emié, ESA is well placed to benefit from an upturn in the Lebanon: "this country is restart," says the diplomat. If the local context improves, the Lebanon can show very strong growth, and tomorrow become the equivalent of Singapore in the region. And in this context, the ESA will be a major card to play.