Management and Communication in the Service of a Solidary Society and Sustainable Development: Ecological challenges at the heart of student concerns.

After writing an article the previous year, students from the “Management and Strategies of Companies in Europe” and “International Public Relations” programs continued their research projects in the second year of their Master’s under the joint supervision of Vincent Fromentin and Tourya Guaaybess, professors at CEU.

In multidisciplinary teams, on October 16, 2023, the students presented and defended their work through a comprehensive oral presentation followed by a scientific debate on the theme of management and communication in the service of a solidary society and sustainable development.

The materials for these presentations, posters prepared before this day, reflect the strong motivation of the students. The successful winners, evaluated by their peers and teachers, were rewarded.

“After writing an article the previous year, students from the ‘Management and Strategies of Companies in Europe’ and ‘International Public Relations’ programs continued their research projects in the second year of their Master’s under the supervision of Vincent Fromentin and Tourya Guaaybess, professors at the European center university (CEU). For a month, apprentice researchers worked diligently to conduct research addressing the ecological challenges our society faces today.

On Monday, October 16, 2023, excitement was palpable at ENSIC because the much-anticipated moment had finally arrived: the presentation of the ORION projects. This year, students were divided into groups, each working on interdisciplinary projects aiming to solve contemporary issues. However, before delving into the details of the presentations, we took the time to interview three of these groups to gather their impressions of the ORION project.

Overall, the students expressed great enthusiasm for the realization of their project. They highlighted the exceptional opportunity to work as a team, apply the skills acquired during their studies, and contribute to concrete solutions for real-world problems. However, they also mentioned a major challenge of their project: coordination due to the busy schedules of different M2 programs. Yet, these determined students ultimately found innovative ways to overcome these obstacles.

The presentation of the ORION projects took place in an atmosphere of healthy competition. In total, 11 groups spoke to present their work from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm, under the attentive eyes of the jury. The judges this year were Professors Tourya Guaaybess and Vincent Fromentin, as well as the students. The ENSIC management was also present through Mrs. Joanna Agazzini, the Secretary-General of ENSIC.

Each group presented its project with passion and conviction, revealing innovative solutions for contemporary challenges. The works addressed a range of topics, such as responsible funds and corporate social responsibility; financial education programs and green investments in Europe; finance and religion; or the influence of the European taxonomy on the investment methods of financial institutions. The underlying question each time was the role of communication in these mechanisms: Is it a purely communicative approach, or even ‘greenwashing,’ or have they grasped the dimensions of ecological challenges?

The evaluation of the ORION projects took place in a cross-cutting manner, combining the opinions of the jury of professors and the evaluations of the attending students. After thorough deliberations, the group that presented the “GREENFIN” label was crowned the champion of the 2023 edition of the ORION project at CEU. This team convinced the jury and their peers by presenting an innovative project that highlights sustainable solutions for companies, combining management and communication. Indeed, their research focused on the management and communication of green finance in Europe, raising a crucial issue: to what extent does the “GREENFIN” label represent a credibility factor for investment funds? Their thinking is promising: the “GREENFIN” label could well be a tool for energy transition, because of its numerous requirements. Furthermore, the growing interest of companies in environmental issues suggests that the “GREENFIN” label would not only be a tool for green marketing but also a means to attract environmentally conscious investors, thus positively influencing the financial performance of investment funds. Hypotheses that need verification…

After this emotionally charged day, the professors commented on the students’ work. They were visibly pleased with the commitment and creativity that the students demonstrated in their projects. The professors also expressed optimism for the next edition of the ORION project, foreseeing a possible integration of law students to further broaden the multidisciplinary scope of this flagship project.

In conclusion, the presentation of the ORION projects in 2023 was a success, showcasing the creativity and commitment of CEU students. The interdisciplinary projects faced challenges but also proved that collaboration and determination can overcome all obstacles. The future looks promising for the ORION project, and the integration of new disciplines promises even more exciting perspectives for future editions.”

Dina Benazzi, Mjelma Luzha, and Faustine Miraucourt

Master’s Students, International Public Relations-Communication

ORION

This event is supported by the ORION program.

More information about ORION and student researcher clubs: u2l.fr/osezlarecherche