EDHEC Bootcamp: Providing scholarship high school students with an immersive experience within a prestigious school

This summer, EDHEC is organizing its first EDHEC Talents Bootcamp, a program aimed at providing scholarship high school students with an insight into the environment of a renowned Business School.

A cohort of 17 scholarship students from Second or First Year of high school inaugurates this first edition (with the objective of accommodating 60 students in the next edition in 2024), with an intensive program on the EDHEC campus in Lille, followed by personalized support until the end of their high school studies.

A week dedicated to Business and Sustainable Development awaits them:

• Discovery of the EDHEC campus in Lille, its student associations, and the heritage of the region, including a visit to Villa Cavrois.
• Workshops on Sustainable Development organized around a "climate fresco" and an introduction to environmental law with a specialized lawyer.
• Master classes led by professionals to introduce them to the world of Business.
• Team-building exercises through music and sports, as well as leadership development through workshops on public speaking and self-confidence.
• Career testimony from an EDHEC graduate who also came from a disadvantaged background, along with mentoring offered by students to provide insights into the wide range of educational programs available at EDHEC and the professional opportunities that lie ahead.
• Interactions with EDHEC students to foster intergenerational and intercultural exchanges. International students will help them improve their English fluency and broaden their horizons.
• The Bootcamp will conclude with an immersion in the EDHEC incubator at Campus Jean Arnault. The co-founders of Abracadabra (an upcycling company), an EDHEC alumna, and an engineer will share their mission to democratize sustainable fashion and familiarize participants with entrepreneurship by encouraging them to cultivate their creativity and innovation potential.

Ongoing support will be provided until the Baccalaureate. Bootcamp participants will have the opportunity to be mentored by EDHEC students, guided by a graduate mentor, and invited to monthly conferences or workshops during their Junior and Senior years of high school.

A natural bridge will then be created with the "Talents Preparatory" program for students choosing the path of preparatory classes. Established by EDHEC in 2022, this program allows 50 scholarship students in their second year of preparatory classes to receive assistance from EDHEC student volunteers in preparing for admission exams at EDHEC or other prestigious schools.

"We all came to EDHEC with the intention of succeeding and making our mark in the business world. But it is not enough to simply do well. We must aspire to do good, to bring added value to our company, our community, and our planet."

Michael Burke, EDHEC 1980, Diamond Circle Patron, sponsor of the EDHEC Talents Bootcamp.