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SKEMA Business School wins the 2025 Palio des Écoles at the Cagnes-sur-Mer racecourse
On Friday 7 March 2025, six students from three institutions – SKEMA Business School, Epitech and Polytech – lined up at the start of the Palio des Écoles, the final race of the winter meeting at the Côte d’Azur racecourse in Cagnes-sur-Mer. This year’s edition highlighted discovery, competition and academic innovation.
Initiated by Marc Rom, Director of SKEMA’s Sophia Antipolis campus, and approved by Christophe Dispas, Director of MSc programmes, the project saw MSc Sport Event & Hospitality management students not only take part in the race but also manage its organisation. This immersive format gave them a behind-the-scenes look at a major horse racing event, a chance to engage with industry professionals, and an introduction to the world of betting, with PMU on hand for the occasion.
The highlight of the day: a two-seater sulky race pairing a student with a professional jockey on the track. After a random draw to assign the horses, held during a cocktail reception organised by the Côte d’Azur Racing Society and chaired by François Forciolo-Conti, the teams launched into a few minutes of pure adrenaline.
This year’s winners were SKEMA Business School, represented by Lui Hsih Wen (China) alongside professional driver Jérôme Chavatte, riding Herbu du Ferron.
‘The Palio des Écoles perfectly reflects our educational approach: placing students in real-life situations and taking them beyond the classroom to understand the workings of sport and event management,’ said Marc Rom. He added: ‘Seeing our students both in the saddle and behind the scenes is the best demonstration of their commitment and professionalism.’
