The French school, which hosts a student and staff personal development facility, has been chosen by the French Government Department of Labour as a pilot study center focused on research into the assessment and management of work-related stress*, alongside Arts et Métiers Paris Tech.

GEM – pilot study center

Psycho-social prevention training is part of most management programmes. But is this training complete?
Experts at Grenoble Ecole de Management have been working on stress related issues at work since 1999. By becoming a pilot study center, all of the activities and research on stress undertaken at the school will be audited and examined over several years. The aim: providing recommendations on best practices in stress prevention training in all higher-education institutions.

Grenoble Ecole de Management was chosen for its:
• Dedicated centers: The Centre for Personal & Managerial Development (CDPM) and the Center for Faculty Competency Development.
• Research on stress undertaken with independent labs
• Implementation of actions in France and abroad

Furthermore, the school’s strategy is focused on a well-being at work scheme

CDPM: An innovative pedagogy at the service of personal development

For over 12 years, the Grenoble school has been a functional lab in terms of students’ personal development. Its measures rely on an innovative pedagogy: The Centre for Personal & Managerial Development (15 staff) and one belief: the starting point to well-managed psycho-social prevention resides in much anticipated work on personal development.

In terms of research, the CDPM has published numerous publications and undertook several scientific studies: research on different student personalities, putting in place several stress evaluation methods, implementing the concept of” mindfulness”, an extensive research on the stress of army pilots and students...

In terms of training, the CDPM offers students several measures to increase their understanding and awareness of their actions on themselves, their future colleagues and society at large. Measures include: compulsory training (Psycho-social prevention management, Student projects, Drama classes) and electives (Stress, well-being and performance, Conflict Management, Interpersonal development).

To complete the offer, further support has been put in place, which students can undertake on a voluntary basis: Conferences, workshops, coaching (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Non-violent communication etc.).

Every year, over 2500 individual consultations are carried out by the CDPM staff (personal & professional development, psychological and judicial assistance, careers development techniques etc.). A “virtual” assistance completes the offer thanks to the GEM passport, an online booklet which helps students analyse their progress, their challenges and expectations in life.

“If we want to prepare future managers to psycho-social issues, it is essential that the environment in which they evolve in takes these issues into account. We are convinced that if well-being at work becomes a priority, it is the performance of the entire business that will benefit” said Dominique Steiler, the Director of Grenoble Ecole de Management’s Centre for Personal & Managerial Development.

Well-being is a priority at Grenoble Ecole de Management for everyone: All staff members, faculty, visiting faculty etc. are offered identical training: personal coaching and assistance on these stress-related issues.


*(As part of the Plan Santé au Travail 2 – A French Government action plan on health issues at work).