Clermont School of Business is continuing to expand its presence in China with the inauguration, on 16 September 2026, of a new Franco-Chinese Institute (FCI) in Guilin, in partnership with Guilin University of Electronic Technology (GUET). Dedicated to intelligent sciences, finance and digital technologies, the Institute welcomes its first cohort of 245 students across three Bachelor’s-level programmes leading to Franco-Chinese double degrees.
A new Franco-Chinese Institute dedicated to technology and management
Located in Guilin, in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the new Franco-Chinese Institute is the result of academic cooperation between Clermont School of Business and Guilin University of Electronic Technology (GUET). The partnership has been formally authorised by China’s Ministry of Education.
The Institute is affiliated with GUET and jointly managed by both institutions, drawing on their complementary expertise. GUET contributes its strengths in electronics, intelligent sciences, software engineering and financial engineering, while Clermont School of Business brings its expertise in management, finance, artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
Together, the two institutions aim to educate graduates who can combine technological expertise with an understanding of economic challenges and strong management skills, equipping them to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving labour market.
Three Bachelor’s-level programmes leading to Franco-Chinese double degrees
From the start of the 2026 academic year, the Institute welcomes 245 students across three Bachelor’s-level programmes:
- Intelligent Sciences and Technology
- Software Engineering
- Financial Engineering
The programmes combine French and Chinese teaching approaches, while enabling students to develop the language skills and intercultural awareness needed to work in an international professional environment.
With 3,728 m² of teaching space, the Institute provides a learning environment suited to the demands of these programmes.
Official inauguration on 16 September 2026
The inauguration ceremony was attended by, among others, Arnaud Baubérot, Attaché for University and Scientific Cooperation at the French Embassy in China; Richard Soparnot, Dean and CEO of Clermont School of Business; and Zhang Wentao, President of Guilin University of Electronic Technology.
Following the official unveiling of the Institute, representatives of both institutions toured its teaching facilities and met students from the first cohort.
The day also saw the first meeting of the joint steering committee, which will support the Institute’s development and oversee the quality of its programmes.
Seeing this Institute come to life and welcome its first students is a real source of pride. Our priority now is to make it a rigorous and open learning environment, fully attuned to the realities of China and to French academic standards.
Clermont School of Business
A partnership to strengthen exchanges between France and China
Beyond its academic programmes, the Guilin Franco-Chinese Institute aims to become a hub for academic, scientific and economic collaboration between the two countries.
The partnership will help promote student and faculty mobility, develop joint educational projects, and encourage research and innovation initiatives.
It will also help strengthen ties with French and Chinese businesses, creating new opportunities for exchange between the academic and professional communities.
Clermont School of Business continues to expand its presence in China
With the inauguration of the Guilin Institute, Clermont School of Business is taking a further step in its international development and strengthening its academic presence in Asia.
The opening of this Institute marks an important milestone in Clermont School of Business’s international development. It reflects our commitment to building lasting partnerships, offering students rich multicultural experiences, and contributing to closer ties between French and Chinese academic and business communities.
Did you know?
Clermont School of Business has a presence in four Chinese cities, through several campuses and academic partnerships.
- Beijing: a campus in partnership with Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU), established in 2024.
- Shanghai: a dedicated campus showcasing Clermont School of Business’s academic excellence, inaugurated in 2025.
- Lingshui (Hainan): a Franco-Chinese Institute developed with BLCU.
- Guilin (Guangxi): a new Franco-Chinese Institute in partnership with Guilin University of Electronic Technology (GUET).
With more than 900 students educated in China, Clermont School of Business contributes to the development of international programmes that bring together French and Chinese expertise.
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