Solvay Brussels School of Economics & Management, also sometimes known simply as Solvay, is the school of economics and management of the Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
Economics classes began at the university in 1899, while the business school was created in 1903 by an endowment from Ernest Solvay. The current institution was created by the merger of the department of economics with the business school in 2008.
Solvay intended his institution to "train men and women who are capable of selection, initiating and management" and SSBS-EM argues that "by and large" this remains its objective.
Formerly spread across several buildings, in 2010 it consolidated operations in a single purpose-built structure described as "five storeys of interacting spaces" in the Ixelles neighbourhood which doubled the extent of the accommodation available to it.
Distinctive offerings include the degree in tax management it has run since 1988 and the PUMP public management programme for civil servants, launched in 2001.
It has a strongly international orientation, sending more than 350 students abroad, and receiving 250 from other countries every year. There are exchange partnerships with 70 institutions in 32 countries. Since 1994 it has offered a Masters degree in Vietnam, run in partnership with the National Economic University.
Emphasis on international networking and quantitative skills have been reflected since 2012 in the creation of the Quantitative Techniques for Economics and Management network linking 21 different business schools and 15 international companies. QTEM students are expected to study in at least three different countries.
Solvay students in 1985 created the Restos du Coeur charity to feed those in need, made popular in France by the support of the comedian Coluche.
