ICHEC is gradually rolling out an in-depth reform of its programs, designed to prepare students for the challenges of a constantly evolving world, focusing on three key pillars: digitalization, sustainability, and soft skills. After last year’s revamp of the first year, it’s now the second year’s turn to be reimagined—most notably through a brand-new integration week! Dive into the initiatives that mark this new chapter of the reform.
Block 1: Building strong foundations
First steps, first impressions. For Block 1 students, the year kicked off with a pre-term day on September 12, guided by Grégory Degand, academic coordinator and a true compass connecting students, faculty, and administrative services.
The program included:
A workshop to get familiar with the essential digital tools for their studies,
A discovery game around the Montgomery campus to break the ice,
Meetings with the institution’s key services.
At the end of the day, a more personal moment left a lasting impression: each student wrote a Letter to the Future, reflecting on their expectations and resolutions for the year. This motivational capsule will be returned to them just before the exam period as a reminder of their journey.
Student associations then took over, showing that the ICHEC experience also means a vibrant campus life filled with projects, meetings, and engagement.
“There are the courses, but there’s also all the student life around them,” summarizes Grégory.
"What are the key elements of a successful integration?"
According to Grégory Degand, the key to a successful integration lies in early use of the support services provided by the Student Success Service: remediation sessions, conversation tables, methodological workshops, and more. Too many students wait until they encounter difficulties to use these resources, even though they are designed to support them from the very start.
He also emphasizes the importance of the Academic Coordination Office (office 402), a resource hub for developing personalized action plans in case of challenges.
Finally, he highlights the crucial issue of students’ mental health. Beyond its financial role, the Social Service provides essential, confidential, and caring support, guiding students toward appropriate psychological assistance when needed.
Block 2: A brand-new integration week
For Block 2 students, the start of the year felt refreshingly new. For the first time, they experienced afull integration week, designed to welcome them to the Anjou campus and give them a taste of the main pillars of the program reform: digitalization, sustainability, and soft skills.
From day one, the tone was set: reflecting on social representations and discrimination. Gender, disability, racism… three modules aimed at opening students’ eyes and helping them understand how these realities shape our societies and our lives.
“This is political, this is sensitive, but it is important to leave ICHEC with values of social justice,” emphasizes Samia Saadani, facilitator of the introductory session. “Here, we’re not talking about opinions, but about facts documented by researchers, institutions, and field practitioners.”
The week didn’t stop there. Students also had the opportunity to develop very practical skills:
- How to build a strong CV and LinkedIn profile – an essential workshop to prepare for their future careers.
- An immersive experience at the Odoo Experience Fair in Heysel, in collaboration with Odoo. This was an opportunity to explore different company departments and get acquainted with innovative management software.
- An exploration of North-South issues through the interactive educational game “Sudestan.” This game highlights challenges of domination and inequality, as well as the constraints of the international geopolitical context in North-South relations.
- Finally, a session using the MBTI test, allowing each student to identify their personality type among 16 distinct profiles. A valuable tool for better self-understanding, recognizing personal needs, and refining one’s working style.
For Catherine Dal Fior, Head of Sustainability Projects at ICHEC, the week had a clear objective: “to give our students the keys to understand themselves, understand others, and understand the world.”
Through this initiative, ICHEC proudly affirms its ambition: to train managers and entrepreneurs who are open to the world, responsible, and value-driven. “ICHEC aims to embody the change needed to meet the challenges of our time,” concludes Catherine.
The tone for this new academic year is set
From the Letter to the Future in Block 1 to the civic and immersive workshops in Block 2, the 2025–2026 academic year has proven one thing: at ICHEC, students learn as much to become competent professionals as they do to become engaged citizens.
Full lecture halls, laughter echoing through the corridors, passionate debates… the stage is set for a year filled with challenges and achievements.