Almost Heaven

Welcome to 'ALMOST HEAVEN' (Memoirs from a former professor at the European School of Economics (Milano and Lucca)'



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PART 3

 

Almost Heaven

Chapter 1: A Business School with ambition

According to its actual website ‘The European School of Economics’ is a private College of Higher Education without borders, multicultural and pragmatic, fully accredited in the UK and approved in the register of Learning Providers (UKPRN 10061489).

ESE offers Bachelor’s Degree, Masters MSc or MBA and Short programmes at its centres in London, Madrid, Rome, Milan, and Florence. Back in 2005 when I started teaching in Italy, they had campuses in London, Milan, Lucca and mater on in Madrid en New Tork (in the Trump Building!). So the attachment to a city is not absolute.

If you where to look, you can find more (background) information about the ESE, including an overview of legal law suits , allegations of corruptions and some scandals in Italy, the UK, Spain and the USA… Some data go way back to the turn of the century.

And yet in 2026 the ESE is still standing, even if they changed their slogan in a very subtle way: from ‘the School OF Gods’ into ‘the School FOR Gods’. Only insiders can find out why this small transformation is very important to understand the evolution of the ESE…

In my book this chapter will be longer of course, but for the purpose of smaller daily stories, tomorrow I will immediately skip the introduction and go on with chapter 2; the start of my memoirs at the ESE.

stay tuned
13.04.2026

A table of contents with a brief description of each chapter

Almost Heaven  (Memoirs of a former professor at the 'School of the Gods' - European School of Economics)

by Dr. Jean Blanquart

 

  1. A business school with ambition
    A description and situation  of the ESE, based on the philosophical book 'The School of Gods' by E.S. D'Anna.

  2. From cathedral to ex-cathedra: the road to the campus in Milan

    Description of how the author eventually ended up at ESE. A magical red line from Brazzaville, Ronse, Biella, Cologne Cathedral to Milan Cathedral

 

  1. First day at work: impression of a setting sun

    Impressions of the very first day at work as a tprofessor, including the emergence of the insight that it may all be a scam

    4. Cappuccino and brioche; Do you speak French?

How the author's language skills unexpectedly give him a strong negotiating position within ESE's HRM

  1. Autumn Month: First Month at Work

    First Month Impressions, with a growing understanding of the quirks and benefits of education within ESE
  2. Busta Paga: the payslip

    The first payment: salary or money laundering?

  3. Exams: the right to pass

    ESE's exam philosophy versus students' expectations, coupled with great freedom of movement for the teacher

  4. The campus in Lucca: house of legends

    Uncovering shady contacts and ditto working methods at this campus, in the heart of Tuscany

 

  1. One thesis a day keeps everyone at a distance

    The experiences as a thesis supervisor: how the lack of an educational standard actually benefits the staff  and students

  2. My Best Students: The School of the Gods

    Anonymized stories about striking students...

  3. Business as usual: the school for gods

    The subtle change of name of the basic philosophy: the emphasis is now on the teaching framework, no longer on the intake. Or is it just plain 'window-dressing'?

  4. The Last Supper: No Turning Back or Was I Wrong?

Impressions of the last day of work and the supervision of students months and years afterwards.

  1. Conclusion: Where are the gods?

    Based on the current state of affairs,  a reflection of the possibility of real existing private higher education institutions as well as on their limitations.

11.04.2026

 

Almost Heaven. Memoirs from a former professor at the School of Gods (European School of Economics)

An overview of the important themes of the book

The 'School of Gods' (The European School of Economics) is a controversial University/Business school with links to Gorbatchev, Trump and other tycoons. It is also a revenue model for the founders, the D'Anna brothers who apparently like to change their first names.

For example, it is actually impossible to find out which of the two wrote the bestseller 'The School of Gods', in which the so-called new philosophy of an University is promoted. However, further investigation shows that the ideas in this book are a confusing mix of the texts of Vadim Zeland, Joe Dispenza, Luise Hay and other writers on 'The Law of Attraction'.

In addition, the E.S.E. has been involved in many lawsuits (concerning the validation of diplomas, the value of the training, personnel policy, contacts with shadowy organizations, etc.).

The author of this book has taught at ESE Milan and Lucca between 2005 and 2009 and from his dual position as an experienced participant observer and lecturer, he has become, as it were, a privileged expert on the ins and outs of ESE.

Recently, the author discovered that the slogan 'School of Gods' was subtly replaced by 'School for Gods' and the reason for this was actually obvious, which prompted him to design a book proposal.

In 'Almost Heaven', the author describes the corporations behind the ESE and how the ESE accidentally produces fascinating alumni. Through these stories, the potnetials and limitations of private higher education institutions are also exposed.

And last but not least: is ESE really an educational institution or is it an ingenious variant of a pyramid scheme?

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For questions or feedback, please leave comments, here or by email [jean_blanquart@yahoo.fr] .