Who are we ?

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.