Université de Jules Verne and Groupe Sup de Co
The Amiens Consortium, which consists of the two institutions—the
Université de Picardie Jules Verne and the Groupe Sup de Co—is
a wonderful place to spend a semester or year abroad! It offers excellent
service to international students, strong academic programs, and countless
sports and social activities.
Amiens is located about 80 miles from Paris (1 hour by train) and hops
away from Brussels (2 hours by train) and London (3 hours by train).
The city is a great size for ISEP-Exchange participants because it is
big enough to have plenty of culture, entertainment, and recreation,
yet small enough to not overwhelm.
- Amiens is located in the beautiful Picardie Region of France, which boasts a mixture of lush green fields and miles of sandy coastline along the English Channel.
- The Université de Picardie Jules Verne’s strongest programs are communications, culture/language studies, economics, fine arts, law, and sports science.
- The Groupe Sup de Co is noted for its programs in accounting, finance, management, and marketing.
- Université de Picardie Jules Verne offers a unique program for students to obtain a limited supply of free computers during their exchange.
- The DAI (Direction des Affaires Internationales, or International Relations Office) plans excursions (i.e., Chantilly castles, Versailles, Baie de Somme), film screenings, parties, sporting activities, and workshops for international students.
The AREPIC Consortium (Association pour le Développement Des Relations
Extérieures Des Etablissements d'Enseignement Supérieur
de la Région Picardie) is comprised of five institutions, two of
which are ISEP members: the Université de Picardie Jules Verne
(Picardie) and Groupe Sup de Co Amiens Picardie (Sup de Co).
Picardie was founded in 1969 and now enrolls approximately 21,000 students,
including 2,000 international students. Sup de Co is a business school,
which was founded in 1942, and now enrolls about 500 students. Its mission
is to train high-level generalists in business and administration.
Amiens Consortium is a great place for an ISEP student because international
students receive individual attention from the ISEP coordinator. The universities
have many clubs, sports, and workshop groups that ISEP students are welcome
to join.
The Université de Picardie Jules Verne is particularly strong in
communications, culture/language studies, economics, fine arts, law, and
sports science. ISEP students attending Jules Verne can take French language
courses for up to eight hours per week free of charge during the entire
academic year. The courses last 12 weeks each semester; students usually
supplement language study with university courses. For students who have
an intermediate level of French, the DAI organizes a 10-day intensive
language program (fee paying) that is equivalent to 5 ECTS credits.
At Sup de Co, advanced students of French can participate in an internship
program. Additionally, several third year business courses are offered
to ISEP students throughout the year.
The Université de Picardie Jules Verne offers courses in
the following colleges (Facultés):
- Humanities
- Human and Social Science
- Law and Political Science
- Science, Technology, and Health
- Economics and Management
- Science and Technology of Physical and Sports Activities
The Groupe Sup de Co offers courses in the following divisions/fields of study:
- Ecole Supérieure de Commerce (Business School)
- Institut Supérieur d’Administration et de Management (Administration and Management school)
- Accounting and Entrepreneurial Organization
- Political Science
- Graduate Program in International Business Management
Fall semester: mid-September to mid-January (3 weeks of vacation)
Spring semester: mid-January to mid-May/mid-June (3 weeks of vacation)
Students may request a semester or full-year placement. Students requesting
to be placed for fall semester must note that the calendar may not
be compatible with their home university calendar in order to return
in time for spring semester courses.
At Picardie, students live in a residence hall or
with a host family (if available). They are given a monthly stipend
to pay for housing, meals, transportation, and leisure activities.
Bed linens, blankets, and cooking and laundry facilities are provided.
At Sup de Co , students reside in a rooms in a residence
hall. All participants receive a monthly stipend for housing, meals,
transportation, and other activities. Cooking facilities are provided
on site.
At Picardie, the DAI (Direction des Affaires Internationales, or International
Relations Office) is the resource office for ISEP students and will
assist students upon arrival. The DAI arranges one-on-one advising
sessions to help students with administrative matters and study programs.
The DAI also provides assistance with registration and everyday life
on campus. Student associations organize cultural events to make it
easier for everyone to get to know each other and to help participants
adjust to their new home in Amiens.
At Sup de Co, students meet with the DAI to discuss administrative
matters as well as program options. A Welcome Weekend is organized
at the end of September, which includes a visit to the city and excursions
within the region of Picardie.
At both institutions, organized visits have included the Château
de Chantilly, Versailles, and Baie de Somme. Film screenings, parties,
sporting activities, and workshops for participants are also organized
on a regular basis.
Additionally, for participants wishing to master their French and
several other languages, there are two multimedia language centers:
one on the Picardie campus as well as another Amiens’ town center.
Classes and Workshops
At Picardie, ISEP students are encouraged to share their musical talents
in the university chorus and orchestra. Also, free dance, music, and
theater workshops are provided to students.
Sport activities
Picardie offers numerous sport activities (in and out of the classroom):
aerobics, archery, badminton, basketball, circuit training, dance,
fencing, French boxing, handball, golf, gymnastics judo, karate, rock
climbing, rugby, self-defense, squash, step, stretching, swimming,
table tennis, tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, and yoga.
Leisure and outdoor activities
The Picardie Region’s location offers wonderful opportunities
for many leisure and outdoor activities: biking, canoeing, hiking,
horseback riding, kayaking, sailing, and much more.
Amiens is the largest city in the Picardie Region with a population
of about 135,000. It is divided by the River Somme, which surround
its famous hortillonages (small garden islands). It is the préfecture
(administrative “capital”) of the Somme département
(local government).
Amiens’ history, like much of France, is shrouded in colorful
complexity. The city’s roots date back to Gaulois (pre-Roman)
times with the Ambiani tribe. The city was conquered by Roman Emperor
Claude I and used as a strategic outpost during the conquering of
Gaul and Brittany. During Roman times, the city consisted of a vast
forum, Roman thermal baths, and a large amphitheater. During the Middle
Ages, the Normands overtook the region and city, giving the city its
Gothic image that still predominates much of the city today; the most
notable of Gothic remnants being the Amiens Cathedral, which was completed
in 1247. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Amiens was known for
textile production. During the World Wars, the Picardie Region surrounding
Amiens was a frequent site of battle. The most famous is the Battle
of the Somme, which involved 1 million Allied and German causalities
along the River Somme in 1916.
Amiens is a modern city that has transformed from a primarily textile-
and industrial-based economy to one that is based on telecommunications
technology. Its history and charm as well as its modern cultural and
economic offerings make Amiens a very attractive city, especially
with its being so close to Paris.
Summers are warm and pleasant, while winters can be cold and rainy.
TravelAmiens is well connected to the rest of France via air, highway, and train. ISEP students usually arrive into Paris and then take a train to Amiens. For travel within Amiens, students rely on the dependable public bus system or taxis.
Links
Université de Picardie
Jules Verne
Groupe Sup de Co d’Amiens
Course
information (Picardie) - select field of study [formations] and
then select licences under “dîplomes” for a listing
of programs offered; class schedules not available online
Course
information (Sup de Co) - select a department under La pédagogie
on the left bar; class schedules not available online, only program
offerings with course requirements are listed
DAI,
Université de Picardie Jules Verne
La
Vie Étudiante (Student Life) at the Université de Picardie
SNCF (Information on train travel in France)
Official Website of Amiens
Images
of Amiens Cathedral
Amiens
Cathedral Website
Comité
Régional du Tourisme de Picardie
Wikipedia article
about Amiens (English)
Wikipedia article
about Amiens (French)