On 11 December 2024, ESSEC APAC commemorated a landmark milestone—the 20th Anniversary of our presence in Singapore—with a celebration for the ESSEC community and key partners and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

At the event, we announced a new partnership with the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), a government organization that facilitates partnerships with non-profit organizations, companies, public sector bodies, and individuals to grow a culture of giving in Singapore.

The event opened with remarks by Vincenzo Vinzi, Dean and President of ESSEC. Lily Kong, President of the Singapore Management University, then delivered a keynote speech titled “At the Crossroads: Universities for the Hundred-Year Life”. She spoke on the road ahead for institutes of higher learning, including ESSEC, and how we can continue to chart a path toward innovation and longevity.

Anne-Claire Pache, Associate Dean for Global Strategy & Sustainability at ESSEC, introduced the following segment: signing an MoU between ESSEC and NVPC.

Tony Soh, NVPC’s Chief Executive Officer, and Vincenzo shared their vision for the collaboration. With NVPC’s support, ESSEC will contribute 2,000 volunteering hours in 2025, engaging students, alumni, faculty, and staff in service and skills-based activities.

ESSEC will embed volunteerism into the curriculum of our students through programs such as the Junior Consultant Experience for the Master in Management (MiM) cohort and the Field Experience
Project for the Global Bachelor of Business Administration (GBBA) cohort.

ESSEC and NVPC will co-develop a case study to identify success factors for impactful, large-scale volunteering initiatives and provide actionable insights for organizations seeking to embark on similar journeys.

This partnership was covered in all three of Singapore’s major dailies: The Straits Times, The Business Times, and Lianhe Zaobao. The collaboration highlights ESSEC’s commitment to giving back to the local community and marks a meaningful way to celebrate our 20th Anniversary responsibly and sustainably.

Reetika Gupta, Deputy Dean of ESSEC APAC, delivered closing remarks, wrapping up the formal segment of the event. The guests then enjoyed a celebratory lunch at Study Areas 1 and 2, which included cake-cutting led by Vincenzo and Reetika.

Thank you to everyone who celebrated the kick-off for our 20th Anniversary year with us. With more initiatives planned for 2025, we will continue to build a future-fit business education that fosters shared progress and makes a lasting impact in Asia-Pacific and beyond.

Happy 20th Anniversary, ESSEC APAC!