Rennes School of Business rethinks management training in collaboration with Microsoft
On 30 January 2025, a partnership agreement was signed between Rennes School of Business and Microsoft to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into the school’s management courses and transform the learning experience for its students.
Jordane Pedron, Corporate Relations Director and Thomas Coustenoble, Education & Research Director – Microsoft France
This collaboration reflects a shared ambition: to prepare students to master tomorrow’s essential technological skills while transforming traditional teaching methods.
A partnership focused on innovation and digital transformation
This collaboration is taking the form of innovative programmes, including Microsoft certifications in AI, accessible to students, teachers and school staff through workshops, courses and hackathons. These initiatives aim to develop essential skills such as critical thinking, AI ethics and ‘prompt engineering’, while encouraging the integration of these uses into teaching.
As part of this, our reverse mentoring approach continues, following the sessions with the SNCF and Danone: students pass on their knowledge of artificial intelligence to managers and executives through real-life applications in companies. This scheme, which combines learning with professional impact, also helps to support organisations in their digital transformation.
A partnership with multiple dimensions
The partnership agreement between Rennes School of Business and Microsoft is not limited to technology, but also encompasses pedagogical and strategic objectives:
- Being ready for the future: allowing all our students to master generative AI and obtain Microsoft certifications.
- Reinventing learning: taking part in a ‘Classroom of the Future’ where innovative technologies are displayed alongside PC-based experimentation (AI prototypes, cybersecurity, virtual reality); training teachers in the MS Learn for educators programme.
- Bringing business into the school: welcoming Microsoft experts on teaching committees and speaking to students.
Education at the service of innovation
This collaboration is fully in line with the vision of Rennes School of Business to reinvent management training. By integrating AI at the heart of its teaching, the school is pursuing its objective of training leaders capable of evolving, deciding and acting with and for a world in transition.
