Italian “cultural and educational diplomacy” is connecting and bringing together three continents to prepare global managers. Following this trajectory, today, Friday, February 18, in an online ceremony, Luiss Guido Carli, Renmin University of China in Beijing , and George Washington University in Washington, D.C., announced the launch of “ACE”—an acronym for “America, China & Europe.” This unprecedented “triple degree” in “Business Administration” combines three different countries with distinct managerial and institutional cultures, marking a completely new entry into the global landscape of higher education.

The signing of the new educational program was attended by Luiss Rector Andrea Prencipe, Vice-Rector for Internationalization Raffele Marchetti, President of Renmin University of China Liu Wei, and President of George Washington University Mark S. Wrighton.

Starting in September 2022, the ACE degree program—highly innovative, geographically mobile, and structured over a total of four years—will enable students to earn three degrees, one from each university, valid and recognized in the United States, China, and Europe. This will prepare them to pursue leadership roles in multinational corporations and global institutions. An international educational experience that will offer the opportunity to immerse oneself in the economic, social, and managerial cultures of the three continents. In fact, students will spend the first year at their respective universities, learning the fundamentals of economics and management. They will then jointly attend the second, third, and fourth years in the three capitals, starting at Luiss in Rome, then moving to Renmin University in Beijing, and finally to George Washington University in the United States. The tuition fees for ACE are in line with the university fees of the student's home institution for the entire duration of the program.

“The ACE program, a partnership between Luiss, Renmin, and George Washington University, places Italy at the center of international higher education and addresses the need to train global managers who are ‘future-ready’ and capable of working and interacting in increasingly multicultural contexts,” said Luiss Rector Andrea Prencipe. He continued: “By creating an ideal pathway between the capitals of Rome, Beijing, and Washington, in line with our Strategic Plan and an innovative educational model, we aim to train professionals with a cosmopolitan outlook and foster the international mobility of talent.”

“Renmin University of China, one of the top universities in China, was the first institution to launch business education in the People's Republic of China. Our university also boasts strong industry connections and an extensive alumni network,” said Liu Wei, President of Renmin University of China. He continued, “ In 2019, Renmin University of China and Luiss Guido Carli jointly launched the Social Sciences Universities Network (SSUN), the world’s first university network in the humanities and social sciences dedicated to nurturing future global leaders. This new Global BA “ACE” represents a significant milestone for SSUN in exploring innovative models for talent development. What sets this triple-degree program apart is that it combines the strengths of three prestigious universities in the social sciences from around the world, giving recent graduates a significant competitive edge in the job market.”