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UWM's French exchange students: an encore event at Bastille Days

UWM's exchange agreement with a French business school is providing more than just foreign language studies: It's also fostering international trade.

Faculty from the French program, along with members of Milwaukee's Alliance Française, again sponsored 23 students this summer from Académie Commerciale Internationale (ACI), a leading French business school. The students operated the "French Market" at Bastille Days for the second consecutive year. They represented French companies that market their products globally, such as Perrier mineral water and skin-care products from Laboratoires Garnier Paris - everything from chocolates and biscuits to cosmetics and watches.

UWM has been exchanging students with NEGOCIA, a network of prestigious undergraduate and graduate business schools affiliated with the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry, for several years, says Gabrielle Verdier, professor of French. As part of the exchange program, ACI students spend the fall semester at UWM, studying mass communication and business; UWM Letters and Science students go to the ACI in the spring. Also, several groups of French students enroll in UWM's English as a Second Language program throughout the year.

The College of Letters and Science teams up with the School of Business Administration to develop the curriculum for these students.

Through her relationship with NEGOCIA, Verdier learned about a special program offered to French business students: Within a work-study curriculum, students in marketing and design organize a "French Week" in malls and commercial centers across North America and Europe.

"I thought, `These students could do the same activity here at Bastille Days,' in addition to taking classes at UWM," says Verdier.

She approached the East Town Merchants' Association, organizers of Bastille Days, about including the French Market last year.

"The exchange agreement contributes to the mission of our institutions on both sides of the Atlantic," says Verdier. "Both UWM and NEGOCIA are committed to giving our students a truly international education so that they can succeed both professionally and personally in the global 21st century."

Besides Verdier, a number of UWM faculty and staff hosted visiting students, including Kathleen Woodward (Center for Twentieth Century Studies) and Herbert Blau (English), Martine Meyer (retired, French), Chris Baruth (assistant director, Golda Meir Library), and Francoise Parker (student).