Campus Day 2025: unprecedented mobilization for Class anniversaries!
This fall, nearly 500 graduates gathered on our campuses to celebrate the evolution of their school and rekindle the bonds that unite them. The festivities kicked off with the Nice Class of 2000 on September 20, followed by the Nice Class of 1995 on September 26 and 27, but the highlight of this Campus Day was, of course, the memorable, emotion-filled day on Saturday, October 11 at EDHEC Lille!
This edition shone a spotlight on nine graduating classes from the Master in Management and Executive MBA programs, spanning 1965 to 2005, celebrating 10, 15, 20… up to 60 years of shared journeys since their graduation from EDHEC.
A huge thank you to all the class ambassadors who brilliantly mobilized their classmates! Special praise goes to the oldest classes, who showed that EDHEC spirit doesn’t fade with time, and to the Class of 2000, which gathered 100 people for an unforgettable moment. You all made this gathering a true intergenerational success.
A morning to reconnect with EDHEC today
Upon arriving on the Croix campus, alumni were welcomed under the large ceremonial tent, erected every autumn in the heart of the park for graduation ceremonies. The warm atmosphere set the tone for a day dedicated to connection and conviviality.
On stage, Anne Geisert, President of EDHEC Alumni, and Alexander Picavet, Secretary General of EDHEC Alumni, welcomed participants — 40% of whom were returning to campus for the first time. The Alumni team then introduced itself, starting with Véronique Donaghy and Brigitte Maissa, long-standing pillars of the association whom many graduates knew during their studies.
Then, Benoît Arnaud, Dean of Programs, shared the school’s strategic directions: the challenges of higher education, key achievements, and ongoing transformations. He then passed the floor to Patrice Loche, Director of Real Estate and General Services, who unveiled the Lille campus extension project — an ambitious undertaking to modernize facilities and create a new “Campus Heart” to enhance the student experience.
Participants’ feedback was unanimous:
"The information about EDHEC’s evolution, the quality of the speakers, the diversity of presentations, the convivial atmosphere — all of this renewed my pride in being part of this school’s alumni community."
A festive intergenerational lunch
The lunch brought together all classes and associations in a friendly atmosphere. The afternoon began with moments of sharing within each class, held in lecture halls: memories, anecdotes, archive videos, games, and even video calls to include distant alumni.
Special mention goes to the Class of 1985, which surprised everyone with an impressive gospel performance to kick off the evening on a joyful note!
Back to school
Alumni then returned to the Ceremonial tent for a captivating talk by Bertrand Monnet, renowned professor and Director of the Criminal Risks Chair. Drawing on his field investigations inside drug trafficking networks, he offered a unique insight into the economic workings of these illegal organizations and their concrete impact on legal businesses.
The student associations were, of course, at the heart of the experience. The Music’all association delivered two brilliant singing and dancing performances before giving way to mini roundtables bringing together current and former presidents of Le Ch'ti, BDE, and the EDHEC Sailing Cup.
The session continued with Anne Guillon (EDHEC Master 1990, Foundation Director), who emphasized the importance of alumni donations in funding scholarships covering up to 75% of tuition fees for students from modest backgrounds.
Alino, a scholarship student (Master 2028), testified to the decisive impact of this solidarity. Alongside him, Henri du Masle (EDHEC Master 1990, Bronze Circle donor) shared his commitment and called for this collective momentum to continue.
By the end of the day, the Class Challenge — a solidarity competition organized for the occasion among anniversary classes — had already raised €133,000 for the EDHEC For All scholarship program. Thank you all!
The ceremony ended on a high note: the reading of the Pledge of Loyalty by Anne Geisert and Alexander Picavet, followed by the very “creative” class parade and the traditional cap toss under the applause of all generations gathered together.
And afterwards… see you in 5 years!
The evening continued with dinners by class, in an atmosphere reminiscent of Lille’s vibrant student days.
All “anniversary” graduates have already marked their calendars: see you in 5 years for the next edition!
In the meantime, the Class Challenge remains open for a few more days:
👉 It’s your turn to help your class climb to the top of the solidarity rankings!
Finally, Master, BBA and Executive classes in years ending in 1 and 6 are invited to start preparing their 2026 Campus Day.
Our graduates share their feedback
Participants gave the event an outstanding rating of 9.2/10, and their testimonials are sure to inspire you:
“I was very impressed by the organization of this event, which managed the feat of bringing together several classes while making each feel that the event was designed especially for them.”
“My favorite moment was our reunion hour with the class — deeply moving, with the screening of our class film, songs, guitar, and anecdotes…”
“Congratulations and thank you for the work done to make these reunions possible. Today, the EDHEC Alumni network holds as much — if not more — value to me than the academic excellence I benefited from, considering the 40 years of professional activity that follow. The power of the network and its interactions is a tremendous lever, and EDHEC has wisely nurtured it through EDHEC Alumni. Thank you.”
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