As part of a social inclusion initiative, they offer a three-year academic program called “The Entrepreneurial School,” funded by sponsors. The first cycle began in Marseille in November 2020 and will expand to Bordeaux and Paris in the following years.

Until recently, inequality of opportunity was mainly between high school graduates and non-graduates. Today, many graduates from disadvantaged neighborhoods are excluded from recruitment channels or unable to pursue their entrepreneurial projects due to numerous barriers, particularly a lack of qualifications. Since adding a two-year post-secondary degree to a CV increases employability by 30%, the post-baccalaureate years have become crucial.

Based on this observation, KEDGE has taken on a mission to support these young people by offering them a unique and personalized value proposition: “The Entrepreneurial School.”

This program provides an innovative response to local needs in terms of inclusion and employment, especially during this period of health and economic crisis. Attracted by its values, prominent regional and national stakeholders support the project:

• The public sector, including government services, local authorities, and public employment services
• The economic world and civil society, including the skills operator (OPCO) AKTO, companies, foundations, and individual sponsors
• Field support organizations such as the Apprentis d’Auteuil Foundation, Fondation de France, Pôle Emploi, APEC, Mission Locale, Massajobs, Make the Choice, Entreprendre pour Apprendre, French Tech Tremplin, and Le Carburateur

Funding

An innovative economic model forms the foundation of the program. Each student-entrepreneur receives a scholarship and a living allowance funded by sponsors, covering tuition and monthly living expenses—amounting to €20,000 per year per student. This allows each student to fully focus on their entrepreneurial project and secure their educational journey.

Thanks to pledged donations and the commitment of public and private stakeholders, KEDGE doubled its initial recruitment target from 10 to 20 student-entrepreneurs in the first year.

Field Support Structures

Young candidates are identified by the aforementioned field support organizations. Their role is to recommend motivated profiles to KEDGE—under 30 years old, holding at least a high school diploma, and carrying a business creation project. Applications must be submitted by September 30. After interviews, twenty candidates will form the first cohort. To ensure equal opportunity between men and women, KEDGE will maintain gender parity. By 2022, 80 students will be selected across the Bordeaux and Marseille campuses.

Bruno Galy, Director of PACA Apprentis d’Auteuil, highlights the importance of this collaboration:
"Only together can we establish true equality of opportunity in access to higher education. By combining our support experience with a school like KEDGE, we offer our programs—and especially the young people who benefit from them—great prospects."

KEDGE’s Commitment

According to Christophe Mouysset, Director of Corporate Relations and Entrepreneurship:
"The creation of this high-quality educational pathway demonstrates KEDGE’s deep roots and its contribution to social inclusion, development, and the attractiveness of the region."
KEDGE is investing €660,000 over the next three years, providing human, educational, and material resources. Its Foundation, under the aegis of Fondation de France, contributes an additional €160,000 to ensure the sustainability of this public-interest project.

Courses will be held at KEDGE’s accelerator, the Business Nursery, where students will engage with experts and successful entrepreneurs—an ideal environment for dedicated coaching. They will also receive support from interns from Epitech and other digital schools in the Code4Marseille network to develop the digital products needed for their businesses.

Teachers, supported by partners and experienced entrepreneurs, are designing a 400-hour program aligned with market expectations in terms of skill frameworks.

Career Outcomes

At the end of the three years, students will be awarded the “General Management Program” title and may choose to pursue a Master’s degree. If they decide to leave the program early, they will receive a certification recognizing their acquired skills.

Éric Sirven, Head of Sponsorship and the Entrepreneurial School project, states:
"Whether a young person completes all or part of the three-year program and then joins a company impressed by their entrepreneurial skills or starts their own business—either way, it’s a successful outcome for everyone. Employability will be achieved through self-awareness, learning experience, knowledge and soft skills acquisition, skill certification, integration into the KEDGE community, and increased visibility in the job market."

A Chair for Inclusive Entrepreneurship

Finally, as part of the launch of the Entrepreneurial School and based on the idea that it represents a new field for research, a project for a Chair on “Inclusive Entrepreneurship” has emerged. It focuses on the importance of equal opportunity and the relevance of developing entrepreneurial skills.

The “Inclusive Entrepreneurship” Chair and the Entrepreneurial School contribute educationally, socially, intellectually, and economically to the regions where KEDGE is rooted.