Know Europe
FAQ |
How many people will take part in the Know Europe Program?Generally there are between 25 and 45 participants, in addition to the Program director and graduate assistant(s). Recent statistics: 37 in 2008, 38 in 2008. How do I sign up?If you attend one of the EM Normandie's partner Universities you should contact your Course Director or the International Office at the university directly. If you attend a university that is not affiliated with EM Normandie then you should either contact:Ms Fabienne Peltier-Mahu See your local International Office for refund and cancellation policies. There is a April 4 deadline for joining the program. However, latecomers may be accepted by negotiation on a first come first served basis. Who are the Programme Directors?The Know Europe Program is organized by the Normandy Business School and hosted by 3 other European Business Schools:
The Program Director is Mr. Ouvrieu Alain, Director of International Development at the EM Normandie. What happens if I change my mind and cancel?If you change your mind and cancel for any reason (including a personal emergency), you will lose your Euro 850 deposit in accordance with our regulations. For the remainder of the program cost, regulations may vary greatly with respect to cancellation depending on your university. If we can replace you with someone from the waiting list, you will be refunded minus bank charges. You can avoid losing your deposit in the case of an emergency by taking out a cancellation insurance policy to cover you in case any emergency arises and you have to cancel. Most travel agents can help you with such a policy Are there any sources of financial aid available to help me pay for the program?The program is run on a not-for-profit basis, so the host schools are unable to offer any other financial assistance. To find out if your university offers any financial aid you should contact their International Office. Can I receive academic credits for the Program?Yes. You can receive between 4 and 6 US credits for the program depending upon your university. To receive credits you are required to meet the evaluation criteria set for the program and validation of these credits is at the discretion of your home university. The latter will require you register with them for these credits beforehand. I need the detailed course content for the program where can I find it?If you or your Course Director have any questions or special requests regarding the syllabus or the evaluation, please contact the Program Assistant. Do I have to sign up for credit in order to take part?No - although most participants attend the program with the aim of gaining credits to be used in current or future courses. However, even if you do not want credits, you are still required to participate fully. This means attending all the lectures and field trips as well as submitting work for evaluation. Is credit transferable back to my school / university?The Know Europe Program has been designed in collaboration with EM NORMANDIE's partners. If your university is a partner of the EM Normandie, then there is no problem in having credits transferred. If you attend a university or business school which is not a EM Normandie partner, you will need to clarify with your university prior to signing up whether they are willing to transfer credits from the program. You should also check the financial implications of the transfer facility offered to you by your university. What work do I have to do to receive credit?While we encourage participants to take full advantage of the opportunity to see the sights in each of the countries we visit, it should be clear that this is an academic course, not a vacation. In other words, you will have to work for your credits! It is clearly not enough to attend lectures - you are expected to participate fully in all pre and post session work. The core modules also have an evaluation component. This may take the form of a paper, a case study and/ or presentation and may be done on an individual or group basis. In addition, you are expected to work as a member of a group to make a presentation which will receive a group evaluation. Do I have to be a full-time student to join the program?No. In fact many students who join the program study part-time or are students who cannot take a full semester/year abroad. It will, however, be difficult to continue to work and attend the program even though you will have access to the Internet in each country you visit. You may also attend the course if you have already gained your degree and are not currently studying. However, you should note that all participants are expected to attend all classes and field trips and submit work for evaluation. Is the Program open to both undergraduates and graduates?Traditionally participants are graduates. However, undergraduates have been very successful in the program, so there is no set rule. All candidates are evaluated on the basis of their academic standing and background & motivation since this program is intensive and focuses on business in Europe. Moreover, the professional value of the project submitted by both categories is also a good indicator of their potential contribution to the program. Do I have to be studying business to take part in the Program?No. Anyone with an interest in business issues and Europe can attend. However, you must agree to the conditions of the Program. This means you must attend all the classes and field trips and complete all the assignments just as if you were seeking credits. Where have students in previous years come from?Students in past years have come from Australia, North America, South America, Asia, in fact, from all over the world. For obvious reasons few European students join the program. Those who do are usually registered on an MBA in the US and have been living there for some time. Participants will have some opportunity to meet and mix with European students at each of the schools we visit. In fact, students from the schools often act as guides for the group. Do any European students take part in the Program?For obvious reasons few European students join the program. Those who do are usually registered on an MBA in the US and have been living there for some time. However, Europe is composed of 27 countries and it is very likely the student concerned has never visited any one of the four countries we will focus on. In addition, mentor students from the host schools act as guides for the group during the social part of the programme. What type of accommodation can I expect?The course is run on a not-for-profit basis and is relatively low cost. Consequently, the accommodation is modest - generally 2-3 star (European definition!). A great deal of time and effort is spent trying to find accommodation that is comfortable and conveniently located both for attending classes and sightseeing. All accommodation is on a double-room sharing basis unless you pay a supplement to secure a single room (Euro 850), this must be paid in advance as once the program has commenced, we cannot guarantee availability of single rooms (See Registration Form for more details). When do I have to register by?A program such as this requires a lot of planning. Therefore, in order to ensure we can get the best accommodation and organize field trips best suited to the experience and interests of the group, we require participants to enroll by 4 April. However, most students register in January to secure a place. Late applications may be accepted depending on availability of rooms and number of applicants. What age are students taking part in the Program?There is no ideal age. The youngest students have been in their 20s, the oldest in their late 50s. What we have found is that after the first few days age becomes irrelevant as everyone is learning and working together, pretty much as would happen in any firm. The fact this takes place in summer does help an informal and relaxed atmosphere, a point to remember when packing. How much money do I need to bring?Past students estimate that they have spent from $1,500 - $3,000 (US dollars) on additional food, sightseeing, gifts and general necessities (laundry, phone cards etc.). Wherever you go you will have access to the tips of local students who can recommend the best and the cheapest places to eat and shop, so it's really up to you how much you spend. To sum up, there will be a lot of temptation to spend money. How much you actually spend will depend on your ability to resist temptation! How should I take my money?We recommend a credit or ATM card. There are ATMs throughout Europe and most shops and restaurants accept credit cards. Visa cards are the most widely accepted. American Express cards tend to be up-market and less readily accepted. Most cash dispensers (ATM) will ask you which language you would like your instructions in. You may also use traveller's cheques or cash but you generally get a less favourable exchange rate when you convert these into the local currency. The Euro is the official currency for 16 of the 27 countries in the European Union. What should I take?As little as possible! You will be travelling quite a lot - mostly by private bus, and once by overnight train, so the less baggage you bring with you, the easier your life will be. The general rule is that you can bring ONE suitcase (but you should be able to carry it alone and it is very unfair to expect other (male) participants to lift it for you!) and a bag or backpack small enough to fit under your seat on a bus. Here are some suggestions from previous participants about what you will need:
Do I need to obtain a passport and visa(s)?Everyone will need a passport to travel to and in Europe. You should ask your travel agent when booking your flight what visas you need and how to obtain them as this will differ from country to country. You will be travelling within the "Shengen agreement area" so the visa into Belgium or France will be valid in Holland and Spain as well. It is your responsibility to make sure you have the necessary visa before you arrive. Should you have any trouble getting a visa or are unsure about how they work, then contact the Program Assistant. An individual invitation can be sent to you immediately upon request to help in obtaining the visa. However, an invitation is generally not necessary for US or Australian citizens. What will the weather be like?Belgium, Holland and France are countries with a temperate climate. This means you should expect anything from rain and drizzle (14-18 °C) to a heat-wave, which in Europe means 25-35 °C, so you need to come prepared for every situation. Spain is a different matter - prepare for a rather warm, if not hot, climate. Note: very few places that you go to will have air conditioning, so you need to bear this in mind when selecting the type of clothing to bring with you. Remember it is better to have several layers of light clothing so that you can adapt to conditions inside and outside! What happens if I get sick?It is essential that you have healthcare insurance in order to participate in the Program. Before you leave for Europe you will be asked to forward all your insurance information to our office in Le Havre. We also recommend that if you have any special healthcare needs, you bring enough medication with you to last the four weeks. If this is not possible, then bring the prescription(s). Most European pharmacists will give the European equivalent for your usual prescription. Please note that bringing Melatonine into France is forbidden. Check with your travel agent for other drugs that cannot be brought into Europe. If you do get sick, the countries we visit have good healthcare systems but you will need to have your insurance details with you at all times. The Program Director and/or the graduate assistant will be with the group or contactable at all times in case of an emergency and will also have the details of your insurance policy. What kinds of food can I expect?The simplest answer to this is: all kinds. However some foods will be more expensive than others. Vegetarians will find it more difficult but not impossible to eat out. The hotels you stay at are located close to supermarkets and restaurants. In general, helpings in restaurants are smaller (but tastier?) than you may be accustomed to. Belgium, Holland, France and Spain put great value on the time spent dining. A meal in a restaurant will last longer and there will be long gaps between courses. If you are in a hurry you need to indicate this upfront but even so, non-Europeans may find eating out a slow process. What insurance should I have?You must have adequate health insurance cover in order to participate in the Program. In addition, we recommend that you take out insurance to cover you and your baggage prior to and during the trip. Insurance policies which cover you against loss of baggage, trip cancellation, emergency return home and health and accident-related costs can be purchased from most travel agents. Please note that if you have to withdraw from the Program at the last minute, you may lose the money you have paid. Speak with your International Office about their cancellation and refund policies. We generally recommend that you purchase cancellation insurance to cover yourself against any unforeseen circumstances. Typical questions to ask your insurance company:
How and where will I meet up with the group?Participants will be met in Brussels at the hotel by the Program Director and graduate assistant. The hotel in Brussels has a courtesy van (check air port pick up rates on their site). There will be a buffet organized to welcome participants on the Sunday which everyone is recommended to attend. An optional excursion will be arranged for Monday. Please note if you want to arrive earlier than the Sunday, you need to make your own arrangements with the hotel (full details will be given early April ). If you wish to stay on after the program in Barcelona, again you need to organize this yourself with the residence. Accommodation for the program is from Sunday night to Friday morning. How can friends and family contact me while I'm away?Before you leave for Europe you will be sent the final itinerary containing details of the hotels at which you will be staying over the 4 weeks and where friends and family can reach you. You will also have access to Internet facilities at each of the business schools. You can purchase international phone cards before you leave for Europe or once you arrive. You should take the time to look for the best offer as it can be expensive calling from Europe! Most phones have instructions in several languages and generally international operators can speak English. Avoid using your credit card in some public phones as the charge can be horrendous. The same applies to hotel extensions and there are no free of charge local calls in Europe. If you wish to bring a mobile phone or purchase one in Europe, please note that you are required to turn these off during all classes and field trips. If you are expecting an urgent call, then you can leave the phone with the graduate assistant or Program Director who will come and get you when the call comes. In addition, you will be given the Program's cellular phone number, which can be reached in an emergency on a 24hr basis. Do I have to attend the full 4 weeks or can I select which weeks I wish to attend?It is possible to leave the program at any time but there will be no pro-rata refund possible. However it is not possible to join the program after week 1 as the first week sets the foundation for the following weeks. If you choose to leave the program early, it will affect the credits you are able to claim at your university. You need to discuss this option with the International Office at your university prior to joining the course in order to avoid any confusion. If I'm sick during the program how will this affect my credits?If you are sick during the program and cannot attend a session or complete an evaluation component, an individual assignment will be arranged in consultation with the professor for the module and the Course Director. Do I need to read any background information before coming?Yes, and you will get more out of the Program if you do! Simply, the more you know before you come, the more you will get out of the classes. Once you sign up, we will send you details about what you should read prior to coming. Most of you will have long flights to Europe; we recommend you take advantage of this time to read! In addition, you will be visiting countries with rich histories and different cultures. Any reading you do on these places will help you to best use the time you'll have to "see the sights". Do I need to bring a portable computer?Although in most locations you will have access to the host business school's PCs, participants have tended to reserve whatever access time they have for surfing on the Internet or reading/answering e-mail. Moreover, the project presentations tend to become very heavy PowerPoint documents which prove impossible to retrieve at the end of a group work session. Some business schools still run on earlier versions of PowerPoint and word. Groups have more freedom to meet and work on their projects if some members have a portable computer. Finally, through networks such as Wi-Fi, you may connect to the Internet from various locations although it is obvious that cybercafés will always be a cheaper way to keep in touch with grandma! Remember, however, that voltage is 240 volts AC in Europe and that you will need an adaptor as plugs differ from one country to the next. Above all, it is highly recommended to insure any valuable equipment you may wish to bring with you. Finally, please remember that an adaptor is not a converter and that your hair dryer will roast if connected directly to 240 volts!! Portable computer do not have this problem as their charging system adapts automatically to whatever voltage is fed in. |
