For the first time, ESSEC Business School, ESCP, and HEC Paris have brought together their students to reflect on the polarized discussion surrounding climate change. On April 26th, 2024, 120 students from these three leading French business schools gathered at the Académie du Climat in Paris to explore ways to bridge gaps and promote collective action on climate issues.
Students from ESSEC, ESCP and HEC join forces to discuss climate change
30.4.2024
The participants were divided into five working groups, mixing students from the different institutions. They took several online masterclasses in the run-up to the event, taught by professors from the three business schools. These masterclasses were designed to enable students to familiarize themselves with their teammates and approach the discussion on climate change from different angles.
"Working with students from ESCP and HEC was an amazing opportunity to network and collaborate with fellow change makers in the sustainability space. Under the theme of addressing polarization in society, we gelled quickly to brainstorm solutions to this challenge - simultaneously breaking the notion that these schools are "rival" institutions, and instead, enjoying ourselves in the process" explains Evan Smith, one of the 40 MSc in Sustainability Transformation students who took part in the event.
Alexis De La Tour Du Pin Chambly, Msc ST Executive Director comments "One of my strongest beliefs is that sustainability, despite being polarizing, remains a crucial topic. Graduates from these prestigious management schools will prioritize collaboration over competition in their careers. In essence, the sustainability network surpasses the school network"
Guided by professors, through workshops and debates and in the form of theatrical sketches, students delved into polarization in academic, corporate, family, media, and political spheres. “I think everyone would agree that the theater plays were definitely a highlight as well, all filled with humor and wittiness” tells Camila Benedetti Lara, an MSc in Sustainability Transformation students. “What I take away is that listening to and understanding individuals are solutions to the polarization of family and political spheres. Simple and obvious solutions, too often neglected. Collaboration was also seen as essential. In fact, the event itself was a concrete example that collaboration is a formidable tool for being efficient, productive and creative, all the more so when it comes to dealing with a complex subject like the ecological transition", says Camila.
The collaboration between ESSEC Business School, ESCP, and HEC Paris reflects a shared commitment to sustainability, with the dedicated centers for social and sustainable innovation at each school playing a crucial role in this initiative.
“This event showcased students seeking solutions and also symbolized collaboration among competing business schools. The collaboration among competing business schools facilitates cooperation and advances societal and environmental issues, inspiring students to address them. There is no way that the solutions to the major sustainability challenges that the world faces can be found by individual actors in silos… so it is key that our students, our colleagues and our deans get together, roll their sleeves and work together for sustainability. These challenges require choosing cooperation over competition! Of course, this is only a first step and we need to go further. This event was a great opportunity to start conversations and identify opportunities for further projects. It is only the beginning of the journey !” concluded Anne-Claire Pache, Associate Dean, Strategy and Sustainability.
