Jocelyn Touchette ’09 always knew she wanted to go to France. When she found out that the Groupe ESC Rouen School was specific to business majors, she knew the France study abroad program was a perfect fit for her.
With a double major in human resource management and French, she would be able to take classes in both major areas, as well as explore the culture of the historic place she had always hoped to visit.
Business students now have the opportunity to learn about current European Union business while exploring the culture of France at The ESC Rouen School of Management.
Fairfield has added one of the most prestigious business schools in Europe to its ever-expanding list of study abroad options for students, according to a University press release .
Touchette, who is currently studying in France said, “Many of the students in my business classes are native French students, and there are also a lot of international students as well, so I am exposed to how countries from all over the world operate their businesses.”
Norm Solomon, dean of the Dolan School of Business, said, “Our students will have the ability to study how business is conducted in the world’s largest trading block, the European Union.”
According to the press release, ESC Rouen is the second oldest business school in France and was awarded the prestigious EQUIS accreditation in 2002, which signals a high level of quality among European business schools.
The program is specifically designed for graduate and undergraduate students in the Dolan School of Business, but is open to students of any major for full semester or short-term programs. Four full-time students are participating this semester.
The Dolan School of Business offers a week-long study abroad program in June for masters in business administration (MBA) in addition to the full-semester undergraduate programs, according to the release.
Both consist of lectures, site visits to area businesses, and discussions. Students can even earn a Certificate in International Management from Rouen.
Touchette said classes are three hours long and meet only once a week. Work is completed in groups, usually consisting of a case study for the first hour, a lecture and another case study with the groups. The class is long but once it is over, students are finished for the week.
“A lot of emphasis is put on presentations and group work for the case studies, which is a big part of the business classes at Fairfield as well,” added Touchette.
In addition to the global perspective business students can gain, there are many opportunities to learn about the history and culture of France.
“They will have the advantage of exposure to the rich cultural history and life of France,” said Solomon. “Rouen’s proximity to Paris also facilitates train and plane connections to other parts of Europe so that students may visit other areas during their breaks.
“In addition, Rouen is the city where Saint Joan met her demise, so the city itself has a very rich culture and an important place in history.”
Although Fairfield has had a successful exchange program with ESC Rouen for a number of years, the new program allows even more students who are interested to experience it, according to Solomon.
“ESC Rouen is a very highly rated French business school and we are privileged to be working with the school,” he said.
Touchette said that, so far, she and the other students from Fairfield have found it to be an “awesome” experience.
“I’ve loved meeting people from all different backgrounds and getting to know how their cultures work. It provides us with a strong network after we leave Rouen because we know people from all over the world who we could contact if we need something in the business world or just in general.”
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