Event and Technology Management on the French Riviera
Program Details
Dates: May 17 to June 14, 2010
The “Event and Technology Management on the French Riviera” study abroad program will be based on the French Riviera in the city of Antibes at the Pierre et Vacances hotel/apartments (adjacent to Nice and Cannes). Students will be allowed to take up to six (6) credit hours with their choice of credits among the following: three credit hours for ACIS 3564 (Management of Information Systems) or HTM 4424 (Event Management), and three credits of study abroad (ACIS 3954 or HTM 3954). Masters students can take three credits for ACIS 5514 instead of ACIS 3564.
The program will include a combination of in class teaching, business seminars, industry visits, involvement in local events, and travel over a 4-week period. The study abroad program will also be complemented with several field trips to Port-Cros, St-Tropez, Nice, Cannes, Monaco, Grasse, Tende and others.
The 2008 French Riviera Group on their way to Cannes
Program Description
The “Event and Technology Management on the French Riviera” study abroad program includes three main elements of learning, in addition to international exposure: special event management, an HTM elective, management of information systems, an ACIS required course or business elective, and study abroad credits based on student exploration and involvement in businesses and events on the French Riviera.
The program will be housed in the Pierre et Vacances Apartment/Hotel of Antibes over the four week period, which is located a few miles only from the techno-park of Sophia Antipolis, the equivalent of the Silicon Valley of France. Students will have industry visits and seminars, as well as classroom time at the CERAM, a “haute ecole” of business in France, all situated in Sophia Antipolis. While in Antibes, the students will also have opportunities to meet with convention center directors of Nice, Antibes, and Cannes. They will also have opportunities to participate in several Festivals such as the Italian Food Fest, the Cannes Film Festival, and several others. They will have an opportunity to evaluate the impacts of these events during the study abroad program.
The program will provide close ties between the special event and information systems management components as involvement in local special events will result in assignments for both courses. While understanding the concepts and requirements involved with producing and hosting special events, students will also explore the information systems and technology requirements for supporting these organizations.
In addition to the educational components of the study abroad, students will have new cultural experiences from their participation in the program. They will have opportunities to visit multiple cities on the French Riviera, in Monaco, and Italy as the public transportation system is efficient and offers multiple and non-expensive ways to visit these many places. During their stay, students will be exposed to local businesspeople, volunteers, organizers, and local officials by participating in several meetings, seminars, and discussions in the cities visited. They will discover the dynamism of the volunteers and learn about leadership and management in a different culture.
While you are encouraged to travel on your own, there are several planned group activities you will have the opportunity to participate in. During the group weekend on the island of Port-Cros, you will have the option to go snorkeling and scuba diving with an instructor. There will also be a trip planned to go zip lining with Canyon Forest Parcours Adventure, www.canyonforest.com, where you will be able to zip line through the trees on a course from kids beginner to expert.
Zip Lining on the Riviera