On October 23, Léon Laulusa, Executive President of ESCP Business School, and Anaïs Ravet, Director for Institutional Affairs of ESCP paid a visit to Yenching Academy, and met YCA Dean Dong Qiang and Associate Dean Fan Shiming at Jingyuan Courtyard 3. After the meeting, the guests were joined by Dong Zhiyong, Vice President of Peking University at the luncheon, over which the they discussed the future cooperation and exchange.
Welcoming his guests, Dean Dong introduced YCA’s mission and its master’s program for China Studies. Dong noted that former Prime Minister of France Jean-Pierre Raffarin was both an ESCP alumnus and long-time friend of Chinese people and the Academy. Mr Raffarin was appointed as the Shuhsi Hsü Chair Professor of Yenching Academy last October and his leadership lectures have been popular with Yenching Scholars. Prof Dong saw a promising future of cooperation between Chinese and European higher education institutions, noting that ESCP with its Europewide presence is like a talent pool. Yenching Academy and ESCP may join hands to promote the sound development of global higher education. Léon Laulusa mentioned his meeting with Peking University President Gong Qihuang in June at the Sino-French Forum of Higher Education co-organized by ESCP Business School and Peking University in Paris. President Laulusa felt happy to meet his counterparts at Peking University and expected more exchange and cooperation in future.
Associate Dean Fan Shiming introduced to the guests YCA’s education philosophy, curriculum, admissions, and student development. Prof Fan highlighted that the Academy aimed to build a solid foundation for its Scholars to see, feel, and understand China’s political, economic, social and cultural development through the Academy’s core courses, such as China in Transition and Field Study. YCA provides a China Studies program in China. He gave a review of YCA’s French students in the past years.
Associate Dean Fan focused on YCA’s achievements in international exchange and cooperation, international events, and student-sponsored activities. For instance, the Yenching Global Symposium (YGS) is a flagship event of the Academy. Initiated and organized by our Yenching Scholars, the YGS builds a platform for young talents and emerging leaders around the world to engage in China-related topics and dialogs. Fan also indicated that Yenching Academy received many dignitaries, including former Prime Minister of France Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Prime Minister of Italy Romano Prodi, and former EU Ambassador to China Nicolas Chapuis, who shared their experience and insights with our Scholars. What’s more, the Academy is in partnership or cooperation with renowned domestic and foreign universities, for fruitful exchange and cooperation projects, through which our Yenching Scholars enjoy richer study experience in different countries and cultures.
Mr Laulusa showed a keen interest in Fan’s introduction and YCA’s achievements. He talked about ESCP’s long history, particularly as an inspiration to the world-known Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. ESCP is a reputed leader among business schools in the world. President Laulusa gave a detailed introduction of ESCP’s development, including its teaching philosophy and practice, as well as its achievement in talent fostering. He also detailed in ESCP graduates’ employment, showing the school’s excellence in students’ career development. President Laulusa asked about Yenching Academy’s application procedures and exchange projects, and gave suggestions on future cooperation.
YCA and ESCP had a deeper understanding of each other and saw more possibilities of exchanges, paving the way for further cooperation.
