The 2020- 2021 academic year has officially begun for the international students enrolled at EMLV. After months of uncertainty regarding international travel, Pole Leonard de Vinci’s staff and professors welcomed students to the Paris campus, home of the Master in Management, MBA and MSc programmes.
Despite the challenging times we’re now living in, the EMLV international programmes have seen a positive outcome in numbers of international students’ countries.
Culturally-diverse programmes in business school
“It’s been an exceptionally challenging intake, but we are proud to finally host them either on-site and online in such right conditions. The school has deployed massive resources with dedicated staff to welcome our largest and most diverse cohort ever.
It’s gratifying to count more than 35 different nationalities across only four programmes, and we aim to increase this diversity with even more nationalities for the next intake” said Mr TRZASKA Camille, Director of International Business Development.
This intake reaffirms the school’s international ambitions after successful CGE and AMBA accreditations for its MSC and MBA programmes this year.
Welcome to the Paris La Defense campus of EMLV
After the first intake of students in October 2020, onto the Master in Management programme, on October 28 EMLV welcomed its international students with a 3-days orientation program.
Each year, the Pole Leonard de Vinci organises various activities to help international students get settled into the Paris campus life.
This year, given the sanitary context, the integration experience has been modified and was proposed in a hybrid format to ensure that all international students still receive the warm welcome they deserve.
A hybrid orientation program for MBA and MSc students
To help international students begin their business school journey, EMLV organised various welcome tools and events to ensure a coordinated and seamless integration experience while respecting the health recommendations. The campus tour is the first step to familiarising students with the Pole Leonard de Vinci’s infrastructure and facilities.
EMLV international students on a campus tour
The orientation days started on October 28 and finished on October 30, and they allowed the MBA and MSc students to:
- receive their student badge and visit the campus
- get assistance in administrative procedures related to their student life in France (transportation card, migration procedure, social security etc.) with the help of Feel Français
- identify the contact persons for their courses, administrative matters, etc.
- meet the students they will be studying with and the student association ESN De Vinci
- learn how to use the Leonard de Vinci digital tools – essential for their entire stay at Leonard de Vinci
- start mandatory French classes
To facilitate students connection with the international team, the students use a Discord based chat system with dedicated chat channels.
An EMLV student checking the Discord page
Originally designed to serve the gaming community, the Discord community server also facilitates information sessions and enables students to establish and maintain links.
Studying in Paris in the Covid-19 era
“They have already proven their determination and tenacity by navigating the complicated pandemic-era travel procedures and preparing a new life in France. More of their classmates have continued to arrive safely in Paris, in the days following”, explains Mr TRZASKA Camille, Director of International Business Development.
Studying abroad can present new and various situations that students have never encountered before and force them to step out of their comfort zone. Here’s where the role of the international team comes in.
“The university was very supportive in terms of e-mails. They came right before I arrived: everything was self-explanatory, even how to get to the university, everything is very systematic.
As a Lebanese, I appreciate the support system anytime when we have a difficult situation. After the bombing, they called me already, so I felt supported as a person”, says Stephanie, who studies an MBA.
“I’m from Denmark, from Copenhagen, so everything seems big and exciting. I arrived in Paris almost two weeks ago, so it was a one-way ticket and a one-way decision.
Earlier, today, we had the orientation, where we’ve got a lot of information on how you navigate the student portal. I’ve been receiving a lot of information regarding the transportation card or finding accommodation, or anything we might need. I feel confident and excited”, says Mads, a student in MSc International Finance at EMLV.
Although she is Fench, Juliette, an MSc International Business student at EMLV, chooses an international program and feels optimistic about the year ahead.
“We’ve received all the e-mails on time, we’ve got all the information, and the Discord support is beneficial, especially in this context of Covid-19.
I was able to get all the information regarding the orientation days. I think it’s great to have the international aspect of the studies here, at the Pole Leonard de Vinci”.
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