The Wharton School and INSEAD Renew Alliance for Four More Years

Business Wire, April 30, 2008

PHILADELPHIA & FONTAINEBLEAU, France & SINGAPORE -- Thomas S. Robertson, dean of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and J. Frank Brown, dean of INSEAD, announced the renewal of the partnership between the two schools for four more years. Launched in 2001, the alliance combines the resources of the world's leaders in management education to deliver top quality business research and education across four dedicated campuses: Wharton's U.S. campuses in Philadelphia and San Francisco, and those of INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France and Singapore. Through the unmatched intellectual capital of more than 400 resident faculty in the two schools, INSEAD and Wharton collaborate across many areas such as an MBA student exchange, a faculty exchange, joint research and teaching projects through the Alliance Center for Global Education and Research, PhD collaboration, co-branded executive education courses, and ongoing joint alumni initiatives.

"Our collaboration with INSEAD has resulted in rewarding research activities between our two faculties, as well as interaction with important corporate leaders through our joint executive education offerings. The alliance has given our students wonderful opportunities to study within a multinational framework," said Thomas S. Robertson, dean of the Wharton School. "We look forward to continuing this relationship with our INSEAD colleagues in the years to come."

The continued success of this alliance prompted its renewal. Since the alliance began, more than 800 MBA students have participated in the INSEAD-Wharton exchange, providing them with the opportunity to study across three continents. Each year, 100 to 150 MBA students participate in the exchange and gain full access to broadened and enhanced course offerings, local faculty, career services, and clubs. More than 750 executives have also benefited from the Alliance with co-branded executive education programs such as "Strategic R&D Management" and "Leading an Effective Sales Force," delivered at all campuses and taught by faculty members from both schools. Additionally, the Alliance has designed and delivered customized company-specific executive education programs for multinational clients across the four campuses.

"INSEAD's continued partnership with Wharton underscores the value we place on developing transcultural leaders," said J. Frank Brown, dean of INSEAD. "The INSEAD-Wharton alliance is based on the shared belief that market leaders in management education must have global reach and be part of an international business education and knowledge network with leadership positions across geographies. It is essential for leaders in business and beyond to gain international experience and an understanding of different cultures."

In addition to the MBA and Executive Education programs, the Alliance has also expanded research opportunities for faculty from both schools through the creation of the INSEAD-Wharton Center for Global Research and Education, jointly-funded and governed by a joint R&D committee. The Center promotes faculty exchange across campuses (more than 60 faculty members visited or taught at the partner school), large scale global research projects (with 10 currently active joint research teams) and teaching innovations.

The Alliance provides opportunities to connect the large and active alumni communities of both schools (with 82,000 Wharton alumni in 148 countries and 37,000 INSEAD alumni in 160 countries). The INSEAD France Alumni Association and the Wharton Club of Paris, for example, regularly organize joint events such as the recent executive dinner in Paris at which Jean-Francois Theodore, deputy chief executive of the NYSE Euronext, was the keynote speaker.

Building on this record of success over seven years, under the leadership of John Kimberly, Henry Bower Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at Wharton; Hubert Gatignon, Claude Janssen Chaired Professor of Management at INSEAD; and Laurence Capron, associate professor of Strategy at INSEAD, the renewal of the Alliance will extend and deepen the relationships between the two schools, particularly in the areas of faculty research collaboration and alumni relations. For example, The Alliance Center for Global Research and Education, directed by Professor Capron, is currently developing a number of new initiatives:

* An agreement for direct distribution of INSEAD teaching cases to Wharton (with possible extension of direct sharing of a diverse set of teaching materials across the two schools)

* A forthcoming INSEAD-Wharton research conference on Leadership at INSEAD on June 19-21, and the development of workshops and staff visits across the two schools to share best practices on issues such as diversity management and teaching training.

In the alumni area, new initiatives will also be explored including:

* Faculty presentation of their research or books to both alumni communities

* Development of joint local alumni events across countries

Please visit the Alliance Web site at http://www.insead.edu/alliance or http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/campus/alliance where you can find more detailed information and student testimonials.