SBS-EM's Mission

One hundred years ago, our founder Ernest Solvay, defined the School mission as follows:

“The mission of the Solvay Business School is to train men and women who are capable of selecting, initiating and managing.”

By and large, this mission has remained unchanged but has now been extended with the creation of the new SBS-EM:

"The SBS-EM’s mission is to generate and share knowledge in the fields of economics and management, in order to educate and train professionals who act responsibly to respond to the needs for governance, efficiency, and innovation of our ever-evolving societies."

SBS-EM's Values

1. "Libre examen" (or "Free inquiry") is a core tenet of the Université Libre de Bruxelles' philosophy since its creation in 1834. This implies the rejection of ideas imposed by authority, the exercise of critical thought and academic freedom. For a school of Economics and Management, this is essential: it must refuse, no matter the circumstances, to submit knowledge, whether it is in research or teaching, to the interests of the political, economic or any other order. A theory acquires the status of knowledge because it is empirically validated and not because it meets the expectations or demands of certain parties.

2. Equal opportunity is another fundamental value held dear by the Université Libre de Bruxelles and university education in Belgium as a whole. The SBS-EM, as we have seen, fully endorses the principles of democracy in subsidized studies (open-access, low student fees).

3. Respect for diversity is the third value cherished by the Université Libre de Bruxelles and one which the SBS-EM fully endorses. Brussels is a deeply cosmopolitan and multicultural city. This trait is strongly reflected in the cultural diversity within the University, and equally within the School. The SBS-EM sees cultural differences as a plus and something that contributes to an intellectual openness.

4. Since the creation of the School, the principle of responsibility inspires professors and students alike. It means assuming responsibility for one's actions and their consequences without hiding behind an authority, a scapegoat or misfortune. It presupposes the principle of accountability, whereby everyone should render account of his or her tasks or missions. Finally, it presupposes a method of evaluation: an individual submits to the judgment of others and is exposed to both positive and negative sanctions.

5. Excellence is another important value that is broadly shared. The studies are demanding, repeatedly putting students to the challenge – which sometimes surprise Erasmus students coming from foreign Universities. At the SBS-EM, it is considered that no-one deserves to feel proud if content to live without ever challenging our limits.

6. Finally, since its creation, the entrepreneurial spirit has influenced the School’s culture. The SBS-EM is strongly attached to that mindset and all that it implies: a pragmatic optimism, a respect for all actors, a look to the future, the ability to see problems as opportunities and the present as a reservoir of possibilities. This value shows itself in the dynamism of the students, the initiative and leadership of professors in lifelong learning programmes, the debates at the Advisory Board and also in the importance of entrepreneurship programmes in Executive Education.