On June 23, a delegation from British Management University (BMU) in Uzbekistan arrived in Shanghai, China, to embark on an academic and cultural immersion at emlyon business school Asia Campus. Comprising BMU’s senior leadership and outstanding students, the visit aims to gain in-depth insights into emlyon’s internationalized educational philosophy and hands-on teaching approach, while further strengthening the collaboration and dialogue between the two institutions in higher education.

In the afternoon, Prof. William Hua WANG, Vice President of emlyon business school, Dean of Asia Campus, and French Dean of Asia-Europe Business School, Mr. Joniko Cao, Director of Admissions and Operations for emlyon Asia, and Prof. Nikola ZIVLAK, Director of Academic Programs and International Cooperation, held a formal meeting with Prof. Yuri Loktionov, President of BMU, Prof. Lionel Huntley Henderson, Vice President, and Prof. Alisher Khasanov, Vice President of Academic Affairs. This marked the first official meeting between the senior leadership of the two schools, during which both sides reached a clear consensus on student exchange and academic collaboration, laying the foundation for a long-term partnership.

▲ Meeting between emlyon and BMU leadership

Following the meeting, the opening ceremony of the emlyon–BMU International Summer Immersion Program was held to officially welcome BMU students to their learning journey.

During the opening ceremony, Prof. Wiiliam Hua WANG delivered a welcome address on behalf of emlyon business school. He expressed great honor in welcoming the BMU delegation to the Shanghai campus and encouraged students to make the most of this program to fully experience emlyon’s “We are makers” educational philosophy — one that integrates practical skills, cross-cultural understanding, global perspective, and an entrepreneurial mindset.

He emphasized, “Educational cooperation is not only about academic exchanges, but also about building bridges between cultures. We sincerely hope to see our partnership deepen further and create more international learning opportunities for the younger generations of France, China and Uzbekistan.”

▲ Welcome speech by Prof. William Hua Wang, Vice President of emlyon business school

Prof. Yuri Loktionov, President of British Management University, also gave a speech during the ceremony. He expressed heartfelt gratitude for emlyon’s warm hospitality and praised the program as a valuable international learning platform for both institutions. He emphasized that BMU values partnerships with leading global universities and that this summer program not only offers an immersive cross-cultural experience but also lays the groundwork for future collaboration in broader areas.

▲ Speech by Prof. Yuri Loktionov, President of BMU

Prof. Nikola ZIVLAK, Director of Academic Programs and International Cooperation at emlyon, then introduced the school’s educational philosophy and curriculum design. He highlighted emlyon’s strong focus on project-based learning, international mobility, and corporate immersion, all of which aim to develop globally competitive leaders. He encouraged students to be curious, ask questions, and engage actively in a multicultural environment to expand their horizons.

▲ Speech by Prof. Nikola ZIVLAK

Mr. Joniko Cao, Director of Admissions and Operations for emlyon Asia, also extended a warm welcome to the BMU students and faculty. He expressed his hopes that all participants would gain valuable experiences through the upcoming academic sessions, corporate visits, and peer interactions, and looked forward to exploring more opportunities for collaboration in the future.

▲ Speech by Mr. Joniko Cao

The day concluded with the signing ceremony, witnessed by faculty and students from both institutions. This formalized the friendly partnership between emlyon and BMU, establishing a solid foundation for future collaboration and setting a positive example of trust and cooperation between higher education institutions in France, China and Uzbekistan.

▲ Signing Ceremony

▲ Gift exchange between both institutions

In the coming days, BMU students will take part in a series of carefully curated courses delivered by emlyon faculty. Through this “immersive learning” approach, they will gain practical insights into global business practices, enhance their competencies, and develop cross-cultural communication skills.

Looking ahead, emlyon business school remains committed to an open and collaborative spirit and will continue to engage with top institutions worldwide through multi-level and multi-format partnerships—injecting more vitality and possibilities into global business education and talent development.