November 8, 2026. Shanghai – China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) held its 2026 Board of Directors Meeting on the school's Shanghai campus today. Taking place at a pivotal moment as China enters the first year of its 15th Five-Year Plan period and CEIBS embarks on a new five-year Strategic Plan (2026–2030), the meeting brought Board members together to review the school's progress, align on strategic priorities, and chart the course for its next phase of development.

The meeting was chaired by Professor Ding Kuiling, Chairman of the CEIBS Board of Directors, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and President of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Other attendees included Professor Eric Cornuel, Vice Chairman of the Board and President of EFMD Global; Professor Liu Ji, Honorary CEIBS President; Professor Zhu Xinyuan, Director of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission; Professor Xi Lifeng, Executive Vice President of Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Dr. Gao Guofu, former Chairman of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank; Charles Michel, former President of the European Council, former Prime Minister of Belgium, and CEIBS Distinguished Professor; Professor Romano Prodi, former President of the European Commission and former Prime Minister of Italy; Professor Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy and Dean of the School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs at IE University; and Professor Frédérique Vidal, former French Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.

Members of the CEIBS Management Committee and representatives from the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and EFMD were also present.

Opening the meeting, Prof. Ding first congratulated Prof. Cornuel on being awarded the rank of Officer of the French National Order of Merit.

Reflecting on the past year, Prof. Ding highlighted the successful leadership transitions within the CEIBS Board of Directors and Management Committee, which have laid a strong foundation for the school's next phase of development. He also noted the progress made in strategic planning, governance, internationalisation, faculty and research development, programme innovation, and AI integration, alongside the school's continued financial stability.

Looking ahead, he encouraged CEIBS to remain focused on its long-term strategy, build on the distinctive strengths of its Sino-European partnership, and further enhance the quality of its programmes and academic offerings as it works towards its ambition of becoming the world's most respected international business school.

Prof. Cornuel praised CEIBS' achievements over the past year, noting that its development over more than three decades is a testament to what China and Europe can accomplish together. He emphasised that the school's European dimension remains central to its identity and a key source of competitive advantage. As global management education continues to evolve, he encouraged CEIBS to strengthen its European connections, bring together Chinese and European perspectives, and expand its international reach, further reinforcing its role as a bridge between China, Europe, and the wider world.

CEIBS President Wang Hong then presented an overview of the school's performance and achievements in 2026.

She highlighted several important milestones, including the continued strong performance of CEIBS' MBA and Global EMBA programmes in international rankings, the successful launch of the Global Master in Management (Global MiM) CEIBS (Switzerland)-ESCP Double Degree and Part-time CEIBS MBA programmes, advances in faculty research and think tank development, and the growing utilisation of AI across both teaching and school management. She credited these achievements to the collective efforts of the CEIBS community, noting that the school has made steady progress in turning its new strategic plan into action.

CEIBS Co-President (European) Frank Bournois followed with a presentation exploring what CEIBS could learn from its peers among the world's leading business schools. He reviewed the school's progress in strengthening its European identity and international presence, while sharing his vision for its development towards 2040.

CEIBS Vice President and Dean Léon Laulusa then provided an update on the school's progress across three strategic priorities, highlighting achievements in internationalisation, programme development, and faculty recruitment, development, and research.

CEIBS Vice President and Co-Dean Zhu Tian presented the school's financial performance and budget for the coming year. He noted that CEIBS had maintained a sound financial position despite a challenging student recruitment environment.

CEIBS Secretary of CPC Committee Ma Lei also briefed the Board on preparations for the school's upcoming building project, outlining the progress made in overcoming challenges and moving the project forward.

During the discussions that followed, Board members exchanged views on the school's achievements, challenges, and future priorities. The Board unanimously approved the CEIBS 2026 Annual Report and budget for 2027. Board members welcomed the progress CEIBS had made in the first year of its latest strategic planning period and offered recommendations for its continued development, encouraging the school to further diversify its programme portfolio, strengthen its European identity, and deepen its international engagement.

Recognising the transformative impact of AI on business and management education, the Board also called on CEIBS to embrace emerging opportunities and develop competitive strengths that reflect its unique position at the intersection of China and Europe.

Board members expressed confidence in the school's future and encouraged the CEIBS leadership to build on the momentum of 2026, put recommendations into practice, and continue advancing its strategic priorities over the next five years.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to CEIBS' long-term development, setting a clear direction for the next stage of its journey towards becoming a leading international business school.