In April 1996, a delegation of three from School of Business Administration of the Université de Poitiers, France, visited School of Economics and Management, Nanchang University. Both parties signed a letter of intent for cooperative education.
In December 1996, the Office of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council (Document [1996] No. 65) and Jiangxi Provincial Education Commission approved the establishment of a joint Master's program in Business Administration between Nanchang University and the Université de Poitiers, with the French party granting the degree.
In January 1997, The Institut Franco-Chinois de Management (IFCM)of Nanchang University was officially established.
In March 1997, a delegation of three from Nanchang University visited the Université de Poitiers and its School of Business Administration. The two sides signed an official agreement to conduct cooperative education.
In September 1997, the first class of the Master's program in Business Administration started at IFCM.
On July 26, 1997, Mr. Cao Guoxing, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the State Education Commission, inspected the IFCM of Nanchang University.
In March 1998, a delegation of two from Nanchang University visited the Université de Poitiers and its School of Business Administration.
In May 1998, a delegation from the Université de Poitiers visited Nanchang University.
In June 1998, Mr. Pierre Morel, the French Ambassador to China, visited the IFCM. He delivered a speech titled "Sino-French Cultural Exchange and Economic & Trade Development" and attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly-completed teaching building of IFCM.
On October 26, 1998, Mr. Sun Yegang, Director of the Comprehensive Affairs Division of the Office of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, inspected the IFCM.
In February 1999, a foreign affairs delegation from the Jiangxi Provincial Education Commission visited the Université de Poitiers in France. The delegation included Mr. Zhang Jianhua, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Jiangxi Provincial Education Commission, and Professor Gan Xiaoqing, Vice President of Nanchang University. The delegation also reached a consensus with Counselor Cao Guoxing from the Education Office of the Chinese Embassy in France and Mr. Pechon from the French International Student Service Center on promoting Sino-French cooperation in higher education.
In June 1999, Mr. Francois Sastourne, Consul General of the French Consulate in Wuhan, visited the IFCM of Nanchang University. He spoke highly of the progress of the cooperative programme, commending the center as "a model of Sino-French cooperative education."
In September 1999, an education delegation from the Jiangxi Provincial Education Commission visited the Université de Poitiers. The delegation included Ms. Yu Yumei, Deputy Director of the Jiangxi Provincial Education Commission, Mr. Zhang Jianhua, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office, Dr. Gan Xiaoqing, Vice President of Nanchang University, and Professor Li Xiantan, Program Director of IFCM. The delegation also reached a consensus with officials including the President of the Regional Council of Poitou-Charentes on strengthening Sino-French exchanges in education and economy.
In October 1999, a delegation from the Poitiers City Council and business communities visited Nanchang University. Organized and arranged by the Jiangxi Provincial Economic and Trade Commission and the IFCM of Nanchang University, representatives from Chinese and French enterprises held cooperation talks and reached multiple investment and cooperation intentions.
In October 1999, the first national seminar on Sino-foreign cooperative degree-granting programs was held at the IFCM of Nanchang University. Officials from the Office of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council and over 50 representatives from higher education institutions across the country attended. The representative of IFCM delivered a keynote speech titled "Cultivating High-Quality International Business Management Talents through Sincere Cooperation, Strict Requirements, and Quality Assurance," receiving positive feedback from the leaders and participants.
On March 30, 2000, Professor Cheng Siwei, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, visited Nanchang University and IFCM. He also delivered an academic lecture titled "Complex Systems and Management."
In May 2000, the graduation ceremony for the first graduates of the Master's program in Business Administration was held at Nanchang University. Mr. Serge Percheron, Dean of the School of Business Administration of the University of Poitiers, and Mr. Francois Sastourne, Consul General of the French Consulate in Wuhan attended the ceremony and extended their congratulations. Mr. Hu Zhenpeng, Vice Governor of the Jiangxi Provincial People's Government, and leaders from relevant departments attended the ceremony.
In July 2000, a delegation of five Chinese management science representatives led by Professor Cheng Siwei, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, visited France. Their first stop was the Université de Poitiers, where they met with students from the IFCM.
On February 14, 2001, Mr. Olivier Guyonvarch, Deputy Consul of the French Consulate in Wuhan, visited the IFCM and delivered a special lecture on "20th Century French Politics and Economy."
On April 6, 2001, commissioned by the Office of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, the National Center for Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development conducted an on-site inspection and evaluation of the center's cooperative graduate education program. The overall assessment is: school leadership attaches great importance, which has promoted international trade and cultural exchanges; teaching facilities are well-equipped, creating a good learning atmosphere; emphasis is placed on teacher training, and various teaching organization indicators are standardized; internships are strengthened, teaching has its own characteristics, and students’ satisfaction is high.
On May 12, 2001, the center held the second graduation ceremony forMaster of Business Administration students. Mr. Esperet, President of the Université de Poitiers, Mr. Perchron, Dean of School of Business Administration, Pan Jiluan, President of Nanchang University, and Zhou Shaosen, Secretary of the Party Committee, presented graduation diplomas to the graduates. Guests attending the ceremony included Hu Zhenpeng, Vice Governor of Jiangxi Provincial People's Government, Mr. Francois SASTOURNE, Consul General of the French Consulate General in Wuhan, as well as leaders from the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education, the Provincial Degree Office, the Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, and relevant officials from Nanchang University.
On June 6, 2001, World Bank expert Mr. Derek A. Baker visited the IFCM and delivered a special lecture on "Rural Markets in Jiangxi."
On August 30, 2001, Mr. Wu Jianmin, the Chinese Ambassador to France, inspected the IFCM and wrote the inscription, 'Outstanding achievements, creating even greater glory.'
On September 13, 2001, Ms. Zhang Xiuqin, Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the Ministry of Education, inspected IFCM.
On September 30, 2001, 178 books gifted by the Université de Poitiers were delivered to IFCM.
On November 9, 2001, Mr. Zhang Xinsheng, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education, inspected IFCM.
On November 9, 2001, IFCM held a sports event, with over 150 participants including center leaders, teachers, and students.
On November 25, 2001, Mr. Bu Zhengfa, Deputy Secretary of the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee, inspected the center.
On December 29, 2001, IFCM held a New Year's Gala for 2002 at the Staff Club in the South Campus of Nanchang University. Nearly 200 people gathered together to welcome the new year.
On March 25, 2002, Vice Admiral Hu Yanlin, Deputy Political Commissar of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, and Major General Zhang Hongfu, Director of the Political Department of the South Sea Fleet, inspected the center and took a group photo with 11 French students.
On Apr 7, 2002, IFCM MBA students, French international students, and faculty visited scenic spots such as Lushan Xiufeng and Donglin Temple for a spring outing.
On Apr 15, 2002, Mr. Wang Yajie, Deputy Director of the Office of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, inspected IFCM.
On May 22, 2002, IFCM held the graduation ceremony for its third MBA cohort. Diplomas were presented by Nanchang University President Pan Jiluan, Party Secretary Zhou Shaosen, University of Poitiers Vice President Alain MIGNOT, and Management School Dean Jacques JAUSSAUD. Guests attending the ceremony included Mr. Hu Zhenpeng, Vice Governor of the Jiangxi Provincial People's Government, and leaders from the Provincial Department of Education.
On September 16, 2002, the Chancellor of the University of Abertay Dundee, UK, visited IFCM.
On November 29, 2002, Mr. Huang Daifang, General Manager of Tellhow Sci & Tech Group, delivered a special lecture titled "How a Small Enterprise Grows into a Listed Company" at IFCM .
On December 29, 2002, IFCM held a New Year's Gala for 2003.
On April 12, 2003, Professors Yan Muxin and Guo Yumei from the French Department of Tianjin Foreign Studies University gave a lecture on the TEF (Test d'Évaluation de Français) exam for IFCM students.
On July 7, 2003, approved by the Office of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council (Document [2003] No. 65), IFCM enrolled its first cohort in the Master's program in Business Administration (Hospital Management Track).
On July 8, 2003, the newly appointed Consul General of the French Consulate in Wuhan, Mr. François de GRAILLY, visited Jiangxi Province upon invitation. He gave full recognition and high praise to the achievements of IFCM in Sino-French cooperation and exchange.
On July 14, 2003, upon invitation from Consul General Mr. GRAILLY, Professor Gan Xiaoqing, Vice President of Nanchang University, attended the French National Day reception.
On June 4, 2003, Huang Shenping, an IFCM MBA student, wrote to French President Jacques Chirac while studying in France, suggesting the development of a holiday economy in France to stimulate economic growth. Huang Shenping received a reply from Mr. GERARD, the Interior Director of the Élysée Palace, on behalf of President Chirac, thanking her for her suggestion. She also received a signed portrait of President Chirac inscribed "Pour une amitié sincère" ("For a Sincere Friendship") and was invited to visit the Élysée Palace.
On October 4, 2003, during her visit to Poitiers, State Councilor Chen Zhili met with some IFCM MBA students studying at the University of Poitiers. Chen highly praised the cooperative programme between Nanchang University and the University of Poitiers and the outstanding contributions made by returned graduates to national development. She expressed her hope that the students would complete their studies and return to serve the motherland.
On August 14, 2003, commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Dr. Gan Xiaoqing, Vice President of Nanchang University, and IFCM faculty members including Dr. Luo Liangzhen traveled to the University of Conakry in the Republic of Guinea to conduct a 30-day training program for economics and management teachers.
On November 3, 2003, Mr. Wu Xinxiong, Deputy Secretary of the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee and Executive Vice Governor, inspected IFCM and delivered an important speech.
On November 18, 2003, IFCM Deputy Director Professor Ma Wei and Teacher Mr. Shen Qiang joined the Nanchang University delegation to France for the "Year of China in France" cultural exchange and participated in the "21st Century Chinese Higher Education Exhibition".
On December 11, 2003, Mr. Xie Jianping, President of Hong Kong's Toronto Group, delivered an academic lecture at IFCM titled "Research on Capital Operation in Mainland Chinese Higher Education Institutions".
On December 25, 2003, IFCM held a "2004 New Year Report Conference and Evening Gala".
On February 10, 2004, approved by the Office of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council (Document [2004] No. 9), IFCM began enrollment for its eighth MBA cohort and its second Hospital Management Master's cohort.
In February 2004, a delegation of leaders from Nanchang University and IFCM visited several higher education institutions in France to promote closer cooperation between Nanchang University and French universities. They visited the University of Poitiers, École Nationale Supérieure d'Électronique, Informatique et Radiocommunications de Bordeaux (ENSEIRB), École Nationale Supérieure de l'Électronique et de ses Applications (ENSEA), Université de Strasbourg I and its École Supérieure de Physique, and École Polytechnique. Agreements were signed with the University of Poitiers and the Poitiers Regional Medical Center for the joint training of Hospital Management Master's students.
In October 2005, approved by Hanban (Confucius Institute Headquarters), the Confucius Institute at the University of Poitiers, jointly established by Nanchang University and the University of Poitiers, was officially inaugurated. This was the first Confucius Institute in France and Western Europe. Leaders from Nanchang University and IFCM attended the inauguration ceremony.
In January 2007, Nanchang University, the Organization Department of the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee, the French Federation of Institutes of Public Management, and the University of Poitiers jointly signed the "Cooperation Agreement on Establishing the Jiangxi Civil Servants European Training Base". In May 2007, they jointly organized the first "Senior Public Management Talent" training program for Jiangxi provincial leaders in France.
In September 2010, approved by Nanchang University, a Sino-French Experimental Class for the undergraduate Business Administration program was established to meet the demands of economic globalization for business administration talent and to deepen the reform of talent cultivation models and improve teaching quality. Building upon the strong foundation of cooperation with the University of Poitiers, this programme features an internationalized curriculum and teaching methods, and is designed to link with the IFCM International Business Management Master's program.
In April 2011, Nanchang University and the University of Poitiers signed two agreements for the joint cultivation of Business Administration (Sino-French Experimental Class) undergraduate students and International Business Management graduate students respectively. According to the latter agreement, starting in 2013, the name of the jointly run Master's program in Business Administration was changed to "International Management".
In September 2013, the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the Ministry of Education officially issued a document (Document [2013] No. 1420) approving the change of the program name for the Master's degree programme jointly run by Nanchang University and the University of Poitiers to "International Management". The first cohort of the jointly cultivated International Management Master's students began their studies at IFCM.
In January 2014, the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the Ministry of Education issued a document (Document [2014] No. 153) announcing the evaluation results for 2013 Sino-foreign cooperative education programs. The Master's degree programme in Business Administration jointly run by Nanchang University and the University of Poitiers was assessed as qualified with a "Good" rating.
In September 2017, the 20th-anniversary celebration of the cooperative education program between Nanchang University and the University of Poitiers and the establishment of IFCM was held in Nanchang. Mr. Olivier GUYONVARCH, Consul General of France in Wuhan, was invited to attend the celebration.
In February 2019, to meet continuing education demands, Nanchang University and the University of Poitiers signed a supplementary agreement based on the existing International Management Master's cooperative program to launch the first English-taught class starting in September 2019.
In June 2021, in accordance with the notice issued by the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the Ministry of Education titled "Notice on Carrying out the 2021 Evaluation of Sino-foreign Cooperative Education Programs" (Document [2021] No. 478), the Master's degree programme in Business Administration jointly run by Nanchang University and the University of Poitiers participated in and passed this evaluation.
In September 2021, in accordance with the "Regulations on Sino-foreign Cooperative Education" and its implementation measures, IFCM applied for an extension and modification for the programme. The enrollment period was extended to 2024, and the validity period of the approval certificate was changed from December 31, 2023, to December 31, 2026.
