INSEAD’s 50th Anniversary gives us a unique occasion to look back at half a century of success and look forward to the 50 years ahead.

Fifty years ago, Georges Doriot had an extraordinary vision – to set up a business school in Europe that would be international, independent, diverse, entrepreneurial and close to business.

As European unification was starting, the school was offering a new international perspective for the business community.

We have come a long way since 1959, growing alongside business itself and innovating to keep up to date with the future. In our first 1959 MBA class we had 52 graduates. Today, we have more than 900 MBAs graduating each year in ceremonies which take place in Europe and Asia. We have a very broad offering of Executive Education programmes, a world-class PhD programme, two equal status campuses, two centres in the Middle East, an office in the USA and valued partnerships with Wharton, Tsinghua and Fundação Dom Cabral. We have led effective fundraising campaigns and continue to be well positioned in different global rankings. It is thanks to the principles established by the founders that we have achieved all this since 1959 and we continue to develop ourselves on the journey to become The Business School for the World.

Today, we want to set out our vision for the next 50 years. INSEAD wants to continue to grow and have a positive impact on people’s lives, always remaining true to Doriot’s values. As Doriot once said, “A team made up of the younger generation, with courage and inventiveness, together with older men of wisdom and experience, should bring success.” As such, it is INSEAD’s founders and our current community who make INSEAD what it is today.