ESSEC (École Supérieure des Sciences Économiques et Commerciales) is one of the foremost business schools and Grandes Écoles in France and one of Europe’s top business schools. It was created by Jesuits in 1907 and was originally located in the heart of Paris, next to the University of Paris II: Panthéon-Assas, rue d'Assas. Its campus was later relocated to Cergy-Pontoise, 30 km west of Paris (Val d'Oise), in 1973.