– By Tricia Whiting, Education Abroad Advisor in the Center for International Programs, Shenandoah University
In July, staff from the Center for International Programs made a short visit to three partner universities in England and France. We visited Audencia Business School in Nantes, France, The University of Winchester in Winchester, England and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, England. Part of the role of an education abroad advisor is to be able to accurately advise students on their options for study abroad. Visiting our partner schools and interacting with the faculty and staff allows our staff to give students a better of idea of what to expect when studying abroad.
At Audencia, we met with staff and faculty from several departments that work directly with Shenandoah students who come there to study for a short-term program, a semester, or a year. Audencia’s home, Nantes, is two-hours southwest of Paris by train. Students can take advantage of the local culture and food by visiting several supermarkets, shops, and restaurants, all accessible by public transportation or on foot. Consistently ranked in the top six business schools in France, Audencia provides students with a world-class education alongside thousands of international students from more than 80 countries. Audencia staff members help incoming students make arrangements to live with a host family close to campus.
The University of Winchester in Winchester, England is another great option for Shenandoah students. Winchester is a small and bustling city, with a population of around 45,000. It is a safe environment and an ideal place to study. All local amenities are easily accessible on foot from the university. Winchester boasts a wide selection of pubs and restaurants. With its central location in southern England, Winchester is very well placed for travel to other parts of the country and to mainland Europe. London is one hour away by train, providing high-speed rail access to Paris and Brussels by the Chunnel. Exchange students generally are housed in on campus units that have single bedrooms with a shared kitchenette. Students are eligible to take a wide variety of courses including history, sports management, dance and much more.
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance is based in London, boasting more than 900 undergraduate and postgraduate students. It is internationally recognized as a leading school for music and dance training. Trinity’s campus has the advantage of being centrally located in the Greenwich area of London, close to world-class restaurants, shops and more. Students live off-campus in shared apartments with other students.
By visiting our partner schools, the Center for International Programs was able to get a more in-depth view of campus life, living arrangements, and the general feel of the places Shenandoah students will spend their time abroad. We hope students will continue to take advantage of the international opportunities that Shenandoah can provide!
Photo Credit: Tricia Whiting