Mar 7th 2012, 14:56 by J.L.H.D | ATLANTA

As the debate over whether to impose quotas of female board members on European companies continues, a group of business schools have weighed in by offering a list of 3,500 potential candidates. The schools include St Gallen and IMD in Switzerland; London Business School and Cambridge Judge Business School; IESE in Spain; Rotterdam School of Management; and INSEAD in France. Although the announcement is paired with profiles of 160 or so representative candidates (not all 3,500 names are revealed; instead the member schools have promised to reveal their individual lists, if asked. IMD, for example, has a slate of 348 alumnae, each with more than 25 years’ worth of experience, and 12 senior faculty members who might suit. Groups such as the Global Telecom Women’s Network and Women on Board, a Belgian organisation, have put together their own slates. 

A perusal of the sample profiled candidates reveals a few Americans. Boston University’s Brussels arm was one of the nominators, but the thinking also seems to have been that companies might be more attracted to the candidates if they could add geographic and gender diversity at the same time. The sample profiles are made up largely of British and French high-ranking women, with a few Belgians and Italians as well; it’s not clear whether this is simply representative of the nominating schools, or meant as a message to Britain, France and Italy in particular (the latter two having already passed board quotas). 

Will the schools’ lists help push their alumnae onto boards? One stated goal of the list is to combat the idea that “board-ready” woman are hard to find. Not at all, say the participants; just contact us. It is a savvy move. The more alumnae schools can put onto boards, the more they can promote themselves to ambitious women deciding where to get their MBA.