The Babson Executive Lodge and Conference Center (ELCC), opening in 2027, is a 77,600-square-foot facility currently under construction on the main campus of Babson College.
BABSON EXEC ED EARNS NECHE RECOGNITION
Babson College has earned recognition from the New England Commission of Higher Education for the quality of its non-credit professional and executive education programs. The recognition comes a year after the Massachusetts college expanded its offerings for professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, and other adult learners.
NECHE established its non-credit recognition process in 2025 to evaluate education and training outside traditional degree programs. The review includes an institutional self-study and external peer evaluation. In recognizing Babson, the commission cited its responsiveness to learner and employer needs, collaboration across departments, and focus on career-relevant skills.
Babson’s programs cover entrepreneurial leadership, innovation, strategic decision-making, artificial intelligence, and business growth through online, in-person, and blended formats. Its Babson On-Demand platform offers self-paced courses, with opportunities to earn digital badges and stackable certificates through projects, simulations, action plans, and other assessments.
“Entrepreneurial leadership doesn’t begin or end with a college degree. It is a lifelong journey,” says Kelly Lynch, Babson’s executive vice president. “We are proud to earn this recognition from NECHE, particularly as we expand how people can access a Babson education.”
The Bignami building on IMD Campus Lausanne, Switzerland. (Photo: Dorian Tosca/IMD)
IMD LAUNCHES WEEKLY PODCAST ON BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP
I by IMD, the business school’s publication and learning platform, has launched “What Matters Most,” a weekly podcast examining questions facing executives, founders, and board members. The first episode debuted October 20.
IMD professors Tim Quigley and Hana Milanov host the 30-minute show, drawing on discussions from their classrooms and research from the school’s faculty. Topics range from artificial intelligence and geopolitical disruption to longer working lives and succession planning.
The opening episode features Carlos Cordon, professor of strategy and supply chain management, discussing how longer lives affect companies, employees, and economies. The conversation covers employee health, later retirement, burnout, and the potential loss of institutional knowledge when experienced workers leave.
Future episodes will examine returns on AI investment, quantum computing, and the economics of sustainability. The hosts will also ask faculty to revisit classroom questions they struggled to answer. Listeners can find the show on IMD’s website, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
The 150-year-old Neo-Renaissance Main Building of Corvinus University of Budapest on the left bank of the Danube River.
CORVINUS BECOMES HUNGARY’S FIRST TRIPLE-CROWN BUSINESS SCHOOL
Corvinus University of Budapest has earned EQUIS accreditation for three years, becoming Hungary’s first institution to hold all three major international business school accreditations. The designation completes its “Triple Crown” alongside AACSB and AMBA.
EQUIS, administered by EFMD, evaluates institutions across teaching, research, international engagement, corporate relationships, and strategy. Evaluators identified strategy development and execution as particular strengths at Corvinus.
The university first earned AMBA accreditation in 2020 and secured a five-year renewal in 2023. It received AACSB accreditation in 2022, also a first for a Hungarian institution.
Corvinus says it is the eighth institution in Central and Eastern Europe to hold all three accreditations. Rector Bruno van Pottelsberghe says the recognition will support international recruitment, exchange partnerships, and relationships with corporate partners.
BITSOM ADVANCES 35 AI STARTUPS IN VENTURE-BUILDING PROGRAM
BITS School of Management has selected 35 AI startups to advance in its BITSoM VERTEX venture-building program. The initiative aims to help 100 AI ventures develop products for business customers over the next three years.
Launched in August with Silicon Valley AI studio LENZ, the program received more than 2,300 registrations. Organizers shortlisted 150 startups for a development stage and invited 50 to pitch at ICICI Bank’s service center in Mumbai before selecting the next group.
The advancing startups will receive mentorship, access to potential corporate pilots and investors, AI infrastructure, and support from BITSoM student venture teams. Their products span areas including business automation, financial services, education, and multilingual AI.
ICICI Bank leads the enterprise partners, alongside Straive, Blue Ocean, and Frontier. Technology partners including AWS, Google Cloud, MongoDB, Zoho, and ClickUp will provide infrastructure credits and tools. Corporate partners will help founders test products against business needs and evaluate them for potential adoption.
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