Diversity and Equal opportunities

In 2009, Montpellier Business School was the 1^st higher education institution and the 1^st Grande Ecole to obtain the Diversity Label. In 2016, Montpellier Business School received the Diversity Label for the 3^rd time in a broader scope for its executive and continuing education activities and has been equally awarded, for the first time, the Professional Gender Equality Certification for all of its activities.

Launched in September 2008 by the French State, the social partners and the French National Association of HR Directors, the Diversity Label is issued by the State after an on-site audit carried out by an independent organisation, the French Standards Association (AFNOR).

To obtain this label, candidate organisations, mainly companies, are evaluated according to a set of specifications based on five areas :

• Overview of diversity in the organisation;
• Diversity policy;
• Internal communication, awareness raising, training;
• Taking diversity into account in the organisation’s activities;
• Evaluation and definition of areas of improvement in the diversity approach. The Diversity Label thus attests the strong commitment of the school to guaranteeing equal opportunities and preventing discrimination. It demonstrates the consistency and effectiveness of its implementation by an organisation. Montpellier Business School requested that the Diversity Label shouldn’t exclusively focus on its human resources management, but also on the recruitment of students, their administrative and pedagogical management as well as the financial and social aid policy. These are therefore six areas that are subject to regular audits, but also to both annual action plans and continuous improvement policy.

Created in 2005, the Professional Equality Label is a state-run label, also delivered after an on-site audit carried out by the AFNOR and supported by the social partners. The Equality label is the mark of organisations that innovate in their approach to equality between women and men.

The evaluation focuses on several criteria in 3 fields :

• The actions taken in the company in order to promote professional equality;
• Human ressources and management’s administration;
• The support for parenting in the professional setting.

Montpellier Business School is the first higher education institution to be accredited with this label.

Montpellier Business School defends diversity as a source of wealth and performance for companies.

Cordée de la réussite “The Ariadne’s Thread to the Grande Ecole Programme, why not me?”

In the conduct of its equal opportunities and diversity promotion policy, Montpellier Business School (association under the non-profit organizations French law of 1901) has decided to work with secondary schools (Junior High school US eq.) and high schools that are located in disadvantaged areas of the Montpellier education authority, as part of the “Cordée de la Réussite” national scheme. 

Engaged by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the State Secretariat for Urban Policy, this scheme is designed to establish a partnership between higher education institutions and secondary schools located in priority districts. This partnership may take the form of multiple actions such as tutoring, academic and school support, cultural support or boarding. It aims to guide students who show the necessary motivation and skills to enter a pathway of excellence.

Since 2008, thanks to this scheme, the association has established a labelled “Cordée” including (for 2016-2017): 

• Five secondary schools from Montpellier: Arthur Rimbaud, Simone Veil, Les Escholiers de la Mosson, Fontcarrade, Les Garrigues;
• Five high schools: Jules Guesde, Jean Monnet, Mendès France, l’Internat d’Excellence, Jules Ferry;
• The university of Montpellier, Montpellier SupAgro and the ENAC.

In the third form class: L’Odyssée de la Diversité (Diversity Odyssey)

The “Odyssée de la Diversité” is a one-day event held each year in April, during which a series of sports, cultural and artistic competitions is proposed by Montpellier Business School to secondary school students from different schools in Montpellier, located in priority districts. This event mobilises a great diversity of stakeholders: public authorities, associations, educational institutions, companies… and contributes to closing the gap between these young people and higher education.

In recognition of all these efforts towards students of all origins, Le Point, a major French weekly magazine, stated in 2011 that “Through initiatives to promote diversity, the Sup de Co de l’Hérault (aka Montpellier Business School) has become a champion of social openness…”

From the fourth form class up to the upper sixth form class :

Parcours d’Excellence (Excellence Pathway)

The Parcours d’Excellence is a coaching programme designed to support deserving young people enrolled in schools that participate in the “Cordée” scheme from the fourth form class up to the upper sixth form class (Baccalauréat in France). Students are then selected by their teachers from the fourth form class on the basis of their academic results and their social origin. It aims to promote the discovery and understanding of student life and higher education up to the upper sixth form by organising visits to universities and companies, cultural stays and homework assistance on the MBS campus. Each year, 75 new students join this scheme at the start of the school year.

From the end of high school to a two-year Higher Education diploma: EAP (ability and professional excellence) pathway

This programme of equal opportunities enables Montpellier to meet young students with a high potential for excellence who, unfortunately, are poorly represented in higher education management curriculums. These students, mainly from vocational and technological baccalaureate programmes, are hardly prepared to pursue studies where most of them fail. It is a social tragedy that must be pragmatically opposed. The EAP pathway reflects this lasting commitment of MBS.  

The EAP pathway was created in 2012. It aims to optimise the chances of students from a vocational baccalaureate to access further study in higher education by setting up a specific pathway focused on strengthening languages, oral and written expression, writing summary notes and general culture, in addition to the preparation for the BTS (French “Advanced Technician’s Certificate).  

The EAP pathway lasts 200 hours over the 2 years of the BTS programme, at the rate of 100 hours per year, provided by trainers from Montpellier Business School.

Montpellier Business School welcomes into its Grande Ecole and Bachelor programmes a wide diversity of student profiles who would not be able to finance tuition fees without its help.

Thanks to the financial and social aid policy put in place by MBS, 29% of students do not pay tuition fees and 49% receive financial support for their studies.

The aid provided by MBS is as follows :

Excellence scholarships

Excellence scholarships completely exempt the student from tuition fees all through the curriculum. They are delivered on condition of their academic results as well as their financial and social situation. The social evaluation is carried out by the professional association in the social field FACE Hérault.

In 2011 – 2012, MBS awarded or renewed 70 excellence scholarships (22 new scholarships in the first year).

To maintain their scholarship, students must achieve good academic results and display an exemplary behaviour.

International excellence scholarships

Montpellier Business School, supported by its Foundation, has set up international excellence scholarships to enable deserving students to come to Montpellier for the last two years of the Grande Ecole Programme. Their living costs and tuition fees are carried out by the Foundation.

Since 2009, 15 international scholars have been welcomed (Colombia, Haiti, Vietnam, Burkina Faso, Mali, Zimbabwe, Burma, Dominican Republic, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Peru and Syria).

Monitoring

Students in financial difficulties also have the opportunity to apply for job offers that MBS has opened in its administrative and pedagogical departments. Students can work up to 10 hours per week over 8 months, adapting their schedules to their school’s timing and requirements.

Like the “job alterné” programme, this scheme aims to combat absenteeism and failure among students who need to work to finance their studies.

In 2011 – 2012, MBS enabled 28 of its students to work in its departments.

Honorary loans

Montpellier Business School has set up a social committee to study all of the students’ requests for honorary loans. These interest-free loans can go up to 2300 Euros and can be requested for each year of schooling. Students start paying back 6 months after their first job, on a mutually agreed upon schedule, according to their means.

Subsidisation of tuition fees abroad

In each of the initial education curriculums offered by MBS, students are required to spend a full academic year abroad. They choose their destination according to their results.

To ensure that financial considerations do not hinder the student’s motivation or stand in the way of their ambition, MBS has decided to cover the additional tuition fees required by certain partner universities. Students pay their tuition fees at Montpellier Business School regardless of the amount charged by the host university.

Pass’culture

In partnership with the Centre Régional des Œuvres Universitaires et Sociales “CROUS” (Regional student assistance office), MBS covers a part of the cost of Pass’culture cards for each of its students. These cards allow students to get tickets to cultural events in the region at very low prices.

Passeport Avenir

MBS is part of the Passeport Avenir programme which supports young people from technology preparatory classes throughout their training curriculum to help them reach Grandes Ecoles entrance exams and familiarise themselves with these curriculums during the first year. Implemented in September 2011, this system has benefited 10 students who are part of the programme and who have been able to seek services from an individual coach, a corporate executive, from Orange FT or Cap Gemini.

Good to know : MBS also works in partnership with several associations and organisations that offer specific scholarships to our students, under certain conditions :

• Jacques Lambert Foundation Scholarships
• Eiffel Scholarships
• Montpellier Rotary Club scholarships
• Montpellier Rotary Club scholarships

NB : the information is relayed each year to our students by the Student Life Service and the MBS Social Openness Unit, at the request of these different organisations.

Social and psychological assistance, “Allo Discrim” platform

Conscious that it is easier for students to speak when talking to neutral people who are not involved in the student’s schooling, Montpellier Business School has set up a bimonthly assistance office to deal with social and psychological issues. A social worker and a psychologist take turns listening, helping and orienting students according to their needs and their situation.

Students also have access to the “Allo Discrim” platform, for situations relating to alleged or actual discrimination and/or unequal treatment.

People with disabilities

Montpellier Business School is a signatory of the charter of the Conférence des Grandes Ecoles related to the integration of disabled students. Beyond this commitment, it wishes to carry out concrete actions against censorship and self-censorship among young people with disabilities who are seeking to complete their higher education. Today, only 4% of young people with disabilities pursue education after high school, compared to 58% in secondary school and 42% in high school.

The Grande Ecole Programme is part of the Passerelle Handicap competitive examination along with 7 other schools. The Passerelle Handicap contest is open to candidates with disabilities, with high academic results in their final year, to provide them with a privileged entrance to academic excellence. Montpellier Business School is an examination centre for this exam. Upon successful completion of this post-baccalaureate admission assessment, the candidates will be able to choose between the different incubators proposed by Passerelle Handicap.

Actions towards secondary school students

Since the 2012 academic year, the school has participated in the PHARES programme (Par-Delà le Handicap Avancer et Réussir dans l’Enseignement Supérieur, “Beyond the Handicap, Move Forward and Succeed in Higher Education”). Initiated by the FEDEEH (Fédération Étudiante pour une Dynamique Études et Emploi, “Student Federation for Studies and Employment Dynamics”), this programme is dedicated to secondary and high school students with disabilities and aims to help them look ahead to higher education and acquire the necessary self-confidence by coaching them by a pair of volunteer students.

For more information, please contact Mrs. Sophie Gosselin, Diversity and CSR Department by email : s.gosselin@montpellier-bs.com

Specific accompaniment referees

To best support each of its students, Montpellier Business School has established a certain number of contact points and referees to identify problems and provide solutions in a collaborative way. In each educational programme, a “specific accompaniment referee” is appointed. This referee will be the contact person for students with disabilities who require adjustments to their schooling or examinations.

To meet students’ demands and answer all of their questions, Montpellier Business School has set up a network of professionals who work by its side: psychologist, social worker, disabled students’ support association, committed partner businesses.

This provides the opportunity to develop a specific accompaniment project dedicated to students with disabilities who join the programme or who discover their disability after their integration. The parents and students concerned can contact without hesitation the referee of the programme concerned or the head of the Diversity and CSR department to make an individual visit and discuss the possibilities of integration and accompaniment.

Handicap Referees :

Grande Ecole Programme: Mrs Aurélie GRAVE
Bachelor Programme: Mrs Amandine GOMEZ
Students from partner universities: Mrs Virginie INGLEBERT
Students from the International Admission Assessment: Mr Vincent FERNANDEZ
Career Centre: Mrs Estelle COADOU and Mrs Marion LEROY
Exam Centre: Mrs Myriam RICARD
Admission Assessment Department: Mrs Sylvie QUEFELLEC
CFA (Apprenticeship centre) and RET programme: Mrs Sylvie AIELLO

Global information: Mrs Caroline CAZI and Sophie GOSSELIN

Montpellier Business School is committed to the United Nations Global Compact and the Corporate Diversity Charter to raise awareness and train its students, future managers, in the principles of responsible management, anti-discrimination and sustainable development.

Two axis have been developed.

The first is the integration of MBS’s values of openness, diversity, global responsibility and performance in all higher education courses. The innovative and constantly evolving teaching method seeks to enable students to introduce into organisations a spirit of “managerial innovation” that will provide companies with sustainable added value.

The second axis refers to the implementation of conferences and workshops throughout the year on the basis of feedbacks from companies relating their actions and the problems they have encountered regarding diversity as well as sustainable development. These feedbacks are shared with MBS’s teacher-researchers who work on these subjects.

Finally, several final-year specialisations are offered to students who wish to become professionalised in functions or fields of activity related to CSR and sustainable development.

Concrete examples

• Global Responsibility Days: round-table talks and workshops are offered each year. In 2017, the focus was on gender equality and the impact of career choices.
• Examples of themes addressed by students’ groups done within the framework of solidarity projects « Prométhée » with the support of teachers-researchers and professors:
  • On the theme of Social responsibility and solidarity: action against hunger, Kareen Mane Association, Enfants d’Asie (“Children of Asia”), UNICEF Asia.
  • Equal Opportunities and Vie du Territoire (“Territorial Life”)
  • Childhood, Difference and transgenerational responsibility
  • Prevention and Health

Montpellier Business School sets itself objectives in terms of improving the ecological footprint of its activity.

The students have also created the Gaïa association which aims to offer innovative solutions to MBS in order to improve its environmental performance.

Each year, MBS forwards a report in the form of a Green plan Framework to the Conférence des Grandes Ecoles presenting all of its actions and progress in terms of sustainable development and particularly on environmental management of the campus.

An SD committee has also been created so that the staff and the students can reflect together on the implementation of sustainable improvements on the campus.