Training managers is no longer just about imparting business skills. It’s about preparing them to transform local communities. In Rennes, business schools are incorporating this aspect into their curricula. Professional development includes: internships with local governments, projects with local stakeholders, and courses on local development.
Students work on real-world challenges: revitalizing town centers, the energy transition for small and medium-sized enterprises, and local food systems. This immersive experience fosters local leadership: understanding the region’s specific challenges, identifying opportunities for action, and mobilizing local stakeholders. The Brittany economy has specific needs: managers capable of leading the transformation of the agri-food sector, developing sustainable tourism, supporting the energy transition, and structuring maritime industries.
Schools are responding through: specialized programs (sustainable food, maritime economy), partnerships with Breton clusters, and industry-specific incubators. Executive-level job openings in Rennes reflect these needs: CSR manager in the agri-food sector, marine energy project manager, and tourism destination manager.
The school-business-community partnership is crucial: businesses identify their needs, schools adapt their curricula, and local communities fund chairs. Work-study programs are becoming a tool for regional transformation: work-study students work on strategic projects for the region, create local value, and often stay on after graduation.
Training for local communities also means training THROUGH local communities: local instructors, real-world examples from Brittany, and hands-on fieldwork. Managers trained in this way have a connection that goes beyond their résumés: they know the local landscape, understand its unique characteristics, and can create a lasting impact there.
