The two-day contest saw students from schools in France, Norway and Ireland rise to the challenge of solving a business problem posed by partner company, TNP consultants. The contest, organized by TBS Education teaching staff and the Centre for Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, involved students from TBS Education’s MSc Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and the MSc Artificial Intelligence and Business Analytics, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology’s MSc in Informatics, and students on the University of Galway’s MSc Business Analytics program. Dataiku, a well-known provider of top notch data science platforms was also a partner of the event. 

Datathon 2024

The expert business consulting firm TNP Consultants came up with the following challenge:  implement a “credit scoring” tool to enable a company called “Prêt à dépenser” (“Ready to Spend”) to approve or reject a loan to a client. 

The students also had to produce a video describing and explaining Artificial Intelligence.  

This multi-country competition in English gave students a chance to develop their international network while working on a professional challenge that involved interacting with leading companies in the world of Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence. 

“The Datathon is the perfect example of all the synergies that are happening in the perimeter of analytics and AI because it connects professors who are experts in analytics and AI, our two MSc programs in Analytics and AI, and it also connects with the industry.” Kevin Carillo.  

How is the Datathon organized?  

On the first day of the competition, students met on the TBS Education campus for a presentation of the competition and the business problem, then got working on their projects. The aim was to develop the best machine learning algorithm to make the most accurate predictions. Students also had the chance to take part in a Q&A session with Datathon partners and professors. Participants had until midnight to send in their pitch videos.  

On the second day, after a debriefing by the teams, participants were able to continue working on their projects, and the 3 best projects then presented a pitch of their work.  

The competition ended with an awards ceremony where the students shared social time with the professors and partners.  

“What’s really important about Datathon is the development of students’ skills and the exponential learning component.” Jessica Chagnard. 

3 challenges = 3 awards! 

The Datathon includes 3 challenges, and therefore 3 awards:  

• Best Presentation, for the quality of the pitch and project presentation  
• Best Model, which rewards the technical quality of the group’s predictive algorithm. 
• AI Master Challenge, based on the quality of the group’s final work.  

Our partners 

This year, the Datathon welcomed two well-known partners in the Artificial Intelligence industry:  

TNP Digital Factory, experts in digital transformation, providing complete and personalized solutions for businesses.  

“What’s interesting for us with TBS Education is that we can have a partnership with a renowned school with such a high academic level.” Riyad Lounissi from TNP Digital Factory. 

Dataiku, a French company specializing in Data Sciences, which develops platforms to analyze data and predict movements in the Big Data environment.  

The winners  

The winner in the Best Presentation and Best AI Model categories are the PowerPuff Data group, composed of students from the MSc Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (formerly Big Data, Marketing & Management) of TBS Education .  

And the winner of the AI Master Challenge category is TBS Education’s MSc Data Science & Artificial Intelligence. 

Congratulations to all the students for their hard work and investment in this competition!  

An international and professional experience  

“I think it’s a great experience for all students to participate in an international event” Patrick Makalif. 

This intense 2-day experience enabled all participating students to confront the challenges of professional life by working and interacting, in English, with international students, professors and industry professionals.    

“I think that this Datathon what actually does is gives you not only the technical capacity but also the business skills required.” Anastasia Griva

The TBS Education Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence & Business Analytics aims to become a leading research center in France on all topics linked to artificial intelligence and data analytics. As such, the center is internationally oriented mainstreaming pedagogical innovation into the classroom, fostering academic research, and building European collaborations to maintain a transverse living lab.  

Industry connections are evident during events such as the AI Day conference, ERASMUS Days* and the annual Datathon. During these events TBS Education works alongside high-profile institutions and industrial players such as the University of Johannesburg (South Africa), University of Technology Sydney (Australia), University of Bradford (United Kingdom), University of Galway (Ireland) and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Institute of Data-Driven Decisions of Esade Airbus, MIT, APEM, IBM, PwC, and Pierre Fabre, Microsoft, SAP, SAS, and CGI. 

Synergies with ERASMUS Days

During the annual ERASMUS Days 2023 campaign, a panel of experts discussed diversity and European values as drivers towards a code of corporate ethics as AI and generative technologies take on new business functions. The ecosystem that drives the Center of Excellence came to life as academics, industry experts, regulators, and watchdogs took the stage to debate the challenges that surround AI. The theme chosen by TBS Education was centered on a European approach to the AI technology which is revolutionizing the field of education, employment, work, and even legal and ethical rules right down to their development. This revolution is equal to or perhaps greater than the arrival of the internet. 

The round table brought together Martin Ulbrich, economist, expert within the European Commission in the “Development and coordination of AI policies” unit, Kevin Carillo, Head of the Artificial Intelligence & Business Analytics Center of Excellence at TBS Education, Aiad Outemsaa, project manager for IBM, Blockchain expert, specialized in the financial sector and Yann Ferguson, Doctor in sociology, associate researcher at the CERTOP laboratory at Jean Jaurès University, member of GPAI, global partnership for an AI respectful of human rights and democracy, today director of Labor IA, a joint laboratory between the Ministry of Labor and INRIA to identify the effects of AI on work. 

What’s Next for AI

As AI continues to grow, academic institutions and many companies are choosing to adopt codes of conduct regarding AI. We now must ask the questions: How can we harmonize AI policies for all EU countries? What is the AI Act based on and how can we describe it? What are its main principles? Are generative AIs of the same nature and scope as other AIs, and do we end up with the same regulations? What place for women in the AI ​​sector? These topics are just some of the questions that the speakers shed light on throughout the debate, which was moderated by Valérie Ravinet, journalist specializing in AI. 

As TBS Education continues to foster and build awareness with decision makers and industry experts on regulatory measures for the future AI, the Centre of Excellence will develop its expertise in this field highlighting the impact of AI on higher education and the impact of generative artificial intelligence on students’ study paths, skills and chosen professions.  

*The ERASMUS Days campaign is a week-long celebration of the Erasmus+ program in Europe and all over the world. At TBS Education we show our support of international education, training youth and sport by organizing corporate events, student-led social gatherings, and staff workshops.   

During the ERASMUS Days the EU’s flagship program provides the ideal environment to promote mobility, reinforce the importance of inclusive international education models, bring together the entire student body and showcase strong European collaborations such as partnerships with the Center of Excellence and our engagement in other projects such as the UNIVERSEH project, European Space University for Earth, and Humanity. 

The 2024 Eduniversal ranking of the Best Masters, MS and MBA programs once again highlights several of TBS Education’s Mastère Spécialisé (MS – Specialized Master), Master of Business Administration and Master of Science programs.

Eduniversal, an unique classification in France

Eduniversal is the only French ranking system that exclusively assesses the individual quality of each program. The ranking system is based on a sectoral approach and a specific market criterion, providing students a real tool for refining their choice of future program. The Eduniversal ranking is based on 3 main criteria:

• The program’s reputation
• Salary on completion
• Student satisfaction

Our programs ranked by Eduniversal

Our 9 Mastère Spécialisé (MS) programs in the Top 10 of the rankings

The Eduniversal ranking highlights 9 of our Mastère Spécialisé (MS) programs, with the MS Expert en Audit Interne et Contrôle de Gestion and the MS Manager de Structures Sanitaires et Sociales still at the top. Also in the Top 5 are our MS Manager Marketing et Communication, Juriste Manager des Affaires, Manager Marketing et Commercial dans les Industries de Santé, Manager des Ressources Humaines, and MS Manager de l’Innovation Technologique.

• MS Expert en Audit Interne et Contrôle de Gestion (Expert in Internal Auditing and Management Control): 1st place
• MS Manager de Structures Sanitaires et Sociales (Manager of Health and Social Services): 1st place
• MS Manager Marketing et Communication (Marketing and Communication Marketing): 2nd place (+2 places)
• MS Juriste Manager des Affaires (Legal Business Manager): 3rd place
• MS Manager Marketing et Commercial dans les Industries de Santé (Marketing and Sales Manager in the Healthcare Industries): 3rd place
• MS Manager des Ressources Humaines (Human Resources Manager): 4th place
• MS Manager de l’Innovation Technologique (Technical Innovation Manager): 5th place (+1 place)
• MS Manager Achats & Supply Chain (Purchasing and Supply Chain): 7th place (+2 places)
• MS Expert en Banque et Ingénierie Financière (Banking and Financial Engineering Expert): 8th place

The Global Executive MBA in 9th place

• Global Executive MBA: 9th place (+1 place)

The placement of our 7 Master of Science programs:

• MSc International Business : 6th place
• MSc Big Data, Marketing & Management : 9th place
• MSc Banking & International Finance : 10th place
• MSc International Luxury Industries Management : 10th place
• MSc Management des Activités culturelles et créatives : 12th place
• MSc Marketing, Management & Communication : 14th place
• MSc Purchasing and Supply Chain Management : 14th place

Anne RIVIERE, Directrice de la Formation InitialeAt TBS Education, we place the educational wellbeing of our students at the heart of our considerations. This involves actions in several aeras: Educational innovation, student experience, new campuses… We guarantee an innovative and inspiring learning environment for everyone.

Anne RIVIERE, Director of Initial Training

Our ambition: to develop a scial polity that promotes inclusion and contributes to equal opportunity

Our diversity policy is supported by a network of institutions, partner associations and resource people, all contributing through their actions to our commitment to inclusion and equal opportunity.

• Commitment to inclusion and diversity. In line with its ambitious social policy, TBS Education is a signatory to the CGE’s charter of commitment to inclusion and respect for diversity;
  • Combating discrimination: TBS Education is committed to preventing sexual harassment and sexist, sexual and homophobic violence by setting up initiatives to prevent, report and deal with such situations. These actions are aimed at both students and staff.
  • Diversity at TBS Education: In terms of TBS Education staff, the balance between men and women is 42.3% in the permanent faculty, and over 70% of the members of the restricted management committee are women. Nationality diversity within the school is also significant, with 51 foreign nationals from 28 different countries.

• Period poverty: According to a 2021 FAGE survey, period poverty affects a third of female students in France. A partnership has been signed between our school, the PRISM student association and Fava, la box des protections intimes, to equip all our Toulouse campuses with free dispensers of 100% organic, eco-responsible and solidarity-based menstrual protection.
• Equality between men and women: EQUAL.ID is a program designed to help women, men and organizations work together to improve mentalities and behavior. This ambitious project raises students’ awareness of gender inequality in the workplace and combats stereotypes, from the moment they enter TBS Education until they enter the job market.
• STOP sexual and gender-based violence: At the heart of TBS Education’s values, the fight against all types of discrimination and violence, particularly sexist and sexual violence, must ensure that everyone at the school is respected everywhere and in every situation. Sexist and sexual violence (SGBV) can be defined very briefly as comments, acts or behaviors (physical or non-physical) that target a person’s sex, sexual orientation or gender identity (sexism, harassment, sexual assault, rape, homophobia, transphobia).

What do our students think:

“Student associations allow us to get involved in topics that interest us.”

“It’s a school where we feel good, where everything is done to make our future a success“

“A very active alumni network that provides interesting opportunities and gives me a chance to talk about my future.”

“Numerous international students within the school and option of studying abroad.”

“The chance to develop an important professional network around the word.”

“The kindness of the administration, and professors who help students make the best choices for their careers.”

“Internship opportunities thanks to company networking events.”

“The guest speakers give us a professional perspective, which is great.“

Happy at School

Fighting gender inequality at work means going back to the source. Injustices often go back to the student experience, where they are more pronounced. School is more than just a place of learning, it’s the place where tomorrow’s professionals are forged.

ChooseMyCompany

“HappyAtSchool” is a label that rewards student fulfillment in higher education.

The platform attributes the “HappyAtSchool” label based on a student satisfaction survey, and offers an annual ranking that highlights the schools and universities that make a real effort to meet the key expectations of their students, thus highlighting the schools that students prefer and where it’s good to study!

In 2023, TBS Education comes 4th in this ranking.

The methodological approach of the HappyAtSchool label convinced us of the importance of obtaining metrics to improve our learning environment, to better understand the needs and expectations of our students in order to implement specific initiatives and enhance their experience within their study path.

Obtaining this label enables applicants who are particularly sensitive to CSR issues on the one hand, and student wellbeing on the other, to easily recognize schools that, like us, have made these subjects part of their school model. In addition to the renewal of our label, we are proud to have been consistently well ranked among the top business schools , reflecting our commitment to well-being, environmental issues, social inclusiveness and equality between men and women… all issues to which our school has made a solid commitment in terms of pedagogy and associative projects.

Anne RIVIERE, Director of Initial Training

How is the HappyIndex®AtSchool ranking calculated?

Every student can complete the HappyIndex®AtSchool survey on request from their school or student association.

This 21-questions survey calculates 2 values:

• The average of the 21 questions gives a score /5, known as the “survey score”.
• A recommendation rate, which is the percentage of students who answered, “somewhat agree” or “strongly agree” to the question “I would recommend my school to a friend to study at”.
• The survey participation rate is also calculated as follows: number of students who responded / total number of students at the school.

The ranking score is equal to the “questionnaire score” multiplied by 2, then weighted by the participation rate and the recommendation rate:

• If the participation rate is greater than or equal to 30%, then the coefficient is 1. As soon as this rate decreases, then the coefficient decreases proportionally and lowers the questionnaire score.
• If the recommendation rate is greater than or equal to 70%, then the coefficient is 1. If this rate decreases, then the coefficient decreases proportionally and lowers the questionnaire score.
• The formula is 2 × HappyIndex × participation coefficient × recommendation coefficient

The partnership agreement between the two establishments was signed on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, on the TBS Education campus. This agreement, renewed for the 3rd time, illustrates not only the strength of our partnership, but also our mutual commitment to academic excellence.

Long-term bonds between the two schools

The renewal of the partnership agreement between TBS Education and ICT represents a key milestone in the relationship between our two establishments. This is the third time the agreement has been renewed, testifying to the strong ties built up over the years and the shared ambition to continue the partnership. This partnership demonstrates a deep commitment to developing new projects and initiatives together.

A prep school/management school continuum

One of the special features of this collaboration is its illustration of the Prep school/Management School continuum. For the Grande École Program students, especially those from literary studies, this agreement offersa unique opportunity. During their time at TBS Education, our students can follow specialized courses in applied foreign languages, philosophy or cultural project management at the ICT.

This diversification of career paths is a real strength, enabling students to develop distinctive skills. This is just one of the 100 double degree options available to students on the TBS Education Grande Ecole Program, enabling them to build a profile and a career path adapted to their needs.

A multi-program approach

Another key feature of this partnership is its multi-program approach. While students in TBS Education’s Grande École Program have the option of enrolling in bachelor’s degrees offered by the ICT, ICT students can simultaneously obtain the Bachelor in Management degree from TBS Education. This approach encourages rich teaching and offers students great flexibility in building their academic careers.

What is CEO Magazine?

Since 2012, CEO Magazine has compiled its annual Global MBA Rankings, selecting the best MBA, Executive MBA and online MBA programs. The ranking is based on objective, verifiable criteria designed to identify institutions offering an outstanding combination of academic quality and return on investment.

TBS Education ranked 12^th with its Global Executive MBA programme (up 3 places)

The Global MBA ranking recently unveiled by CEO Magazine places TBS Education 12^th, highlighting the excellence of its continuing education programme: the Global Executive MBA (GEMBA).

This recognition testifies to TBS Education’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence and pedagogical innovation. Ranking 12th worldwide, up 3 places on the previous year, TBS Education confirms its academic leadership in the field of management and executive education.

Our Global Executive MBA programme

The part-time Global Executive MBA combines efficiency and employability, offering a choice of two specialised pathways: Strategic Management or Aerospace Management.

Be inspired by the best and join this programme, designed to energise your teams and your career path. An exceptional opportunity to aspire to excellence and propel your career to new horizons.

This programme is aimed at a range of profiles:

• Managers wishing to support their professional development and take on new challenges,
• Engineers and executives from all sectors seeking high-level managerial expertise,
• People in career transition who are looking for significant career development,
• Ambitious entrepreneurs.

Join us for an enriching and transforming learning experience, where academic excellence meets the challenges of today’s business world.

TBS Education’s Executive Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) program is a bridge between the world of research and the world of business. By creating this link, TBS Education is preparing the managers of the future.

To learn, understand and use the scientific method to better manage businesses: that’s the ambition of TBS Education’s DBA Executive Doctorate of Business Administration program. A program that delivers the title of doctor because it requires spending four years writing a thesis, having adopted a research approach to reflect on your working practices. “Following this program is not just about doing a thesis, it’s not just about having the title of doctor on a business card,” emphasizes Stéphane Thion, program manager since 2022. “It’s about discovering and using a very powerful tool in today’s world where information is difficult to decipher, and knowledge is rapidly evolving“. The former marketing director of an Orange Business Services Business Unit, now a research professor, has first-hand experience of moving into a new professional universe. After more than 20 years in the corporate world, he went back to school in 2015 to write his thesis. He now focuses on sharing the scientific method with learners at the helm of companies (executives, department, or business unit directors, etc.), management schools and the world of consulting.

A world where nothing is certain

“In the world of business, when you’re at executive level, you’re expected to be sure of yourself. When you engage in research, you learn that in reality, there is no certainty, and that yesterday’s knowledge is no longer valid today. You have to learn how to behave in a world where nothing is certain”.

— Stéphane Thion, program manager since 2022

And it’s precisely this scientific methodology that the program manager intends to share with learners: accessing information, processing it, evaluating it and extrapolating from it in order to adapt to a context. Decision-making is particularly arduous, not least because each decision is subject to cognitive bias. This biased thinking, like intuition, over-confidence or even emotion, influences our judgements and leads us down the wrong paths. “This is what the scientific method teaches us, and this is what is taught on the program. The ultimate goal isn’t just to improve the decision-making process, but also add to the sum of human knowledge”.

In eight weeks, on-site in Paris, Toulouse and Barcelona or remotely, year-groups of 12 to 18 people, recruited from every continent, are introduced to this research methodology, identify the subject of their thesis and write it, then defend it in front of a jury as they would in the academic world.

The training helps very high-level managers to develop a key skill for the world of the future: learning how to apply analytic thinking to strategy, marketing and finance. TBS Education’s Executive DBA program, which has been awarded triple accreditation for management training, is showing our future leaders the way ahead.

In a strategic move to strengthen its teams, TBS Education is announcing the creation of a full-time Education Department, headed by Anne Rivière, accompanied by Jean-François Salies as Director of the full-time Education Department.

For Stéphanie Lavigne, Managing Director of TBS Education, “the new full-time education Department is excellent news for our Bachelor, Grande Ecole, MSc and DCG-DSCG programmes. With the creation of this programme-focused department, we want to strengthen the visibility of TBS Education by coordinating practices and pooling resources.”

A consolidated structure with the Initial Training Department

Anne Rivière and Jean-François Salies, who have been with TBS Education for 19 and 24 years respectively, held the positions of Director and Deputy Director of the Grande École Programme and Master of Sciences until February. Anne Rivière, who is now Director of the full-time education programme, shares her enthusiasm: “I’m proud to be continuing the collective drive to increase the visibility and attractiveness of our programmes, both in France and internationally. It will be a great challenge to write a new chapter together for the future students of TBS Education.”

Jean-François Salies, Director of Operations for Initial Training, added: “After many years of service to the Grande École programme, and in particular the last four working alongside Anne Rivière, it is a great honour to accompany her in this new challenge for Initial Training. With Patricia Bournet and Miguel Urdanoz, we will form a solid team capable of providing students with the best possible support in all our programmes.”

Ranked 10th in the 2024 list of post-prep business schools by Le Point last February, TBS Education has structured and strengthened its teams to offer courses that meet the ever-increasing expectations of learners and maintain a high level of quality.

Key figures in TBS Education for over 10 years

Miguel Urdanoz, the new Master of Management Director, holds a doctorate in economics from the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris and the Toulouse School of Economics. He joined TBS Education in 2010 as a professor of industrial organisation, logistics and technology. Committed to his academic department and to the school, he was Head of the Industrial Organisation, Logistics and Technology Department for six years.

Miguel Urdanoz will continue the work initiated by his predecessor, Anne Rivière, by focusing on the academic excellence of the Grande École Programme.

Miguel Urdanoz says: “It is an honour to become Director of the Master in Management, and I am fortunate to be doing so alongside Anne and the entire school team. The duality of my origins and my deep attachment to Toulouse fully embody the identity of our school, both local and international, in the service of diversity and inclusion.“

Patricia Bournet is now extending her responsibilities to international recruitment for initial training programmes, after a decade of dedicated involvement with the school. “I’m delighted to be contributing to the international development of the school that I know so well, and to bring my added value in terms of multicampus and intercultural management.“

Our Master in Management program has moved up one place in Le Point’s 2024 Master in Management ranking. It is now in 10^th place and remains on an upward trajectory. Our school also distinguished itself in the ecological transition category, holding onto 2^nd place.

This accolade testifies not only to the quality of our training program, but also to our commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainable Development, particularly in the context of our transition to a business for good.

A RANKING  BASED ON SIX KEY CRITERIA

 “Each school answered 60 questions online. The responses were cross-checked by a dedicated team who drew on figures from previous years, as well as on information supplied by specialist bodies : Commission d’évaluation des formations et diplômes de gestion (CEFDG), Conférence des grandes écoles (CGE), accreditation bodies, etc.”

Claire Lefebvre Le Point 02/15/2024

This ranking assesses 37 establishments on the basis of 60 questions and some 100 parameters covering six major themes:

• teaching and learning
• international
• professionalization
• selectivity
• research
• academic recognition

This general ranking is accompanied by a number of focuses, including one on business schools identified as the most committed to ecological transition. We are proud to be ranked second for the second year running.

In the French entrepreneurial arena, Qui Veut Être Mon Associé (QVEMA) is an essential springboard for entrepreneurs looking to give their project a significant boost. One of the participants was at the TBSeeds incubator and another was an alumni!

Coach and TBS Education alumni

Among the programme’s team, the famous Startup Coach, Aram Attar, is a TBS Education alumni.

A 2023 graduate of the Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA), specialising in entrepreneurship, he defended his thesis “How Do Entrepreneurs Manage Their Mental Health?” at the same time as the QVEMA programme.

TBSeeds: a star seed at QVMA

The programme will take a particularly interesting turn for the TBS Education community as Brice Cavelier, a former TBSeeds incubatee, will appear on the show to present UpFiner.

UpFiner is a brand of nomadic safe with theft detection and alarm, manufactured in the Occitanie region of France, for securing valuables during travel and/or activities.

One question remains: will Brice be able to convince the show’s seven seasoned investors?

Join us on 21 February, at 9.10pm on M6, to find out the answer and support Brice in his entrepreneurial adventure!

TBSeeds

Since 2012, 173 projects have been supported by our TBSeeds incubator!

This synergy between quality education and an accessible entrepreneurial ecosystem makes TBS Education a fertile ground for launching and developing innovative projects.