Mission

IMD is an independent not-for-profit foundation with no financial support from government. The school serves the international corporate community, helping develop and retain the best qualified management talent for global leadership. IMD, the most international of all executive education institutions worldwide, is dedicated to being the “global meeting place.” It is one of the world’s leading graduate business schools, bringing cutting-edge, practical focus on dilemmas and pertinent research into the classroom in the shortest possible time – to support what IMD calls “Real World. Real Learning.”

Origins

IMD was established in January 1990, as the successor of two previously independent business schools: IMI, founded in Geneva by Alcan in 1946, and IMEDE, founded in Lausanne in 1957 by Nestlé. Incorporated under the name "International Institute for Management Development," IMD, as the institution is now known, provides executive education for large- and medium-size international businesses, and for individuals.

Program participants

IMD is truly international. Every year, some 8,000 executives, representing over 98 nationalities, attend more than 20 open-enrollment Executive Development Programs (including intensive MBA and EMBA programs) as well as company-specific Partnership Programs. Participants come from virtually every sector of service and manufacturing industries. Cultural backgrounds range from young managers to board members from world-class corporations. English is the working language, though no single business approach dominates.

Faculty

IMD has over 60 Faculty members, comprising 21 nationalities, who are recognized authorities in their fields. They divide their time between teaching, research and consulting to major companies and thus remain firmly on top of the latest developments in managerial practice. IMD has no academic hierarchy (all Faculty are professors) and there is no tenure system.

Research and development

Learning at IMD has its roots in original IMD research. Currently more than 80 research projects are underway, each led by one or several Faculty members. IMD carries out its research and program development – 27% of IMD’s overall costs go to R&D - in close collaboration with industry. To create value, Faculty members not only make sure that research initiatives are relevant to practicing managers, but they also produce a steady flow of new material for IMD programs.

Respect for each other on campus

IMD operates under an Anti-Harassment and Anti-Discrimination Policy supervised by a dedicated Committee, guided by the following statements: IMD is committed to a working environment that emphasizes the respect, dignity and worth of every member of its community and is free from harassment and discrimination. Given the diversity of the IMD community, including its clients and visitors, we operate so that all individuals have the right to be free of discrimination and harassment, while not imposing their views or behaviors on others in the community. Full details of the policy can be found here:

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