How humanities and management help us understand a changing world
Speaking alongside Zhang Donggang, executive vice president of Renmin University of China, Alexandre de Navailles contributed to a conversation on the strategic role of humanities and management studies in navigating global transformation. Their exchange highlighted a long-standing collaboration between KEDGE and Renmin University, embodied in the Franco-Chinese Institute, where students are trained at the crossroads of social sciences, culture and management.
To ground the discussion, de Navailles pointed to a challenge shared by France and China alike: demographic ageing. KEDGE is currently working with Renmin University, Sorbonne University and Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3 University on a joint research and teaching initiative exploring how societies can adapt to this profound shift.
Humanities and social sciences are not a footnote: they are what allow us to translate knowledge into meaningful action. They help us read societies, accompany their transitions, and keep innovation firmly anchored in human needs. Ageing is not a distant prospect but a present reality, and a powerful example of how Franco-Chinese cooperation can shape new ways of thinking for a more resilient and compassionate world.
A moment of dialogue with president Macron
Later that afternoon, representatives of French higher education - including KEDGE - were invited to join President Macron for a conversation with students at Sichuan University. This underscored the growing strategic importance of educational cooperation in the broader Franco-Chinese relationship.
