For nearly two decades, René Olie has been a cornerstone of the CEMS Academic Committee, helping to strengthen the alliance’s academic standards and expand its global reach. From leading the Quality Subcommittee to mentoring new schools and directors, his commitment to quality, integrity, and partnership has left a lasting mark on CEMS.
How did your journey with CEMS begin?
My involvement with CEMS spans 19 years, beginning in 2006, when I attended my first Academic Committee meeting in Copenhagen. At that time, CEMS only comprised 18 schools, all of which were in Europe. From the outset, I was impressed by the strength of this international network, the close-knit and welcoming atmosphere, and the strong personal connections that define this professional community. These qualities have always inspired me to stay engaged and contribute to the growth and success of CEMS.
You’ve been deeply involved in the CEMS Academic Committee. What have been your main contributions?
Most of my contributions to CEMS are connected to the Academic Committee. I served as a member of the Programme Subcommittee during two extended periods: 2011–2015 and 2018–2025. The second period coincided with my role as chair of the newly founded Quality Subcommittee (QSC), established when the CEMS governance structure was reformed, granting the Academic Committee greater centrality and autonomy. In this capacity, I guided initiatives to monitor and enhance course quality, encourage the sharing of best practices, and support the induction of new schools and academic directors.
In addition, I contributed to several formal and informal task forces to improve curriculum quality and student selection. Together with Emma Soane, Academic Director at LSE, I developed new versions of the student satisfaction surveys, and I also took part in the CEMS Curriculum Reform Task Force, focusing on student profile, selection criteria, and selection processes.
You’ve also been a regular member of CEMS peer review teams. What has this experience meant to you?
I have participated in seven peer review teams, an experience that I greatly valued. It is an excellent opportunity to strengthen programme quality across the network by using one’s expertise, and to learn how other schools manage their programmes and contribute to the CEMS network. Seeing schools take feedback and recommendations to heart and use them to make significant improvements has been especially rewarding.
Of course, this also applies to the peer reviews of my own school, RSM, in 2011, 2016, and 2023, from which I benefitted greatly.
CEMS also values strong corporate and social partnerships. What role have you played in that area?
The corporate and social partners of CEMS play an important role in its success as a global alliance. Among them, the European Space Agency (ESA) has been one of the most engaged and influential partners. I am proud to have contributed to this success through RSM's longstanding relationship with ESA's scientific and technological hub in the Netherlands. This collaboration ultimately led to ESA’s official membership in CEMS in 2014.
Since then, ESA has become one of the network’s most active partners, hosting CEMS meetings in Paris and Noordwijk and organising numerous block seminars, business projects, and skill seminars for CEMS schools across Europe. In June 2024, we celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the partnership between ESA, CEMS, and RSM with a Space Business Symposium.
In the words of the CEMS community…
“Throughout his CEMS career, René Olie was regarded as a source of wisdom and actively contributed to the quality of the CEMS curriculum (...). He played a key role in developing relationships with corporate partners and significantly enriched the programme by leading numerous courses. (...) His long-standing dedication, leadership, and commitment have left a lasting impact on the entire CEMS community.”
- Ladislav Tyll, Associate Professor, CEMS Academic Director, Vice-Dean for International Relations, Prague University of Economics and Business
