RSM takes a distinctive approach toward the notion of leadership, defining it as both personal leadership capabilities and intellectual substance, or what is called ‘thought-leadership’. This notion of leadership is inspired by the namesake of the university, Desiderius Erasmus, a native of Rotterdam and one of the foremost thinkers in the time prior to the Renaissance.

The Rotterdam School of Management has a strong reputation for producing excellent research in finance and economics, both theoretical and decision-oriented. It has a rich and long tradition as the oldest economics department in the Netherlands. Two of its professors, J. Tinbergen (1969) and T.C. Koopmans (1975), received Nobel Prizes for their contributions.

As the heirs of these international recognized scholars, professors at the Erasmus Center for Financial Research (www.ecfr.nl) perform outstanding research in the field of finance, using empirical data and econometric techniques. External examiners have qualified their recent research output in both finance and economics as outstanding and of the highest practical relevance. This relevance is reflected in the strong corporate interest in the research produced by the school. Faculty members are regularly invited by firms, banks and other institutions to provide advice, develop financial decision tools and conduct applied research.

The associated Erasmus Center for Financial Training (www.ecft.nl) offers top-level training courses to finance professionals, including treasurers, bankers, investors and financial managers.