On November 14, British Airways (BA) and the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) held a signing ceremony to ink a three-year partnership agreement. Kevin McQuillan, British Airways' Regional General Manager Fast East, and Dr Rolf D. Cremer, Vice President and Dean of CEIBS, attended the event. Mr. McQuillan also spoke at a Panel Discussion during "2009 EU Day at CEIBS", organized on the same day.

The partnership agreement provides CEIBS' Development Fund with British Airways flights over the next three years, in support of the school's international cooperation and communication programmes.

British Airways will enjoy access to the latest critical developments in business education and research via CEIBS, as well as priority access to the school's MBA talents for internships and recruitment. In addition, British Airways' executives will be invited to participate in CEIBS' high-level management and industry events, and to serve as VIP guest lecturers to MBA and EMBA classes, in order to share their business management experience.

"We are very pleased to enter into a partnership with CEIBS where mutual development will no doubt take place," said Mr. McQuillan. "British Airways hopes that this programme can drive communication and business exchanges between CEIBS and the international community, especially in Europe, and help the school foster excellent business management talent with international vision."

"As an incubator of future business leaders in China and the international arena, CEIBS is delighted to form closer ties to the air travel industry through this new partnership," said CEIBS' Dean Cremer. "Our mission is to support China's economic development and to further China's integration into the world economy by preparing highly competent, internationally-oriented business leaders. Undoubtedly, our new partnership with British Airways -- a company so directly tied with the goal of globalization and integration -- will help CEIBS to achieve our vision."

The British Airways -- CEIBS Signing Ceremony also featured the winners of the "British Airways 2009 EU Day Student Competition", in which CEIBS students competed to develop an interactive and innovative marketing concept for British Airways in China. The winner was awarded two World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy) tickets from Shanghai to London.

(Information contributed by British Airways and China Europe International Business School)