Corporate Universities and Corporate Institutes
International Evaluation and Comparison

First published and available in French in 2001, Corporate Universities, Corporate Institutes: International Evaluation and Comparison, by Annick Renaud-Coulon, is the first analysis of the international corporate university model.
Corporate Universities have become a worldwide phenomenon in a very short amount of time. This three volume study, the first of its kind, explores Corporate Universities worldwide, examining 75 case studies from 17 countries on 4 continents. The companies included in the study range in size from under 1000 employees to as many as 450,000 employees.
The evolution of the corporate university began in the twentieth century, strongly influenced by the Industrial Revolution. This study explores the drivers of the corporate university which range from companies needing to increase their employees' skills up to necessary performance levels in the United States to satisfying France's training law that requires employers to assign 1.1% of their payroll to continuing education. Whatever the driver, Ms. Renaud-Coulon raises the question as to whether or not corporate universities are involved in a silent revolution.
This study is comprised of three robust volumes of data and analysis of corporate universities across the globe. Volume one begins the study with three sections on the concept, design, and evaluation procedures of the corporate university.

Section one of Volume 1, The Concept, explores the history of corporate universities, naming conventions, strategic and operational aims, the conceptual basis for corporate universities and the various strategic models used by the corporate universities.

In the second section of Volume 1, The Design and Operation, Ms. Renaud-Coulon explores all of the considerations important to implementing a corporate university.

In the third and final section of Volume 1 entitled Corporate Universities in the Long Term, evaluation, including ROI, is examined. Two-thirds of the universities studied have an evaluation system either in use or under development. Additionally, strategic innovations, success factors, future projects and challenges of the corporate university are discussed.
Ms. Renaud-Coulon concludes the first volume of the study by summarizing the major types of corporate universities, and highlights the problems faced by corporate universities. Additionally, the author offers her predictions for the future of corporate universities, revels her favorites and offers prizes for the best concept.
Volume one is succeeded by a second volume, which contains 34 case studies of corporate universities based in both North and South America. Corporate Universities observed in Volume 2 of Ms. Renaud-Coulon's study include:

NORTH AMERICA
Canada: Enbridge, Royal Bank
United States of America: Abbott Laboratories, Buckman Laboratories, Burger King, Burson Marsteller, Charles Schwab, Conoco, Costco, Federal Express, General Electric, McDonalds, Mastercard, MBNA América Bank, Motorola, National Semiconductor, Oracle, Qwest, Raytheon, Reebock, Saturn, Sears, Southwest Airlines, Sun, Symbol Technologies, Tennessee Valley Authority, Verizon, Xerox, 3Com.

SOUTH AMERICA
Brazil: Datasul, Petrobras, Telemar
Mexico: Ferrocarril, Telmex

Volume 3 concludes the study with 41 case studies of corporate universities in Europe, Asia and Australia. Corporate Universities observed in Volume 3 of Ms. Renaud-Coulon's study include:

EUROPE
Denmark: ISS
France: Axa, Bayard Presse, Bouygues, Caisse des Dépôts & Consignations, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, Pinault Printemps Redoute, Schneider Electric, Sodexho Alliance, ST Microelectronics, Suez, Thales, Vivendi Universal
Germany: DaimlerChrysler, Lufthansa, Siemens
Great-Britain: Bae Systems, British Telecom, Lloyds TSB, The Body shop, Unilever
Italy: Isvor Fiat
Netherlands: Abn-Amro Bank, CenterParcs, Heineken
Russia: Alfa-Bank, Gazprom
Spain: Union Fenosa
Switzerland: ABB, Nestlé

ASIA
India: Anand
Japan: Benesse, Fujitsu, NEC, Oracle
South Korea: LG, SK

AUSTRALIA
Aventis Crospscience, Coles, Honda


Throughout the study, examples are cited to support the story presented by Ms. Renaud-Coulon.
This study allows companies to:

Save a significant amount of time in finding the answers to questions regarding the validity of founding a corporate university and the planning behind such an organization.

Compare practices with the aim of improving the current set up or implementing radical innovations within the university or institute.

Discover the realities of what is offered in terms of education by companies in countries where they have subsidiaries.

Discover the practices of clients, suppliers or other companies operating in the same field.