The evening of May 22 witnessed emlyon business school 150th Anniversary Celebration grandly held at the residence of the Consul general of France in Shanghai « Villa Basset ». The event was attended by Mr. Qun CHEN, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC Shanghai Committee and Docteur-Honoris-Causa of emlyon business school, Mr. Joan VALADOU, Consul general of France in Shanghai, Ms. Séverine BOUE, Education Consul of France in Shanghai, Professor Isabelle HUAULT, Executive President and Dean of emlyon business school, Mr. Nicolas PEJOUT, Head of Strategy & Development, Executive Board Member of emlyon business school, Professor William Hua WANG, Associate Dean of emlyon business school, Dean of emlyon business school Asia, French Dean of Asia Europe Business School, Mr. Luc ZELLER, Senior Executive Director of Veolia Asia, Alumni Representative, Mr. Pascal CHEN, Shanghai Branch Director of CCI France Chine, as well as emlyon’s partners, outstanding alumni, representatives of faculty and students. Jessica LI, Director of Alumni & Corporate Relations, and Davis WU, an alumnus of class 2005, were the hosts of the celebration.

Under the theme of “Shaping a Sustainable Future”, the celebration was started in the musical piece The Silk Road played by alumni with 3 different musical instruments — Zhongruan, violin and hand drum.

At the beginning of the celebration, Professor Isabelle HUAULT, Executive President and Dean of emlyon business school, recalled the marvelous history of emlyon business school since its inception and envisioned the broad prospect of future business education. According to her, for the past 150 years, emlyon business school has remained committed to its mission of cultivating “early makers” for the world, providing life-long training to leaders, managers, entrepreneurs and senior executives with solid international experience, internal & external entrepreneurship. Looking forward to the future, emlyon has unveiled its “Confluences 2025” strategic plan, laying focuses on the assumption of social and environmental responsibility, enhancement of academic excellence and accelerated globalization, to cultivate professionals with the abilities to address current social, technological and environmental challenges, and to rank emlyon among the leading global business schools in Europe.

Then, on behalf of all the faculty and students present, Professor William Hua WANG, Associate Dean of emlyon business school, Dean of emlyon business school Asia, French Dean of Asia Europe Business School, extended a cordial welcome to all the guests present, and heartfelt thanks to the leaders, partners, employers and alumni who have always supported the development of emlyon business school. He pointed out that emlyon business school has a rich history of 150 years, and the 15-year-old emlyon business school Asia has also turned a wonderful chapter of emlyon’s development in China. emlyon’s strong faculty have served as a powerhouse for its development. Its complete disciplines have created unique advantages in business education. Its diversified international cooperation makes the school an excellent joint training platform. emlyon has achieved good results in various certifications and rankings, fostering a dazzling array of high-quality managers and entrepreneurs for the world.

Mr. Joan VALADOU, Consul general of France in Shanghai, was also present at the celebration to extend his most sincere congratulations to emlyon business school on its 150th anniversary. In his speech, he said that emlyon business school is one of the oldest business schools in France and one of the French higher education institutions with the most in-depth and systematic development of cooperation with China, with a very influential and dynamic alumni network, successfully building a bridge of exchange and cooperation between France and China. He wished emlyon business school a happy birthday and all the faculty, students and alumni of the School a successful, renewed and prosperous career.

Mr. Qun CHEN, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC Shanghai Committee and Docteur-Honoris-Causa of emlyon business school, delivered a speech, congratulating emlyon business school on the achievements since its foundation with thanks to emlyon for its support of the higher education in Shanghai during its cooperation with East China Normal University. He expressed his hope that emlyon business school could strengthen its cooperation with Chinese partners to boost educational and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Mr. Luc ZELLER, Senior Executive Director of Veolia Asia, Alumni Representative, said that he was privileged to speak on behalf of alumni and was proud to be one of the community members living under the global influence of emlyon business school on business world since its establishment 150 years ago. He admitted that he was greatly inspired during his study in emlyon business school, and he fully agreed with Dean Isabelle HUAULT on integrating doing with learning. As a member of Veolia, a global EP company originated in Lyon, France, he is honored to live in the exuberant Shanghai, making his contribution to the daily life of the city.

Mr. Pascal CHEN, Shanghai Branch Director of CCI France Chine, also delivered a congratulation speech. According to him, the long-standing partnership between emlyon business school and the CCI France Chine has been crucial in fostering trade links between France and China. In an ever-changing global business landscape, it is essential to develop the ability of business leaders to navigate the complexities of international trade, and emlyon business school is taking on this educational responsibility to contribute to the internationalisation of business.After the speeches, the launch ceremony of emlyon business school Global Healthcare Industry Center was held. Mr. Nicolas PEJOUT and Prof. William Hua WANG presented Certificates of Appointment to Mr. Edward TU, Executive Director, Dr. Annelie QU, Executive Director, Ms. Yuyu CHOW, Associate Executive Director and 29 members of the Academic Board, Advisory Board and Industry Experts.

According to the introduction by three executive directors, emlyon business school Global Healthcare Industry Center(GHIC) will be a two-way drive for Business and Leadership Transformation, empowering entrepreneurs and leaders in the healthcare industry, jointly creating a new digital ecosystem for the healthcare industry, linking China and France to accelerate the internationalization of local Chinese companies and the localization of multinational companies, thus promoting the healthy development of the upgrading of the healthcare industry.

Global Healthcare Industry Center Academic Board Members

Global Healthcare Industry Center Advisory Board Members

Global Healthcare Industry Center Industry Experts

Mr. Joan VALADOU, Consul general of France in Shanghai, Prof. Isabelle HUAULT, Mr. Nicolas PEJOUT, Prof. William Hua WANG, GHIC Executive Directors Mr. Edward TU and Dr. Annelie QU, and Associate Executive Director Ms. Yuyu CHOW, inaugurated the Center together.

After the exciting launch ceremony of the Global Health Industry Center, the Business for Good Program jointly established by emlyon business school and Yicai Foundation was launched. Mr. Joan VALADOU, Consul general of France in Shanghai, Mr. Yudong YANG, Chief Editor of Yicai Media Group, Ms. Jia PENG, Secretary General of Yicai Media Group, Prof. Isabelle HUAULT, Mr. Nicolas PEJOUT, and Prof. William Hua WANG, co-launched the course. The program aims to explore the power of sustainable business and enhance entrepreneurs’ sense of social responsibility on one hand, while extending business thinking and opening up new perspectives of business civilization on the other hand. The program will empower social innovation and business for the good from idea to action.

In the following awarding session, Mr. Nicolas PEJOUT, Prof. William Hua WANG, Professor Hua LIN and Mr. Pascal CHEN, presented awards for the winners of Outstanding Corporate Mentor Award, Outstanding Partners Award, Best Employer Award and Alumni Outstanding Contribution Award.

Outstanding Corporate Mentor Award

Outstanding Partners Award

Best Employer Award

Alumni Outstanding Contribution Award

At the end of the celebration, all the leaders, guests and representatives of faculty and students proposed a toast to congratulate emlyon business school on its 150th Anniversary Celebration, which was not only a milestone in the history of emlyon business school, but also a new starting point for the future achievements. In the face of brand-new future, emlyon business school will continue to anchor a focus on the three strategic priorities of assuming social responsibility, enhancing academic excellence and accelerating the process of globalization, so to build a brand-new business culture featuring openness, sharing and collaboration, actively promote the exchanges and cooperation between China and France, and create a better future for human community with all partners and alumni.

▲ Photo Gallery of the Celebration

Sponsor Appreciation