Chairs

The creation of Chairs financed by corporate sponsorship represents an integral part of the strategic objective of the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management to develop the international nature of the School. These Chairs have already enabled us to welcome, among others, Professor Steve Kaplan (University of Chicago), Professor Kenneth Morse (MIT) and Professor Herwigh Langhor (INSEAD).

At the present time the SBS-EM has eight Chairs :

The Solvay S.A. Chair of Innovation The primary purpose of this Chair is to create intellectual capital in the field of technological innovation. The scope of the Chair includes the micro and macro effects of technological innovation as well as the analysis and study of innovation management within companies and society in general. Classes will be given at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management and at INSEAD in order to promote and support scientific research and academic collaboration between the two entities.

The Léo Goldschmidt Chair of Corporate Governance This Chair was launched to create an international centre of excellence in both research and the teaching of Corporate Governance at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management. This area of research is important not only in the business world, but also in society in general, through the study of the institutional and cultural mechanisms that promote the functioning of a company and its relationships with various parties. The Chair is responsible for the organisation of classes within the various academic cycles of the SBS, and also plays an important role in theoretical research and the development of practical applications within the field of corporate governance.

The Suez Chair of Leadership and Personal Development This Chair has as its objective to promote, within the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management, the development of a centre of skills in leadership and personal development, both of which are of increasing importance whatever the company or organisation.

The Bernheim Chair of Entrepreneurship Developed in partnership with the Bernheim Foundation, this Chair has as its objective to study and teach about entrepreneurship in its broadest sense of business creation and the development of a corporate ethos, as well as to promote a spirit of entrepreneurship amongst our graduates. Two integral components to this Chair are the reinforcement of the number of lecturers and research assistants and the Bernheim Prize, which rewards sustainable businesses created by young graduates from the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management (Master of Science in Management, MBA, or Executive Education graduates) or from the VUB.

The Daniel Janssen Chair of Corporate Social Responsibility This Chair provides doctoral students and those participating in a Master of Sciences in Management, an MBA or Executive Education programme, with a critical assessment of the social, economic and environmental role of business in both the commercial and non-commercial sectors. Management today needs to address broader areas such as protection of the life environment, non-discrimination, job quality, sustainable development and business ethics. The framework of this Chair provides students in the programmes listed above with the opportunity to debate such issues with company directors and trade union or NGO officials. Under this Chair, students learn about the range of managerial, economic, social and political approaches within an overall ethical outlook when applied to real problems. The Daniel Janssen Chair in Corporate Social Responsibility is coordinated with the UAE Chair of Business Ethics and the Marie and Alain Philippson Chair of Managing for Sustainable Human Development, as well as with the regular business management classes at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management.

The Marie and Alain Philippson Chair in Managing for Human Sustainable Development ( go to the Marie and Alain Philippson Chair) The Marie and Alain Philippson Chair aims to develop an international centre of expertise in the field of managing for sustainable human development, at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management. The scope of the Marie and Alain Philippson Chair’s is the study of the barriers and possible solutions to the social and economic progress of developing countries. A special emphasis is placed on the role of corporate actors, alone or in interaction with governmental and non-governmental players. Although the Chair is interested in developing countries in general, a particular attention is given to African countries. The Chair offers courses in the programs of BA and MA in Management and MBA, and supervises the graduation thesis of several MA students, at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management. The Chair’s academic activities include also the publication in academic journals, the organisation of conferences, and the supervision of doctoral students. In partnership with companies operating in developing economies, the Chair has launched the Corporate Fellowship Program. This program enables students to have practical experience through field internships and aims to raise students’ awareness, not only about the realities and challenges faced by the developing nations, but also about their possible contribution as future business leaders.

The InBev-Baillet Latour Chair in Euromarketing With 450 million consumers, 25 countries and a major currency shared by most Europeans, one enormous market has emerged, stable, wealthy, and secure… The mission of the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management Euromarketing Research Center is to stimulate high level marketing thinking regarding the specific issues faced by marketing managers on the new unified European market.

The Van Rossum Visiting Professorship in Multiculturalism in Europe In 2001, the CEO of Fortis, Anton Van Rossum made a donation that provided the on-going financing of a visiting professor whose field of specialisation is multiculturalism in Europe. This Chair provides students with the opportunity to study all aspects of multiculturalism in the business world in particular and in European society in general. The Chair will develop teaching that highlights the importance of understanding cultural differences as an input to efficient management.