The autumn term saw two separate visits by dignitaries that provided ESSEC with the perfect opportunity to promote their dearest assets: the students.



In October, H.E. Chul-Ki Ju, Korean Ambassador to France, paid ESSEC an official visit, the central part of which consisted in a lengthy meet with current students, either from Korea itself or having recently participated in exchanges with our Korean partners.

A blend of students from the EPSCI, ESSEC MBA and Luxury Brand Management programs were on hand to field questions on diverse subjects, including internship possibilities for French nationals in Korea and the promotion of ESSEC within Asia.

In response, the Ambassador was especially encouraged by the academic positioning of France as a whole in recent European rankings and confirmed the increased awareness this has caused in his home country. He was also particularly keen on the possibilities offered by the integration of French businesses in Korea.

Of special merit for him was the presence of Korean students at ESSEC benefiting from French business expertise, with a view to then applying this know-how to business creation elsewhere in the world.



In December it was the turn of H.E. Mr. Craig Roberts Stapleton (American Ambassador to France) to meet with young ambassadors with an equally international outlook in the guise of the class of Specialized Master's in Strategy and Management of International Business.

A frank, student-led question-and-answer session revolved around several key areas, namely Franco-American relations (both diplomatic and commercial) and the American perspective on Europe.
More specific issues addressed included the Advanced Energy Initiative in the US, the contribution of the Baker Report to US-EU relations and, on a more personal note, the extent to which Mr. Stapleton's business background helped him in dealing with his current diplomatic responsibilities.