For students at Rabat Business School, the changes are easy to see: more international programmes, new partnerships and a stronger focus on getting graduates ready for work. Dr Nicolas Arnaud, the school’s dean and director general, has now been recognised by Trending 2026 for his work in higher education.
Arnaud has more than 20 years of experience in education across Europe, Africa and Asia. He previously worked at Audencia Business School in France, where he was dean for programmes and director of the Grande Ecole. He also served as president of SIGEM, the French system that manages admissions to leading business schools.
His work has included education reform, apprenticeship programmes and international accreditation.
At Rabat Business School, Arnaud has focused on four main areas: international accreditation, modern teaching, links with companies and sustainability.
The school received AACSB accreditation in 2020 and EQUIS accreditation in 2025. It is now working towards the “Triple Crown”, which means holding AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA accreditation. Fewer than 1% of business schools worldwide have all three.
Rabat Business School has also moved up the Financial Times Masters in Management ranking. It ranked 20th worldwide in 2025, compared with 32nd in 2024, 54th in 2023 and 86th in 2022.
The school has changed its courses to cover subjects such as data, new technology, ESG and geopolitics. The aim is to give students skills that match changes in the workplace and the wider economy.
International partnerships have grown too. The school runs an International Triple Bachelor with IÉSEG School of Management in France and HEC Montréal in Canada. Students can study at different institutions and take courses in areas including business, law, computer science and international relations.
Rabat Business School says 66% of its professors are international and come from more than 22 countries. Its BEARLab research centre has published studies on ESG, supply chains, blockchain, artificial intelligence and consumer behaviour.
Finding a job after graduation remains another key measure. The school reports that nearly 90% of graduates find work within three to six months of finishing their studies.
Student satisfaction has also been high. French platform Speak & Act ranked Rabat Business School first in its “Best School Experience 2026” index. Students gave the school an average score of 4.46 out of 5, while graduates gave it 4.54.
