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International Institute for Management Development

Coordinates: 46°31′N 6°37′E / 46.51°N 6.62°E / 46.51; 6.62
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
IMD
IMD campus in Lausanne
Motto in English
Real Learning Real Impact
TypeAcademic Institute
Established1990; 35 years ago (1990)
ChairmanMichel Demaré
PresidentDavid Bach [1]
Academic staff
60
Administrative staff
450
Students250 degree students
Other students
23,000 executive education participants
Location
Lausanne
,
Vaud
,
Switzerland

46°31′N 6°37′E / 46.51°N 6.62°E / 46.51; 6.62
Websitewww.imd.org

International Institute for Management Development (IMD) is an independent academic institute[2] with campuses in Lausanne, Switzerland and Singapore. IMD is known for its executive education and its proximity to business.[3] In 2024, it named David Bach as its new president.[4]

History and mission

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IMD was formed in January 1990 through the merger of independent management education centers International Management Institute (Geneva) (IMI), established in 1946 by Alcan, and Institut pour l'Etude des Methodes de Direction de l'Entreprise (IMEDE) Lausanne established in 1957 by Nestlé.[5] The new organization, the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), settled in Lausanne. The history of IMEDE and its merger with IMI is documented in Jean-Pierre Jeannet and Hein Schreuder (2015, chapters 2 and 4).[6] Its industrial heritage is unusual for business schools, which are usually university-affiliated.[7]

IMD business school solely provides executive education; it is a Swiss university institute[8] accredited by the Swiss Accreditation Council[9] and it consists of one integrated multidisciplinary faculty. The faculty consists of more than 50 full-time members, made up of 21 different nationalities. The current president is David Bach, who follows Jean-Francois Manzoni, Dominique Turpin, John R. Wells, Peter Lorange, and Juan Rada.[7]

IMD focuses on training and developing general management and leadership skills.[10]

Education

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IMD's educational offerings:[11]

  • Degree programs; the MBA, the Executive MBA, the Msc in Sustainable Management & Technology, the Executive Master in Sustainable Business Transformation, and the Executive Master in AI & Digital Business Transformation.
  • Executive programs for Individuals  
  • Executive programs for Organizations  
  • Online programs
  • Advisory work

MBA program

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The school's MBA program is a one-year full-time program. The program runs from January through December without any break (summer is dedicated to a Company Engagement Project). Each class includes 90 participants from various countries.[12]

In 2022, IMD celebrated its 50 years anniversary of its MBA program. On 8 October 2022, IMD marked this anniversary with a celebratory event on the Lausanne campus with the launch of a book; 50 for 50 – Inspiring leadership journeys from half a century of the IMD MBA, looking back over the last 50 years and looking forward to the future.[13]

Forbes has ranked IMD's MBA #1 among one-year international MBA programs in its 2019 ranking.[14] IMD has held top spots in the ranking since 2001. IMD has also been ranked #1 in 2017, 2013, 2011, 2007, and 2001.[15]

EMBA program

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The Executive MBA targets experienced managers with at least 10 years of experience who seek to strengthen their careers without leaving their jobs. The average class size is around 55 participants of more than 40 nationalities. The program has three components: the foundations for business leadership, the advanced management concepts, and the mastery stage. Altogether the program takes over one year.[16] It has a strong focus on leadership skills, integrated business themes, and the immediate practical application of the subject matter. The 55 selected students have an average age of 40. [17]

Executive Masters

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In 2025, IMD launched two new degree programs in sustainability and artificial intelligence (AI).[18]

Executive Master in Sustainable Business Transformation

The degree program designed for professionals aiming to integrate sustainability into core business strategy and operations. It provides a comprehensive understanding of sustainability strategy, ESG integration, and systems thinking, while also developing the leadership capabilities necessary to drive sustainable transformation across enterprises.[19]

The Executive Master in AI & Digital Business Transformation

The AI program is designed for professionals seeking to deepen their expertise in artificial intelligence (AI), digital innovation, and organizational transformation. This advanced degree combines theoretical knowledge with practical leadership training to equip participants with the skills required to drive digital change within complex business environments.[20]

Master in Sustainable Management and Technology

The Master of Science in Sustainable Management and Technology program is offered by Enterprise for Society (E4S) on behalf of its three partner institutions: the University of Lausanne (UNIL), the Institute for Management Development (IMD), and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)

The 2-year program aims at building competences along three dimensions: technology and innovation, economics and management, and sustainability. Participants in the program learn how to lead teams across multiple disciplines and solve complex problems in corporations, start-ups and NGOs.

The program is intended for holders of a Bachelor degree with little or no professional experience and will bring together students with either an engineering profile or management/economics profile.

Executive education

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Executive education is a fundamental part of the school activities.[7]

IMD has been recognized as the best business school for an open program in executive education from 2012 to 2017.[21]

Ranking

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IMD's full-time MBA has been ranked by Bloomberg[22] and Forbes[23] as one of the best one-year programs in Europe and internationally.

In 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 IMD was ranked first in open programs worldwide by the Financial Times.[24] The FT also places IMD at second in Custom Programs, with the school jumping up two places from fourth in 2016. IMD remained in second place in the combined custom and open program rankings, maintaining its spot from last year.[25]

Notable alumni

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See also: Category:International Institute for Management Development alumni

IMD counts 125’000+ alumnis across 140 countries and 80+ industries.

Faculty

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Partnerships

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IMD has partnerships with[27]

References

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  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ "About us - IMD Business School". www.imd.org. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  3. ^ "The Best One-Year International Business Schools List". Forbes.
  4. ^ "IMD appoints David Bach as its next President - IMD News". www.imd.org. 2024-04-23. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  5. ^ "IMD – International Institute for Management Development". The Economist. Archived from the original on 2014-04-24. Retrieved 2014-04-24.
  6. ^ Jeannet, Jean-Pierre and Hein Schreuder. 2015. "From Coal to Biotech: The transformation of DSM with business school support". Springer. ISBN 978-3662462980
  7. ^ a b c "The Economist: Which MBA". Archived from the original on 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  8. ^ mathieu (2023-04-17). "IMD enhances its academic stature with accreditation as a Swiss university institute". Greater Geneva Bern area. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  9. ^ "IMD accredited as a Swiss university institute". IMD. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
  10. ^ "IMD 1-year MBA Degree - Master Of Business Administration". www.imd.org. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  11. ^ "Degree Programs at IMD Business School". www.imd.org. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  12. ^ "The IMD MBA: 90 Exceptional People Who Will Shape the Future of Business". Beat the GMAT. Archived from the original on 2014-04-25. Retrieved 2014-04-24.
  13. ^ "MBA 50th anniversary at IMD". www.imd.org. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  14. ^ Settimi, Christina. "IMD And London Business School Top Ranking Of The Best International MBA Programs". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  15. ^ "The IMD MBA – a springboard to success – ranked #1 by Forbes once again".
  16. ^ "IMD Executive MBA: Admission & Application to IMD Business School". www.imd.org. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  17. ^ "Executive MBA (EMBA) - Admissions - IMD Business School".
  18. ^ Byrne, John A. (2025-04-03). "IMD Launches First New Degrees In 25 Years: Stackable Executive Masters In AI & Sustainability". Poets&Quants. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  19. ^ "Executive Master in AI & Digital Business Transformation". www.imd.org. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  20. ^ "Executive Master in AI & Digital Business Transformation". www.imd.org. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  21. ^ "IMD Ranking". IMD. Archived from the original on 2016-05-26. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
  22. ^ "Bloomberg best business in Europe". Bloomberg News.
  23. ^ Settimi, Christina (Sep 18, 2019). "IMD And London Business School Top Ranking Of The Best International MBA Programs". Forbes. Archived from the original on Aug 30, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  24. ^ "Executive Education Rankings - Open Programs - 2017". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 2017-05-17. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
  25. ^ Ortmans, Laurent (May 14, 2017). "FT Executive Education Rankings 2017". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 2017-05-20. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
  26. ^ Tutorials, Script. "Varroc Group - Varroc Group Site". www.varrocgroup.com. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  27. ^ "IMD Partnerships - IMD Business School". www.imd.org. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  28. ^ "IMD joins forces with the IDGs Foundation - IMD News". www.imd.org. 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
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