On July 30, Beijing City University (BCU) and ESDES Business School of Lyon signed a memorandum of understanding. The signing ceremony was held at BCU's Aerospace City Campus. Attendees included William Hust, Dean of ESDES Business School; Caroline Duval, Director of International Cooperation and Admissions; Shen Dai, President of Brest Business School; Li Jiayi, Dean of the School of International Culture and Communication (SICC) at BCU; Guo Yongjian, Chair of the Financial Management Department; Ouyang Muyi, Chair of the French Department; and Cai Jiaqi from the International Office.
At the ceremony, Dean Li Jiayi extended a warm welcome to Dean William Hust and his delegation. She introduced the School of International Culture and Communication at Beijing City University, highlighting its commitment to cultivating interdisciplinary and internationally oriented talents with integrated capabilities in "digital-intelligent communication, audiovisual features, and foreign language proficiency" within the context of New Liberal Arts development. She expressed the hope that this signing would serve as an opportunity for in-depth collaboration with ESDES Business School in areas such as joint curriculum development, faculty and student exchanges, and collaborative research, jointly exploring new models for nurturing talent in cross-cultural communication and brand management.
Dean William Hust highly commended Beijing City University's achievements in applied and internationally oriented talent cultivation. He introduced that ESDES Business School, founded in 1987, is a member of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles and holds AACSB international accreditation—one of the highest standards for business schools worldwide. The school's distinctive feature lies in its deep integration of humanities and social sciences into business education, aiming to cultivate business leaders with global perspectives and social responsibility. He expressed anticipation for strengthening student development and enhancing faculty teaching and research capabilities through faculty exchanges, student exchanges, and joint workshops.
Both sides engaged in practical discussions on specific collaboration pathways, including summer study programs, semester exchanges, and bachelor's-to-master's bridging programs. They reached preliminary consensus on course credit recognition, joint program design, and implementation timelines, laying a solid foundation for the smooth launch and execution of subsequent projects.
Following the ceremony, the French delegation visited the School of International Culture and Communication's Modern Media Practice and Teaching Center and other teaching facilities at BCU, and spoke highly of the school's advanced equipment, distinctive educational features, and fruitful outcomes in talent development.
The signing of this memorandum of understanding establishes a new international cooperation platform between Beijing City University and a top-tier French business school. Both institutions will work together to cultivate versatile talents proficient in both Chinese and French, well-versed in international business practices, and capable of cross-cultural communication, injecting new momentum into serving the development of Beijing as an international exchange center and the high-quality advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Institutional Profile
ESDES Business School (École Supérieure pour le Développement Économique et Social) is a prestigious business school affiliated with Université Catholique de Lyon, holding dual international accreditations from AACSB and EFMD. The school ranks 93rd globally in the Financial Times 2025 Master in Management ranking, and its Bachelor in Management (Entrepreneurship and Business Development track) has achieved outstanding results in authoritative French rankings. With over 100 partner institutions worldwide, ESDES emphasizes the integration of management knowledge with humanities and social sciences, aiming to cultivate responsible leaders who drive sustainable economic growth.
