News
Spring 2025 intake: international campuses welcome new students
At Belo Horizonte, Raleigh, and Suzhou, students at SKEMA Business School discovered their new campuses to begin their academic semester under the banner of excellence and success.
Belo Horizonte campus welcomes over 480 students
The Belo Horizonte campus welcomed more than 480 international students enrolled in Master of Science specialisations and the Master in Management (PGE) programme. Geneviève Poulingue, the director of the Belo Horizonte campus, led the welcome sessions alongside programme coordinators and professors. On their first day, students explored the Minas Gerais region and the unique features of Belo Horizonte, while receiving practical information about life in Brazil, such as safety, healthcare, and student association opportunities. A highlight of the welcome programme was an introduction to capoeira and samba, organised by the Abadá Capoeira group. This cultural immersion allowed students to experience local traditions while fostering a sense of community.
Raleigh: diversity and professional opportunities
At the Raleigh campus, over 300 students from 35 different nationalities began their semester in undergraduate and graduate programmes. Orientation days showcased the services offered by SKEMA and North Carolina State University, which provides SKEMA students access to numerous facilities, including sports halls, sports fields, libraries, student concierge services, and student associations. Additionally, students were introduced to the legal and cultural particularities of the United States, as well as career and entrepreneurial opportunities, with the aim of equipping those who wish to work in the U.S. with a clear frame of reference.
Suzhou: a meeting point of cultures
In Suzhou, around 200 students joined the campus to start their academic journey in China. A unique initiative marked this year’s intake: a signature board where students left their symbolic imprint, fostering a sense of belonging to the SKEMA community from day one. To enhance their integration, the campus organised an immersion into local traditions with lucky red envelopes and a game centred on Chinese idioms, offering an engaging introduction to Chinese culture. Matthieu Dumont, director of SKEMA China, reminded students of the unique opportunities China offers, emphasising “the importance of understanding the interactions between Eastern and Western business practices.” A presentation by WenYu Dou, the academic director of the campus, illustrated China’s economic transformation through the example of Xuancheng, a city where innovation and tradition intersect.
