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CEMS Global Alliance convenes in Lisbon to induct new Chinese member school, 8 corporate partners and 2 NGOs

Paris/Lisbon/Rotterdam, 12^th December – The 2011 CEMS Annual Events sees Tsinghua University become the 26^th business school approved to deliver the top-ranked CEMS Master’s in International Management. The United Nations Alliance of Civlizations and Transparency International double the portfolio of CEMS Social Partners and 8 multinationals bring the total of CEMS Corporate Partners to a new high 77, whilst a record 783 students graduate from the CEMS MIM. Amongst them 53 students from Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM).

Global expansion and CSR strategy confirmed by illustrious new arrivals

Hosted by Nova School of Business & Economics, the exclusive Portuguese CEMS member school, the 2011 CEMS Annual Events have been marked by the arrival of a number of heavyweights. On the academic front, Tsinghua University School of Economics & Management have been confirmed as the 26^th school to deliver the top-ranked CEMS Master’s in International Management (CEMS MIM), from 2012-13. The significance of this for CEMS Chairman Prof. Dr Thomas Bieger is evident:

“To be able to welcome into our alliance such a prominent business school not only on the Chinese market but also the global one is a strong sign of the increasing impact of our organisation well beyond Europe. CEMS students now have an enviable choice of 26 top institutions and countries in which to spend a part of their studies and potentially the beginning of their working life. Add to this the entry of 8 new corporate partners and 2 new social partners and the learning opportunities are enormous”.

Further learning and professional opportunities will now be on offer to CEMS students with the confirmation of 8 new corporate partners and 2 new social partners. On the corporate side they are: Beiersdorf AG, Capitaland,Catalent,  Maersk, Mastercard, QBE, Scotiabank, and Telekom Polska. NGOs the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and Transparency bring the new portfolio of Social Partners to 4, just one year after CEMS made official its new CSR strategy.

Record number of graduates commit to responsible business values

Another feature of the events saw a new high of 783 students graduate from the CEMS MIM programme, with the opportunity to sign on stage the CEMS Global Values Statement, a student-driven initiative launched in 2010 to encourage new graduates to commit to uphold certain values and responsibilities once in working life. José António Ferreira Machado, Dean of Nova School of Business & Economics, was very proud to see his school and city providing the setting to such an important event and gesture: 

“In times of difficulty for some of the nations represented within CEMS it is reassuring to see our young graduates finishing their studies mindful of the kind of values and qualities that they will require to succeed in working life at the service of a larger common good. I am especially proud to see my school elected School of the Year based upon the student evaluations of an institution that clearly embodies respect, responsibility and accountability from top to bottom.” 

The livestream of this Graduation Ceremony can be viewed here. 

CEMS is the global alliance of leading business schools and multinational companies, awarding the CEMS Master’s in International Management. Together CEMS members offer high-calibre, internationally-minded pre-experience Master’s students a unique multi-country experience, blending academic excellence and real-life business practice. www.cems.org .

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University is consistently ranked amongst the top 10 business schools in Europe. It is located in the international port city of Rotterdam where core Dutch values of openness, flexibility and acceptance of diversity have attracted businesses on a global scale. Our emphasis is on groundbreaking research and practices relevant to business; our primary focus is on developing business leaders who carry their innovative ideas into a sustainable future. Our portfolio includes a broad array of bachelor, master, doctoral, MBA and executive education programmes. www.rsm.nl

For more information on RSM or on this release, please contact Marianne Schouten, Media & Public Relations Manager for RSM, on +31 10 408 2877 or by email at mschouten@rsm.nl.