Alumni Campus Day 2024: a wonderful event celebrating class reunions on the EDHEC campus.

Almost 500 graduates gathered on the Lille and Nice campuses to celebrate the evolution of their school. Here's a look back at a day rich in emotions and memories on Saturday October 12 at EDHEC Lille!

This year, 9 Masters (Grande Ecole) classes — from 1969 to 2014 — were in attendance, marking their 10^th, 15^th, 20^th ... and even 55^th anniversary since leaving EDHEC. The event also brought together graduates from the BBA and Executive MBA programmes as well as around 30 graduates from the MSC in Creative Business and Social Innovation, celebrating their 20^th anniversary in the company of their professor, Isabelle Sequeira. We extend our warmest thanks to the ambassadors who orchestrated this resounding success!

A morning spent reconnecting on the new EDHEC campus

As soon as they arrived on the Lille campus (Rue Verte in Croix), graduates were welcomed in the large marquee erected each autumn for the graduation ceremonies held in the on-campus park. Everything was ready to welcome our graduates of all generations, including those wishing to bring their families, with a children's club set up on campus for the occasion.

The event hosts, Martin Barbier (EDHEC Master 1988, Director of EDHEC Alumni) and Audrey Haverkamp (EDHEC Master 2012, EDHEC Country Manager for the UK & Ireland), ensured a dynamic and sociable atmosphere for this exceptional get-together.

The morning began with a look back at the fascinating history of how the school has supported so-called atypical profiles. Professor Isabelle Sequeira, director and founder of the MSc in Creative Business and Social Innovation, retraced the origins of this unique course. To mark the occasion, she was accompanied by Antoine Reinartz, who graduated from the class of 2009 and sponsored the latest MSc class and is best known for his striking roles in the films 120 battements par minute, Anatomie d'une chute and Roubaix, une lumière. Antoine offered an inspirational definition of what it means to have “atypical talent”, with a profile that doesn't follow the traditional finance or marketing path. His testimonial was followed up with a speech by Clovis Taittinger (EDHEC Master 2001, Managing Director of Champagne Taittinger and patron of the programme), who spoke about his family's commitments in supporting research and the student experience at EDHEC.

The alumni then attended the Inter-Association Competition in which seven student associations presented their projects. This year, Cheer Up! EDHEC won and walked away with a cheque for €500. The group, which is affiliated with the Cheer Up Federation, supports young cancer patients aged 15 to 25 in fulfilling projects close to their hearts and organises events like the Race against Cancer, blood donations and Movember to raise awareness of these causes among students and the wider public.

Feedback from alumni on this part of the event was very positive: “The association pitches were fantastic! And to get the chance to meet today's students was a real bonus and a wonderful transgenerational experience.”

A particularly festive interlude 

After a relaxed lunch involving all the classes and associations in attendance, the graduates had the opportunity to share their own memories and anecdotes in one of the lecture halls. The entertainment provided by the Social Bar staff generated a wonderful atmosphere and heightened the spirit of camaraderie, adding an element of sociability that was particularly appreciated.

A closing ceremony as moving as ever

In the afternoon, guests were given a snapshot of what the school plans in the years to come so as to remain at the cutting edge of academic excellence and have a positive impact on society, as presented by Emmanuel Métais, Dean of EDHEC.

Anne Guillon (EDHEC Master 1990 and Director of the Foundation) reminded everyone of the importance of the generosity of alumni to finance grants covering up to 75% of tuition fees for students from modest backgrounds. Carole F., a student on the EDHEC 2027 Masters programme and beneficiary of the impact grant, spoke of the tangible effect of the support she receives. Alongside her, Talabor Szabo (EDHEC Master 1979, Platinum Circle donor) shared his commitment as a donor, emphasising the importance of solidarity and support for talented young people at EDHEC.

The ceremony closed with a reading of the Pledge of Loyalty by Martin Barbier and Audrey Haverkamp, followed by the traditional cap toss on stage, a moment immortalised by the applause and smiles of the many generations of alumni present

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Before class dinners to relive the atmosphere of Lille's parties

All the graduates celebrating a class reunion this year signed up for another one in 5 years from now. In the meantime, the Class Challenge continues to run for a few days: it's up to you to make sure your class shows the greatest solidarity!

I join the Class Challenge 2024

And we invite all graduates from the Masters, BBA and Executive classes ending in 0 or 5 to start making preparations for their Campus Day in October 2025!

Testimonials

Participants at this year's event awarded it a record-breaking score of 9.3 out of 10 – an inspiration for future attendees:

“What a fantastic event this Alumni Campus Day was! A real delight to catch up with friends from the class of 2009 after so many years. The atmosphere was warm and filled with shared memories and spontaneous laughter. We were all impressed by what the school has become and delighted to discover the new campus, which is at once modern and inspiring. The presentations of the projects and development plans at EDHEC between now and 2050 also gave us a wonderful overview of our alma mater’s promising future. In short, it was an emotional day full of insights. Many thanks to EDHEC for this unforgettable experience!”

Ourmat Katchaganov, EDHEC Master 2009

“I am pleased to see my school continue to grow, attract students from around the world and act as a beacon, while preserving its history and the period in which we studied. Over the course of the event held on the Roubaix campus, I also had the chance to catch up with classmates, share fond memories from Lille and create new ones. And we all promised to come back in five years for our 20-year reunion. Thank you all again, and long live EDHEC Business School!"

Ugo Médioni, EDHEC Master 2009

“Many thanks to the organisers. It was most definitely a rare occurrence for me: the feeling of belonging to a community in which simplicity, benevolence and mutual support are the “norm”. Age has given us a little more wisdom and openness, and today I feel like I belong to the “finest” EDHEC class of all time (the record-breaking figures for attendance are proof of this) 😉”

Philippe Barrier, EDHEC Master 1979