2019 Benefitting Society Finalist: Grenoble Ecole de Management, France

GEM Refugee Grant Program – It takes a community!
Working together for integration and access to higher education

Since 2015, Grenoble Ecole de Management has mobilized to offer the GEM Refugee Grant Program that offers tuition remission to up to ten qualified students with refugee status in GEM programs per year. This grant program operates in the context of a close collaboration with the local university consortium and partners of the Communauté Université Grenoble Alpes.  The COMUE coordinates an ongoing working group bringing together GEM and other local higher education institutions along with student housing/social services organizations and local humanitarian associations.  It takes a community to do the work of orienting, advising and integrating refugees into higher education! This cooperation takes the form of a solidarity "hub" in Grenoble that is unique in France.

Top 3 learnings:

1. Welcoming migrant students contributes to an inclusive and diverse educational environment and builds shared values ​​of solidarity and hospitality.
2. Collaborating to facilitate refugees’ integration into higher education creates cohesion among students, staff and faculty and connects everyone to the local community.
3. It takes a community of empowered actors to create positive impact and sustainable solutions to global social challenges.

What it means to win

It is an honor to be recognized as a part of local consortium that welcomes migrants and engages fully with global challenges through access to higher education.  We hope that this encourages other schools and universities to do the same.  The Refugee Grant Program embodies our school’s values and mission to have a positive impact on society through partnerships and commitment to inclusivity, social justice and economic peace.  It truly exemplifies our ambition to be a School for Business for Society.

Dr. Loick Roche
Director of Grenoble Ecole de Management

This finalist is a Green Gown Award Regional Winner.

Videos

• Video #1 (click to hide)