1988

• The official document sealing the creation of CEMS is signed on 2nd December by Università Bocconi, ESADE, HEC Paris and the University of Cologne.

1989

• RSM Erasmus University and the Université Catholique de Louvain become CEMS member schools

1990

• Copenhagen Business School, the University of St. Gallen and Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration become CEMS member schools

1991

• The London School of Economics & Political Science and Stockholm School of Economics become CEMS member schools.

1992

• The Norwegian School of Economics & Business Administration becomes a CEMS member school

1996

• Corvinus University of Budapest, University of Economics Prague and Warsaw School of Economics become CEMS member schools.

 1998

• Helsinki School of Economics becomes a CEMS member school.

2002

• UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School becomes a CEMS member school.

2008

• CEMS celebrates its 20th anniversary at the Paris-hosted Annual Events.
• 6 schools are ratified as full members, including the first from outside of Europe: University of Sydney Business School, Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo-FGV, Faculdade de Economia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Graduate School of Management (St. Petersburg State University) and National University of Singapore Business School.

 2009

• Koç University Graduate School of Business and Richard Ivey School of Business (the University of Western Ontario) are ratified as full members of CEMS.

2010

• Keio University is ratified as the 25th full member school at the Annual Events. 11 companies are also voted in as new corporate partners, bringing the total to a record 68.
• CARE International and Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International become the first ever Social Partners, a new CEMS model based upon the same level of participation in the programme and network as Corporate Partners.

2011

• The total number of CEMS Corporate Partners reaches a new record of 75.
• The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations becomes the third CEMS Social Partner.