One way, which the government now seems prepared to allow, is to encourage the formation of private school-management chains based on the methods of the best schools.

ECONOMIST: Journey up the learning curve

Reims Management School is based in the north-eastern French city of the same name, which itself is located in the heart of the Champagne-Ardenne region.

CNN: Learning to lead in Champagne

The management school at the University of Texas at Dallas has created a ranking of its competitors, based on contributions to 24 oft-cited business journals (HBR not among them).

ECONOMIST: Business-school research