Founded in 1874 in Bordeaux, one of the leading French business schools opened a campus in Dakar in September 2008, then in Abidjan in September 2020. From the École Supérieure de Commerce to the BEM group: more than 130 years of history dedicated to training managers.
The Bordeaux School of Commerce was founded in 1874 to provide teaching in commerce, business administration and management. “ESC Bordeaux” later became “Sup de Co Bordeaux”, and then “BEM Management School”.
Since 2020, BEM has been based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where it develops its programs and strengthens its commitment to sub-Saharan Africa. This presence reflects a clear ambition: to actively contribute to developing the continent’s skills and talent by offering excellent education, closely connected to African economic realities.
BEM’s presence in Abidjan builds on the school’s international experience and its commitment to designing academic paths that are open to the world while remaining rooted in local realities. It rests on a strong conviction: Africa has considerable potential for growth, innovation and entrepreneurship, driven above all by its talent.
On July 1, 2013, BEM Bordeaux merged with the Marseille business school Euromed, giving rise to KEDGE Business School.
The new school brings together more than 10,000 students and 280 professors across 7 campuses. With an annual budget of €82 million, Kedge now ranks among the Top 10 French business schools and is one of the few “triple crown” schools, holding the triple AACSB – EQUIS – AMBA accreditation.
In an increasingly international and competitive landscape for higher education institutions, it is becoming hard for families and students to find their way through the maze of programs and courses. International accreditations and labels help the sector gain clarity and consistency, and our commitment to responsibility requires us at BEM to be fully transparent about these labels.
BEM is ranked “No. 1 Business School in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa” by Jeune Afrique magazine, published in issue no. 3040 of April 14, 2019
Timeline
BEM Dakar founded in collaboration with BEM Bordeaux (now merged with Euromed Marseille as Kedge Business School)
A new campus in Abidjan, operational since September 2020: BEM Abidjan
Creation of a school that
brings together
English-taught programs: DUNIS
Creation of an engineering school:
BEM School of Technology
in Dakar & Abidjan
Opening of the Douala campus
operational since October 2023:
BEM Cameroon
