rofessor Jean-Paul Larçon, the former Dean of HEC Paris (Paris School for Advanced Commercial Studies), spoke to students of Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) on the French system of education on October 27, marking the 30th anniversary of cooperation between SISU and HEC Paris.

Starting with some facts about the life of Napoleon Bonaparte who was a military and political leader of France and Emperor of the French as Napoleon I, Prof. Larçon emphasized the education that Napoleon has received has an crucial impact on shaping his governance, including territorial expansion, the establishment of republic system, the thought of law supremacy, the promotion of science and technology, and the funding of elite schools, most of which has shaped European politics in the early 19th century.

He added that the effect of education on other political figures has been widely testified. During his speech, Prof. Larçon also introduced the common characteristics, management, teaching methods and examination system of French universities.

In the Q&A session, Prof. Larçon exchanged ideas with SISU students about European current affairs.

Xiao Yunshang, Dean of SISU’s School of French and Francophone Studies, meeting with Prof. Larçon, hosted the event.

HEC Paris, founded in 1881 by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has developed based on the model of rare French grandes écoles. It has become one of the most selective graduate schools in Europe, with numerous well-known alumni in business and politics.

HEC ranks the fourth and even the first in Europe among the world’s higher education institutions for the number of CEO alumni working in Fortune Global 500 companies. According to a 2011 report, 12 out of the 40 largest French publicly traded companies each appointed one alumnus of HEC Paris to be CEO (or equivalent).