Paris, April 20 2006



StratX is delighted to announce that the L’Oréal e-STRAT programme has been awarded EFMD CEL accreditation, the first worldwide accreditation of technology-enhanced learning programmes in the field of management education.



The L’Oréal e-STRAT programme, launched six years ago in collaboration with StratX, helps management students understand the L’Oréal business, take on a high level of responsibility in realistic market conditions and develop valuable personal and professional skills. Since its conception in 2000, more than 130,000 students have taken part in the largest online business strategy challenge.



In response to the accreditation, Geoff Skingsley, L’Oréal’s Executive Vice President of Human Resources said: “For today’s generation of students for whom seeing is believing, the L’Oréal e-Strat Challenge 6 is a true catalyst to bridge the gap between academic theory and business reality. We are delighted to receive the CEL accreditation as it affirms our position as a key player in the industry in business management training. Judging from the number of students that register and the quality of the competition each year, it goes to show the continuing added-value of our initiative.”



“The L’Oréal e-STRAT programme is without doubt one of the most innovative and successful online education programmes that has ever been developed. Not only does it engage students across the globe, it reinforces the brand presence of L’Oréal and offers an insiders view of its business model and the beauty industry. CEL was developed by EFMD with the fundamental objective of raising the standards of technology-enhanced learning programmes worldwide. The accreditation of the L’Oréal e-STRAT programme confirms the importance and relevance of CEL accreditation for ITC-based learning,” said Prof. Eric Cornuel, Director General and CEO of EFMD.



About EFMD:

The European Foundation of Management Development (EFMD) is recognized globally as an accreditation body for business school programmes, corporate universities and technology-enhanced learning, dedicated to enhancing quality and relevance in today’s world of executive education. With more than 600 member organizations from academia, business, public service and consultancy in 65 countries, EFMD provides a unique forum for information, research, networking and debate on innovation and best practice in management development.
The organization recently introduced CEL (Certification of e-learning), in an effort to ensure quality standards of e-learning programmes worldwide. Eligible programmes are those related to management education and have at least 100 hours of learning. Programmes must also be operated on a durable basis and must end with an assessment or examination.


About STRATX:

StratX is a global consulting and executive education group renowned for helping people excel in the areas of marketing, customer focus and value innovation.
The company was founded in 1984 by marketing professor J.C. Larreche of INSEAD, one of the world's top business school. Their customized solutions range from designing and delivering worldwide training seminars, coaching projects and online learning to creating educational technologies such as Markstrat, Markops Online and the e-Strat simulation

For more information, please contact:
Eric Saine
Business Development Manager
Tel: +33 1 53 46 69 06
Eric.Saine@stratx.fr