History

Founded in 1903 by the Toulouse Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the initial mission of Toulouse Business School was to respond to the need in the local community for highly trained business leaders and personnel.

Originally housed in a 15th century monastery located in the city center of Toulouse, the school began as one of France’s prestigious Grandes Ecoles and was known as Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Toulouse (ESC Toulouse). ESC Toulouse offered a single graduate degree to a highly select group of students. The school later pursued a vigorous policy of program development and diversification, and renamed itself Toulouse Business School (TBS) to reflect its broader mandate.

Today, TBS is one of France’s leading integrated management schools, with a primary mission of preparing students for managerial responsibilities through the development of their analytical, integrative, and interpersonal skills while promoting a lifelong learning process. The international scope and academic tradition at TBS continues to evolve in exciting directions, with partnerships around the world and new degree programs taught on campuses in Barcelona and Casablanca.

1903

  • Founding of Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Toulouse 

 

1913

  • Visit to ESC Toulouse by French President Raymond Poincaré

 

1947

  • Following governmental reforms, an entrance exam is introduced in all Ecoles de Commerce, allowing TBS to become more selective


1985

  • TBS becomes a founding member of the Conférence des Grandes Ecoles (a non-profit association of leading management and engineering schools)


1987

  • TBS begins offering courses in Morocco, through the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry

 

1991

  • The teaching methods, degrees, and autonomy of l’Ecole de Commerce (ESC)  are endorsed by the French Ministry of Education

 

1995

  • Creation of the Escuela Superior Europea de Comercio (ESEC) in Barcelona, Spain, in partnership with the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Barcelona

 

2000

  • Launch of the Aerospace MBA – our state-of-the-art management program for aerospace professionals, the only program of its kind in Europe

 

2001

  • TBS first awarded EQUIS accreditation (renewed in 2009 for 5 years)
  • Launch of our campus in Casablanca – offering four programs in French: Bachelor, Master of Science, Specialized Masters, Tri-Executive MBA, and MSc

 

2002

  • TBS first awarded AMBA accreditation (renewed in 2012 for 3 years)

 

2003

  • TBS first awarded AACSB accreditation (renewed in 2009 for 5 years)

 

2005

  • Launch of a new suite of specialized master’s programs, the largest graduate education offering in France with five master’s programs and 23 specializations
  • TBS has the most sought-after management program in France; 5,386 candidates took part in the 2005 entrance exam

 

2006

  • Agreement signed with the Institut d'Administration des Entreprises including the creation of a joint doctoral program
  • Launch of our new bachelor’s program offering two specializations: international management and e-management
  • Creation of Capitolis at TBS, a school for international marketing in partnership with Pierre Fabre Laboratories
  • Launch of our Management Consultant MBA in partnership with Syntec Management

 

2007

  • Creation of the Toulouse Business School Foundation
  • Launch of the Masters in Management (“Grande Ecole”) program on Casablanca campus

 

2008

  • Inauguration of our new campus in Barcelona, Spain

 

2010

  • Inauguration of the Bosco building at TBS, hosting the specialized master’s and Aerospace MBA programs
  • Opening of a new 300m2 library on the Barcelona campus
  • Launch of TBScope, our institutional magazine with a distribution of over 9,000

 

2011

  • Opening of the Alaric building and new media lab in Toulouse
  • Opening of the Paris branch campus for continuing education

 

2012

  • Launch of our Grande Ecole program in Casablanca

2013

  • TBS replaces its signature used for the last 15 years – “To train pilots of change” – with “Think and Create”
  • The School updates its logo and graphics
  • Jacques IGALENS is appointed Director of Toulouse Business School
  • Partnership signed with ENAC, creating 4 double degrees through TBS’s Grande Ecole (MiM) program and ENAC, and the launch of a new Aviation Management path for the Bachelor program
  • Partnership signed with IEP Toulouse, creating double degrees through TBS’s Grande Ecole (MiM) program and Sciences Po Toulouse
  • Partnership signed with the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, creating 2 double degrees in Finance and Marketing for the Masters Science programs
  • Launch of the Strategic Steering Chair in SMEs with KPMG
  • Launch of Sirius Chair – the first chair dedicated to law and management activities in the space sector – with 5 partners: CNES, Astrium, Thales Alenia Space, University of Toulouse 1 and TBS
  • « Métier : Dirigeant » fête ses 40 ans
  • The CFA celebrates its 10th anniversary