By Nick Erickson
A new triple degree program allows international business leaders to study at prestigious institutions in triple capitals around the world during their undergraduate years. George Washington University is partnering with Rome Lewis University and Beijing Renmin University to equip students with the critical and analytical skills needed in an increasingly connected world and marketplace.
Called the ACE (America, China, Europe) program, it provides 15 students per year at each university with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the social and business cultures of three different continents.
Students check in at the start of their first semester on campus — the application deadline for the inaugural ACE class of 2026 is Sept. 25 — and spend their first year on campus before embarking on a journey. They study at Lewis in their second year and Renmin in their third year before finishing at GW. The four-year program allows students to meet the necessary graduation requirements from home, anywhere in the world, and earn bachelor’s degrees in business from all three schools.
Brian Andreano, GW School of Business (GWSB) assistant dean for operations and international and experiential learning, said this is a program for students interested in receiving an international education, which is a key part of GW’s identity as a global campus.
“What we’re trying to build in our students are intercultural skills,” Andreano said. “We’re really preparing students for the world and the marketplace in an amazing way so that when students graduate from an institution like GW, they can immediately cross national borders and work in very diverse teams.”
Lewis began the conversation before the outbreak when the Italian institute discovered a need for global, future-ready managers who could work and interact in dynamic and multicultural environments. GW fits the bill for the partnership.
“The largest institution of higher education in Washington, D.C., the prestigious George Washington University, was a natural choice for the US arm of the program, with its central location not only streets away from the White House and the World Bank, but also its size. According to Lewis Professor Antonio Magocchi, world-class academic opportunities, access and partnership as well as an impressive list of distinguished alumni.
The ACE program offers more continuous education abroad and over a longer period of time. Applicants are not limited to current GWSB students. Successful candidates must demonstrate that they can handle the demands of such a long international commitment. Andrino pointed out that that means students cannot necessarily hold a passport or have previous travel experience abroad. They just need to show their willingness to participate in the cultural experiences at hand.
“The mission is to provide the widest possible opportunity for students who are ready for the most rigorous international education we can offer them as an institution, and that is a deeply meaningful and immersive education in three very different regions of the world,” said Andreano. . “There are some students who are designed to do this rigorous program, and that’s what we’re looking for in an application.”
Students in the program will have a unique experience at each campus because all the curriculum will immerse participants in the local culture and students will have the opportunity to build on their education by applying for internships abroad.
“Our students arrive at GW expecting international education to be part of their experience This is what international education looks like. This is a program for highly skilled students of the 21st century.“
Brian Andriano,
GWSB Assistant Dean for Operations and International and Experiential Education
One possibility is to take mother tongue classes at each institution, and each school will have specific learning opportunities for them. For example, at GW, students take elective international business courses and can interact with major business organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
“There’s a very thoughtful development of not only what courses are required for all degrees, but also highlighting the coursework that’s unique to that institution because as much as we share similarities, we have our own differences. What we want to do,” Andreano said.
The ACE program has a homeschooling policy, and GW students can transfer their financial aid to the program. In addition, there will be work study reimbursements, so students who are eligible for work study but cannot participate in a study abroad program will receive financial aid to cover those costs. Airfare is also included, and accommodation is provided for students at each institution.
Andreano, whose undergraduate degree was part of the second class of Pell Grant recipients as Benjamin A. Gilman Scholars, said GW’s student resources, such as advising and counseling services, are also available to international students.
Above all, the ACE program is designed to be accessible to any student who wants to challenge themselves in an environment that prepares them for future success and change.
“Our students come to GW expecting an international education to be part of their experience, and that’s what an international education looks like,” Andreano said. “This is 21 years old,” he said.St-Century program for highly sophisticated students.
