Tuition fees, entrepreneurship… EDC Paris Business School reinvents its model
As business schools’ positioning becomes increasingly uniform, young people sometimes struggle to identify what really sets one institution apart from another. All too often, the choice of school comes down to a place in the rankings, at the expense of the educational identity and values each school stands for. Against this backdrop, EDC Paris Business School is determined to shake things up and is reinventing its model to take account of socio-economic change and the artificial intelligence revolution. This ambition rests in particular on a new fee policy and a reaffirmation of its identity and strengths, starting with entrepreneurship, the school’s historic hallmark.
Young people increasingly committed to entrepreneurship
Is entrepreneurship an alternative to the uncertainties of the job market? More and more young people seem ready to take the plunge. According to a recent OpinionWay survey, 57% of them are considering starting or taking over a business. This trend is also reflected in career paths: in twenty years, the share of young people starting their careers self-employed has more than doubled, reaching 7%. “This momentum can also be felt at the Incubateur by EDC, where we support a growing number of student entrepreneurs. Over the coming years, we aim to support nearly 140 projects, in order to keep pace with our students’ growing desire to turn their ideas into businesses,” explains Chérine Zgaya Bouzouita, Director of the Incubateur by EDC.
In this context, EDC Paris Business School is reaffirming its DNA as a pioneering school for the entrepreneurial spirit. Historically recognised for its culture of initiative, the school has always placed business creation and action at the heart of its teaching, in close connection with the business world. Today, this identity is a genuine differentiator, backed by a comprehensive support ecosystem. The school’s students can benefit from support at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey. This includes an “Entrepreneurship & Innovation” specialisation from the 4th year onwards to structure their project, a strengthened incubator to turn their ideas into reality, and a network of mentors made up of graduates who have themselves founded companies. In addition, there is a seed fund designed to help bring projects to fruition. This genuine financial support reflects the school’s confidence in the potential and ambitions of its students. “The aim is to encourage every student to launch or develop a concrete project, whether it generates revenue, brings a community together or creates impact,” says Antoine Veniard, Managing Director of EDC Paris Business School.
To go further and establish itself as a leading player at national level, EDC Paris Business School also intends to launch, with the support of the Incubateur By EDC, a series of podcasts to pass on this desire to start a business. Each episode will feature short portraits of students, coaches, teachers and graduates, highlighting their journeys, sharing their experiences and reflecting the diversity of forms of entrepreneurship emerging within its ecosystem.
A new fee policy for a more accessible Grande École Programme
Long presented as a driver of equal opportunity and access to the grandes écoles, work-study is now becoming less and less accessible due to reduced public funding and an increasingly tight recruitment market. “To anticipate the difficulties linked to work-study and respond to the growing budgetary constraints faced by students and their families, we have decided to introduce a new fee policy,” says Antoine Veniard. “This choice reflects our conviction about the future and the appeal of the 5-year PGE,” he adds. The first two years of the Grande École Programme (PGE) are offered at €7,995 per year. If the student continues their studies on a work-study basis, available from the 3rd year, tuition fees for the five years of the PGE can thus be limited to €15,990.
To make this ambition accessible to as many people as possible, EDC Paris Business School, with the support of the Planeta Formation et Universités Group to which it belongs, has created a foundation with an endowment of €200,000. Its aim is to provide financial support so that the cost of studies does not weigh on the most vulnerable students. The Foundation funds the difference between the student’s contribution and the actual cost of the programme. The school thus receives the same amount, guaranteeing every student high-quality teaching and support, without compromise.
“One Focus. YOU”: a stronger commitment to placing students at the heart of EDC Paris Business School
In a sector where business schools are increasingly vocal, standing out also requires a strong and instantly recognisable identity. It is with this in mind that EDC Paris Business School is evolving its identity. More than a new visual look, “One Focus. YOU” is a platform of expression that illustrates what makes the school unique: placing each student at the heart of their project and their learning experience.
In practical terms, at EDC Paris Business School, education goes far beyond passing on knowledge. Thanks to close relationships, the school’s various teams are able to identify each student’s ambitions and projects and offer them truly personalised support. As a human-scale school, it also places each student’s success and well-being at the heart of its approach, with psychological support provided by an alumnus, student requests handled in under 48 hours via a ticketing system… Everything is designed to allow everyone to progress at their own pace and receive follow-up tailored to their needs.
This new momentum is reflected in the school’s communication, which aims to tell personal, positive stories. Rather than an institutional discourse, EDC Paris Business School wants to give a voice to those who support students day to day. From professors to entrepreneurs, alumni and partners, everyone thus becomes part of the brand story.
This state of mind is expressed visually through a strong identity based on blue, the historic colour of the logo. In addition, this new signature introduces bolder elements and contrasting effects, accentuated in particular by a touch of electric yellow and the appearance of slanted blocks. These graphic choices bring more rhythm and modernity while reinforcing the school’s distinctive character.