Executive Education

The post-Covid return to campus gained yet more momentum in 2022–2023, bringing an unprecedented 910 Open and Customised classes to the school across all locations – and taking our insights to a vast number of organisations across the world. The result was record-breaking annual revenues, not only for Executive Education but also the institution as a whole.

Demand for online learning also remained buoyant, after nearly a decade of INSEAD presence in this growing market. Indeed, the past ten years have been remarkable for the pace of technology-based innovation in Executive Education. Online programmes were quickly followed by live-virtual classrooms for teaching off campus and virtual-reality case studies, mainly for learning on campus. Then came the pandemic, which resulted in a move to remote or hybrid delivery of programmes. In short, the venture into online learning turned out to be a strategic investment that has paid off in ways we never dreamt of ten years ago.

Technology is not the only source of growth. The new Middle East Campus and San Francisco Hub, have both been platforms for the geographical expansion of our business over the past decade. There has also been significantly increased demand for topics such as leadership, strategy, change management, governance and sustainability. At the same time, INSEAD’s offer of virtual executive coaching and Customised as well as Open coaching programmes has truly taken off, thanks to our global network of over 160 Leadership coaches.

Given all these success stories, it came as no surprise that INSEAD achieved its highest ever ranking for Executive Education in the Financial Times with an overall position of #3.

The Academic Year 2022–2023 saw very strong demand, especially on campus, for programmes on leadership, general management, governance and sustainability. In response, we launched three new five-day programmes, all delivered face to face: Leading Teams; Collaborative Leadership; and AI for Business. We also introduced additional sessions of the High Impact Leadership Programme and Negotiation Dynamics in Abu Dhabi. This was largely fuelled by the increased regional demand created by the Saudi Vision 2030 policy, which is driving economic, social and cultural transformation, and having an impact across the entire Middle East.

But perhaps the biggest news of the year was the start of our new flagship online certificate, Lead the Future, which is delivered over 12 months and marks a major departure for INSEAD. The first intake exceeded expectations with 58 participants from 32 different nationalities.

Also online, we launched the new Advancing Diversity and Inclusion Programme and revamped the content of existing programmes across the portfolio. In addition, in partnership with Emeritus, which works with leading business schools to make the best learning globally accessible, we introduced two new online certificates, the Chief Strategy Officer Programme and the Chief Operating Officer Programme.

With 94 new partner organisations and a #2 ranking for company-specific programmes by the Financial Times, it was a year to celebrate. Growth was global, but particularly strong in Europe, which accounted for nearly half of INSEAD's new clients.

We were also delighted to learn that our Strategic Transformation Advisors Programme for Tata Consultancy Services had won a gold medal in the Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards, in the category of Best Unique or Innovative Leadership Programme, in addition to a MERIT Award for Organisational Development. However, many of our corporate programmes – too numerous to mention – are worthy of celebration, including former prize winners, such as Jardines’ continuum of learning across the company hierarchy, and more recent partnerships, such as that with Infineon Technologies for senior management development.

Another new partnership of the year brought with it a mixture of emotions. The INSEAD Hans H. Wahl Impact Entrepreneurship Programme was created in memory of our late and much missed colleague, an early pioneer of business as a force for good. The programme is to be run every two years with the support of partners, including in 2023: the Cartier Women’s Initiative, the European Investment Bank Institute, and the Tommy Hilfiger Social Innovation Challenge. Partners select and sponsor at least two participants, who also embark on a learning expedition to the ChangeNOW Summit. The focus is on integrating business and impact to find sustainable solutions to societal challenges. We look forward to running the programme again in 2025.

The new centralised Marketing and Recruitment Department is taking our marketing to a new level. Created to leverage synergies and share expertise within a more holistic view of the business education market, it is also harnessing the power of portfolio and digital innovation to address the needs of our executives and organisations. After barely a year in existence, it has already delivered a new e-commerce portal for a smoother customer journey and payment platform for our online programmes. Phase 1 made it easier for individual applicants to understand, apply and pay fees, while Phase 2, launching early in 2024, will enable organisations to enrol groups of participants.

As well as digital innovations, we are introducing joint marketing campaigns, such as 'Ambition Has No Gender'. This aims to improve female representation across our Degree Programme and Executive Education portfolio, at the same time sending a powerful message about INSEAD’s support for women at every stage of their careers.