Our history
The CEI is a 1901 association created in 1947 to bring together young people from all over the world through linguistic and intercultural sharing.
The association was set up at this pivotal time by a group of men convinced that peace could only be achieved by strengthening mutual understanding between young people from different countries.
Since then, the CEI has been involved in a variety of missions for young people aged 6 to 25, promoting education through language teaching, learning to live in a community, professional integration and travel. The aim of all our programs is to create a real educational project.
1947
Creation of the CEI
Building : daring and humanism
1947 : a pivotal year. The Marshall Plan would make Jean Monnet’s modernization plan a reality. It was against this backdrop that men and women of strong character, aged between 25 and 30, were to launch a formidable adventure. Learning the lessons of the past, they realized the absolute necessity of creating and recreating bridges between France and Germany.
Participating in the Franco-German rapprochement of young people was a real challenge, and the founders of the CEI took it up.
1954
Opening of the first International Centers in France
Opening of language courses abroad
1954
Opening of the Centre International du Port Blanc in Dinard, Brittany. A new concept and the first of its kind in France. This was followed by the Centre International du Manoir in Boulouris on the Côte d’Azur, the Centre de la Hercerie in La Croix en Touraine and, later, the Centre Pierre Monestier on the banks of the Gorges du Tarn in 1981 (pictured).
From 1963 to 1978
Europe was being built, offering incredible hope of fraternity to the young people of the 6 countries involved. At the same time, decolonization profoundly transformed the attitudes of this generation.
The various teams at the CEI would never cease to apply the 3 Ds – relaxation, entertainment and development – with a clear determination to oppose the obvious consumerism of Club Med’. 68 would open the floodgates to all kinds of utopias, and the centers would be the perfect testing ground.
1983
Takeover of Centre Charles Péguy and creation of CEI London
In 1981, Guillaume Dufresne was recruited by the Board of Directors, who entrusted him with the management of the CEI, with the mission of finding new avenues of development.
In 1981, after two years in London, he was able to set up the first permanent CEI delegation in the UK: the Centre Français de Londres.
Then, from 1987 to 1989, the centers were renovated to become truly international, year-round holiday centers, and the Centre Pierre Monestier was created in the village of St-Rome-de-Dolan.
From 1990 to 1996
Creation of the Paris Langues French as a Foreign Language (FLE) school in 1991.
Also in 1991, our traditional vacation activities continued to develop, culminating in the takeover of Club des 4 Vents.
Finally, in 1996, with the support of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the CEI was awarded the project that would lead to the creation of the Centre Français de Berlin. The CEI then became a valued player in the establishment of new youth exchange partnerships with Central and Eastern European countries.
1996
Opening of the Centre Français de Berlin
Following the opening of the Berlin Wall, under the impetus of Guillaume Dufresne, the CEI created the Centre Français de Berlin with the support of the German and French authorities. The task of the CEI and its German partner SPI was to develop a place conducive to the consolidation and development of Franco-German youth exchanges. Today, the Center is headed by Florian Fangmann, and administered by a Beirat (Steering Committee) with equal Franco-German representation, co-chaired by the French Ambassador and the Mayor of Mitte (the district in which the Center is located). The City of Paris and the Berlin Senate are also members. With its hotel, restaurant, theater and cinema, and activity rooms, the Centre’s many activities have enabled it to occupy a leading position in the field of Franco-German youth exchanges.
2003
Opening of CEI St-Malo, CEI Dublin, and English school in Hastings.
From 1997 to 2007
The Internet, cell phones and a host of structural changes in the global economy triggered a number of changes in the way companies operated and in consumer behavior. The CEI reacted swiftly, giving itself the means to invest by spinning off certain centers and taking original decisions:
The PELICAN program was set up in 1999, followed by the opening of the CEI Paris branch in 2000, the Saint-Malo branch in 2002, and the CEI Dublin branch in 2003.
In 2005, a partnership agreement was signed with Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.
In 2006, Langues & Cultures was taken over by CEI, along with its language school, Cambridge Gardens College in Hastings, south-east England.
Finally, 2007 will see the publication of an illustrated book on the Centre d’Echanges Internationaux to mark its 60th anniversary.
2008
The CEI becomes a member of UNSE and certifies its Paris Langues school.
From 2008 to 2010
In 2008, CEI became a member of UNSE (Union Nationale des Organisations de Séjours de longue durée en France et à l’Étranger).
Then in 2009, the Paris Langues French language school was awarded a quality label: the French Ministry’s “Centre d’Enseignement du Français Langue Étrangère” label.
Finally, in 2010, the visual identity of the CEI will change, and the name “Club des 4 Vents” will be absorbed.
From 2010 to 2012
2010 : following the overhaul of the Group’s main commercial websites, the CEI offers its customers a secure website designed to enable parents to prepare and monitor their child(ren)’s stay: the Visiocolo website.
The CEI’s Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest pages have also been set up to exchange information with participants, who are constantly connected to several social networks.
Despite all this constant information, travel and international encounters are as topical as ever. It was with this in mind that, at the end of 2010, the CEI integrated the Echanges Franco-Irlandais association and the Irish company Newchange into its teams.
In 2012, some 92 nationalities were involved in its programs.
2013
Acquisition of Envol Espace agency
Envol Espace: France’s leading provider of educational school trips
From 2013 to 2015
In 2013, the CEI Group opens up new programs with the takeover of one of the leaders in the field of educational school trips, the “Envol Espace” agency, created over 30 years ago by a teacher.
In 2013, more than 75,000 young people will benefit from CEI Group services.
In 2015, 6 new websites adapted to the new practices of internet users (mobiles and tablets) are created and new programs developed: volunteering, ecotourism and working vacation programs for CEI’s student and adult clientele.
At the end of 2017, the CEI Group integrates tailor-made language stays into its activities with the takeover of the Atout Linguistique organization. Opening of our Lyon office.
In 2018, opening of a travel blog: ouvrirlemonde.com
2022
CEI’s new visual identity and website
After years of growth, the CEI Group, like all players in its sector, is almost brought to a standstill by the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
CEI is adopting a new visual identity, along with a new website and a renovation of its Paris headquarters, in order to modernize its image and reflect the dynamism of its staff and the variety of our offering.
The CEI’s raison d’être remains unchanged: to give you the desire to go elsewhere and to meet “the other”. Our mission remains the same: “To open young people to the world”.
From this extraordinary and unexpected period, the CEI is rising with a new organization, a more centralized and selective offer to propose unique experiences to its young participants.
Our governance
Today, the CEI association has 45 permanent employees and employs nearly 700 temporary staff each year to supervise its programs. Its office is at 1 rue Gozlin 75006 Paris. It is administered by a Board of Directors, which meets 4 times a year and is made up of 14 directors elected for 4 years by the Annual General Assembly. The Board of Directors has appointed Thibault Dufresne as Chief Executive Officer in January 2020. Under the authority and control of the Board of Directors, the Managing Director defines the company’s strategy and ensures its implementation, in line with the policy defined by the Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting. In order to meet the Group’s objectives and strategic priorities, he is supported by a management committee made up of the CEI’s key executives.
Members of the Board of Directors
- CHAIRMAN – Guillaume DUFRESNE, President of the Solacroup Hébert Foundation, Vice-President of FIAP Jean Monnet
- VICE-PRESIDENT – Claire DORLAND CLAUZEL, company director
- GENERAL SECRETARY – Pierre GUY, Former Chairman and CEO of AMC
- TREASURER – Gaétan LE JARIEL, President – Founder of “La Boîte aux Enfants”
BOARD MEMBERS
- Ludovic BESSIERES, National Business Director- HAYES
- Alexandre BONJOUR, Teacher and former Managing Director of Emmaüs
- Daniel EPPLING, Chairman, Founder Alto’e
- Bruno GUY-WASIER, Director, Global Head of Client Service – AXA IM
- Pierre de KERAUTEM, Businessman and hotel owner
- Marie-Hélène PLAINFOSSE, Strategy Consultant, former HR Director, Galeries Lafayette Group
- Anne-Laure RAMBACH, Graduate of the Ecole Normale, academic
- Martin WEINTZ, Consultant
- Charlotte ZINK, Recruitment Manager – MANPOWER
- Francie PLOUGH SEDER, Founder of Bloom into English
Our Executive Committee
Thibault
Dufresne
General Manager, CEI Group
Laurence
Pretot
Operational Director
Annabelle
Dupé
CEI Group Communications Director
Angélina
Lecouturier
Director, CEI Saint-Malo
Julie
Nové-Josserand
Group travel managers France
Florian
Fangmann
Director of the Centre Français de Berlin