Staff Portrait

Introduce yourself

My name is Yoann Le Bonhomme and I joined ICD Business School in November 2022 as Director of International Relations.
Prior to this, I worked for over 15 years at Campus France, where I held various management positions in Africa, North Africa and the Middle East, then in the Americas.

What is your job?

I've been Director of International Relations since I joined the ICD Business School.
It's an exciting position with many rewarding assignments, and I'm lucky enough to work with a young and dynamic team!
Some of the tasks I've been given include:
- Developing and managing all partnerships with universities and schools worldwide
- Relations with institutions such as the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Campus France, embassies in Paris...
- National (Bienvenue en France) and international (EFMD in particular) accreditations
- Preparation and follow-up of mobility programs for ICD students going abroad on study visits
- Welcoming and monitoring students from our partners who come to study on our programs for a semester or more
- Developing specific international programs
Of course, I'm not alone in fulfilling all these missions, and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my young and dynamic team, all of whom have a real desire to do their jobs well.

How did you get into this profession?

A bit by chance, to be honest, but one thing has always been certain: I've always been interested in international travel and different cultures!
After a degree in Applied Foreign Languages at the University of Nantes, I decided to move to London for a while to perfect my English. On my return, I decided to continue my studies with a Master's degree in International Management at a Grande École in Paris. After graduating, I was offered a position in a national agency for the promotion of French higher education.
I first worked on the training aspects of the Espaces Campus France network, then had the opportunity to manage several geographical zones: Africa / North Africa and the Middle East, and finally the Americas for almost 7 years.
Finally, after more than 15 years in this wonderful company, I had the desire to work in a school, and the ICD Business School made it happen!

What is your day-to-day activity at the school?

Daily life varies enormously depending on the time of year, but overall there are 3 main subjects that come up all the time:
- Preparing for the departure of ICD Business School students on mobility programs and monitoring their progress.
- Welcoming and maintaining regular contact with "Incoming" students coming from our partners to spend 1 semester or 1 year with us.
- Contacts with the school's partner establishments
- Development of new contacts and partnerships

Who are your contacts?

Managing international relations is a cross-functional job: we are in contact with the school's management, of course, but also with the faculty, the department of studies, admissions and communications.
Outside the ICD Business School, we work closely with the International Department of the IGS Group, and of course with our partners around the world.
We are also in regular contact with the various authorities that we approach as and when necessary: ministries (Higher Education, Foreign Affairs), Campus France, Préfectures, etc.

What do you like best about your job?

Human relations! With students, of course, but also with our partners.

Having the chance to work with so many different cultures is always very enriching. And allowing the school's students to discover them always makes me happy!

Why do you enjoy working with students?

I discovered the world of higher education somewhat by chance while working at Campus France during my work-study placement, and it was a revelation for me: enabling young students to learn new things which, once valued on their CVs, will give them access to positions that interest and stimulate them is something very gratifying!

How does your department support students during their studies?

To support ICD students who are leaving to work with our partners, we organize information meetings as far in advance as possible, to prepare them as well as possible for this exciting experience!
Once they're abroad, we keep a close eye on them and offer them regular meetings to make sure that everything is going smoothly, both in terms of courses and daily life.

We also organize welcome sessions when international students arrive on the school's Paris campus.
But generally speaking, our offices are always accessible, and we insist that our door is wide open to students who have any particular questions or concerns.

Do you have an anecdote or a fond memory?

It's still a very short time since I arrived at ICD... the anecdotes will follow, I'm sure!
So perhaps an old event that had a big impact on me a few years ago (in 2011-2012 to be precise) when I was working on the North Africa, Middle East zone at Campus France. At the time, we had set up a European-funded scholarship program to enable young Syrian victims of the civil war to come and study in France at a time when all the local universities had closed. It changed their lives at a time when they saw no more opportunities for their future. The faces of the young men and women who benefited from this opportunity have stayed with me ever since. And as for a little anecdote... since that was the question asked... One of these students contacted me a few months after his arrival to tell me that he was a father and had given his son my first name! So there's a little Bilal Yoann out there somewhere.