PIM History

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In 1973, three graduate business schools, Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC), New York University (NYU), and London Business School (LBS), succeeded in overcoming academic isolationism and multiple logistical obstacles to make student exchanges a reality. Through continuous dialogue and a strong commitment to the idea, three faculty members – Ed Altman, Richard Zisswiller and Jim Ball – now Sir James Ball – created the first international business student exchange network.

PIM, « Partnership in International Management », is today a consortium of top business schools from around the world that exchanges select graduate students for one academic term. PIM is governed by a covenant signed by all PIM members in 1986 in Milan and revised in 1994 in Rotterdam and 1999 in Melbourne. The PIM Steering Committee is comprised of three elected chairpersons responsible for strategic planning and membership.

Additional top schools joined the community recently (Guanghua School of Management, Peking University, Indian School of Business Hyderabad), making PIM growing to a network of 57 business schools worldwide. Member institutions share reputations for upholding the highest degree of academic excellence both regionally and globally and value the organization’s spirit of international cooperation among its students, faculty and administrations. PIM member institutions have exchanged several thousands of students through the years. The know-how acquired within PIM has permitted members to develop and enhance the international commitment of their institutions. Members meet annually to network, share best practices, discuss PIM’s strategies for growth and development and collectively address issues that impact international education.

Universities that wish to join the network are encouraged to review the Guidelines for Guest Schools (revised version soon available).

 

What does PIM offer?

  • Mutual recognition of both the quality and reputation of partner universities.
  • The definition of the basic rules of the game involved in student exchanges. These rules have become universal: balanced exchange flows, tuition fees paid to the home institution, transfer of credits acquired in the host institution towards the home degree.
  • Networking on best practices in exchange coordination, new program development, academic equality issues, global trends in business education and other issues of mutual interest.
  • Further cooperation through exchanges of professors and common research projects.

 

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