The Act incorporating the École des hautes études commerciales (HEC) of Montréal is adopted. The School is the first university-level business school in Canada and one of the first in North America.
1907
HEC Montréal is created
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1907
Auguste-Joseph de Bray, the School’s first director
Belgian academic Auguste-Joseph de Bray is appointed director of the School. Ten other people have since filled this role.
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1910
The School’s first educational facility
Courses begin in the School’s first building, on the corner of Viger and Saint-Hubert streets. Today the building houses the Centre d’archives de Montréal.
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1920
Foundation of the Association des licenciés
The Association des licenciés is launched, the forerunner of the HEC Montréal Alumni Association.
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1924
Correspondence courses introduced
The School introduces correspondence courses, which are offered for 25 years.
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1932
Case method implemented
HEC Montréal signs an agreement with Harvard University on the use of an innovative teaching tool, the case method—a first in Canada.
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1943
Alma Lepage, first woman to enroll
Alma Lepage becomes the first woman to enrol in the licence ès sciences commerciales program. With a Bachelor of Arts degree and an entrepreneurial background, she becomes the School’s first woman graduate in 1946.
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1944
Association coopérative étudiante created
The Association coopérative étudiante is created, at the initiative of some fifteen students. It will later be renamed the Coop HEC Montréal (website in French only).
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1956
From museum to library
The School’s commercial and industrial museum closes and is replaced by the library.
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1958
The origins of Executive Education
The Centre de perfectionnement en administration is launched for business executives seeking to update their skills and knowledge. Today, it is called Executive Education.
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1959
The Bureau de placement des étudiants
The Bureau de placement des étudiants is created. Today, it is known as Career management services.
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1960
IBM 1620 purchased
HEC Montréal purchases the all-new IBM 1620, dubbed the "electronic brain", to be used as a tool for teaching operational research.
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1968
BBA launched
The baccalauréat ès sciences commerciales is replaced by the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). The program now offers students some 15 different specializations and 2 language streams: French and bilingual French-English (trilingual option with Spanish, under certain conditions).
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1969
MBA launched
The licence ès sciences commerciales is replaced by the Master of Business Administration (MBA). Today, it boasts thousands of graduates who have benefited from its innovative approach, which has been recognized by 3 international accreditations.
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