Par
Pierre Daban, President Essec International, Invite d'honneur
de la Conference Essec UK (Avril 03)
The
ESSEC Group development, in the years to come, essentially
lies in its ability to increase its international content.
That is the case for all major business schools in the
world, which means that competition among major business
schools is fierce in this particular battle.
Basically,"increasing its international content"
means that the ESSEC Group must be successful in registering
many more foreign students and in appointing many more
foreign professors.
This strategy will be successful only if the ESSEC image
is strong enough to attract foreign students and professors.
Two major components are working at it
a/ The ESSEC Group itself
b/ The ESSEC alumni assocoation through ESSEC International.
a/
The ESSEC Group is very active under the management of
Pierre Tapie, the current Dean.
Two examples: First,the signing of agreements with foreign
universities, under the management of Dominique Xardel,
present in this room. Beida university in Beijing, Seoul
National university in South Korea, negociations in Singapore
etc.and secondly, the launch of a very ambitious fund
raising ( development) campaign of 25 Millions euros (
2002-2006) directed by Sylvia Desazars de Montgaillard,
the objective being the modernization of the "hardware"
of the school, and a significant increase in grants for
foreign students.
b/
The second powerful element in the strategy of increasing
the international content of ESSEC, it is you, the ESSEC
alumni, working outside France.
The ESSEC International, which I have the honour to preside,is
part of the ESSEC Alumni association which encompasses
more than 26000 graduates of which 2700 are posted outside
France.
ESSEC International was given two missions
1/ Setting up a reliable ESSEC network troughout the world.
This is today achieved with 54 ESSEC International Clubs
( EIC), present in all countries of significant importance,
and operating according to a charter that Michael has
described to you in the opening of this conference.
Essentially two missions for each EIC.
- To serve as a base for the ESSEC community ( networking)
- but more important, to work at improving image and awareness
of the brand ESSEC in the country.
I want to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate
the EIC UK, under the presidence of Michael Inpong, which
is doing a superb job, as illustrated tonight by this
conference. Also the UK Web site is an example of the
dynamism of the EIC UK
2/
ESSEC International is also involved in the so called
" Cercle Diplomatique" which welcomes ambassadors
posted in Paris, to tell ESSEC Graduates first hand news
about the country they represent.
So far we have had the pleasure to greet the ambassadors
of China, and of Australia, and many others are planned
to come.
The ultimate goal, of course, is to get these ambassdors
well acquainted with ESSEC.
In
conclusion, I want to stress how, you ESSEC graduates
here in the UK, are important in the process of helping
the ESSEC international development. UK is the second most important country in terms of
number of ESSEC Graduates after the US.Your personnal
example strenghens the image of ESSEC.Your help, by projecting
your professionnal ability in daily contacts, (image)
by introducing ESSEC in your company, whenever it is suitable,
(awareness) as well as by providing long term training
(stage) to ESSEC students is extremely valuable to the
ESSEC Group.Thank
you to be proactive in these matters.
