Collège de France is a unique institution in France and Europe. It is open to all, and does not require a registration or diploma. Since the 16th century, it has provided universal and humanist education. This is why the Consilience course, launched in 2021, invited its students to follow a series of courses. These include courses by the economist Philippe Aghion, the historian Vinciane Pirenne-Delforge, the lawyer Samentha Besson, and, in the near future, Christian Gollier's inaugural lecture on ecology.
"Being able to follow various lectures at Collège de France is in line with the logic of the Consilience course, which aims to link knowledge in a spirit of openness. In the coming world, only those students capable of approaching problems through the filter of several disciplines will be able to ask the right questions to provide the right answers," explained Frédéric Munier, professor of geopolitics at SKEMA and the co-director of the Consilience programme with Rodolphe Desbordes, professor in economics.
Enthusiastic students
On Thursday, 4 November 2021, as part of the "Mondes Francophones" Chair, Collège de France hosted the inaugural lecture of one of the greatest representatives of the French-speaking world: professor of law Yadh Ben Achour. The title of the lecture was: "Revolution, a hope".
Students from the Master in Management programme came back filled with enthusiasm from this inaugural lecture, as reflected in the testimonials of two of them: Anouk Gillyboeuf and Kenza Beaudenon.
Anouk Gillyboeuf, a Master 1 student who joined SKEMA after a 'Classe Prépartoire'. "The lectures at Collège de France reinforced our open-mindedness and our curiosity. Before entering this prestigious institution, we only had partial knowledge of the subject that was covered during the inaugural lecture. When we came out, we were rich in knowledge and eager to deepen the points raised during the conference."
Kenza Beaudenon, a Master 1 student who joined SKEMA after a degree in public law and political science. "Yadh Ben Achour's inaugural lecture offered me an angle of theological analysis that I had not previously considered. Professor Ben Achour embodied his lesson with eloquence and conviction, which provided me with an enriching experience, from which I emerged more enlightened and enthusiastic. This lesson is in line with the Consilience course's desire to offer us access to a degree of knowledge and expertise that develops our capacity to see the world with openness and reason. I'm finding a pedagogy that echoes my educational ideal and introduces me to areas of study that I would not have spontaneously gone into."