1870 : Léon Walras, considered by Joseph Schumpeter to be “the greatest economist”, was appointed by the Academy of Lausanne to teach political economics within the Faculty of Law. He became the founder of the renowned “Lausanne School” of neoclassical economists.
Vilfredo Pareto
1892 : Vilfredo Pareto, a follower of Léon Walras, succeeded him in 1892.
1911 : Foundation of the École des Hautes Études Commerciales (business school) within the Academy’s Faculty of Law. According to the government message which established the school, education should be considered as “a way to offer future businessmen, industrialists, directors of financial establishments, business school professors, administrators and civil servants a programme of higher studies, all combined to raise the general level of culture and to provide superlative special teaching.”
1912 : Appointment of Mr Georges Paillard, the school’s first professor, together with Mr Morf.
Georges Paillard
1913 : First degree in business studies awarded.
1917 : First doctorate. An influx of refugee students (mainly Russians fleeing the revolution) swelled student numbers, which increased from 51 at the start of World War I to 130 in 1918.
1919 : Creation of the degree in actuarial science and higher education certificates.
1936 : In its 25th year, the school has already awarded 507 degrees and 58 doctorates. Half the graduates are from other countries.
1945 : World War II saw the number of students increase progressively to reach 170 by the end of the war, again due to the influx of foreign students, often refugees.
Henri Rieben and Jean Monnet
1957 : Foundation of the Centre of European Research, headed by Mr Henri Rieben, a professor at HEC Lausanne, who created the world’s first chair of European integration.
1961 : The school celebrates its fiftieth anniversary. To commemorate this, a number of companies set up a fund intended to support the development of the school.
1977 : The HEC moved out of the city to take up residence at Dorigny as part of the progressive transfer of all UNIL faculties to the lakeside campus.
Creation of the Association des Gradués HEC (HEC Graduate Association).
1978 : Adoption and partial implementation of the new law on the University of Lausanne. The HEC takes on the rank of Faculty. The title of Director disappears. Professor Charles Iffland becomes the first dean of the Faculty.
1979 : Charles Iffland creates the first post-graduate programme in business management (MBA).
1986 : The school celebrates its 75th anniversary with a number of conferences, publications and meetings with managers from various sectors. For the first time, the school has more than a thousand students. Professor Francis Léonard appointed dean.
1987 : Since its foundation, the school has now awarded 4072 degrees and 230 doctorates.
1989 : Creation of the “Créa” Institute of Applied Macroeconomics and the Institute of Bank and Financial Management.
1990 : Professor Olivier Blanc appointed dean.
1996 : Launch of the FAME doctoral programme, organised jointly by the Universities of Lausanne, Geneva, Neuchâtel and the Institute of Higher International Studies in Geneva.
1998 : Launch of a new Master of Technology Management (MTM) in cooperation with the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL).
Launch of the Institute of Economics and Health Management with the UNIL Faculty of Medicine, the École de Santé Publique Suisse and CHUV.
2000 : Professor Alexander Bergmann appointed dean.
2002 : Implementation of the Bologna Accord.
2004 : Professor François Grize appointed dean.
2005 : HEC achieves EQUIS accreditation. The first batch of students to study under the Bologna system receive their Bachelor’s degrees.
2006 : The MBA becomes a continuing education programme (EMBA). The construction of a new building means that all HEC institutes are now accommodated at the Dorigny site.
Involvement in the launch of the Swiss Finance Institute (SFI).
Ms Suzanne de Treville appointed the first female dean.
2007 : The first batch of students to study under the Bologna system receive their Master’s degrees.
2009 : HEC Lausanne is restructured into ten areas of competence.
Professor Daniel Oyon appointed dean.
2010 : Creation of a code of conduct for students.
Setting up of a corporate relationships department and reinforcement of the communications department.
Launch of lHECture, an electronic newsletter for companies available in three languages: www.hec.unil.ch/lhecture.
A professional recruitment bureau serving students and businesses opens at HEC.
The EMBA programme achieves AMBA accreditation.
The Master of Finance is recognised as a “CFA Program Partner” by the CFA Institute and a “CAIA Academic Partner” by the CAIA Association.
Launch of the Lausanne Centre of Finance with the EPFL.
2011 : Centenary of the Faculty
Launch of a “Master in Asset and Wealth Management” in cooperation with the Swiss Finance Institute (SFI) and Carnegie Mellon University.
Launch of a Master of Law, Management and Economics with the UNIL Faculties of Law and Criminal Sciences.
