Established in December 1988 by four leading European schools (ESADE, HEC Paris, Università Bocconi and the University of Cologne), the CEMS Alliance designed the first truly European business education through one single master’s degree. At a time when the modern European Union did not yet exist, the Berlin Wall still stood, and the majority of business was conducted at a local, not international level, the CEMS programme allowed students to travel between member schools and countries for their studies, equipping them with the necessary skills to succeed in the international markets of the future.

Today CEMS has expanded to become a global alliance comprising 28 of the world’s most prestigious business schools, over 60 multinational employers, and 4 non-profit organisations. Its Master’s in International Management programme has consistently ranked in the top 10 of the Financial Times for the past 8 years, and its graduates have gone on to work for a wide range of companies including McKinsey, Google, P&G and L'Oréal.

2013 celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the CEMS Global Alliance and the 20th Anniversary of the CEMS Alumni Association. Last Weekend the Spanish Academic Partner of the CEMS Alliance, ESADE hosted  this special Anniversary Event & MIM Graduation Ceremony . Participants included delegates from the member business schools and companies, graduating MIM students, friends, families and guests.

Professor Werner Delfmann received an honorable nomination for his grounding membership. As CEMS Chairman (1999 – 2003), Werner Delfmann launched the current CEMS MIM programme, put in place the CEMS Student Board and started the ongoing strategic debate on the globalization of CEMS. Prof. Delfmann is owner of the chair of Professor Department of Business Policy and Logistics and chair-co-owner of the Institute of Trade Fair Industry at the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Cologne and is still showing full commitment in a variety of CEMS activities.

We congratulate CEMS on their 25th anniversary and Professor Werner Delfmann on his honorary membership of CEMS.