• Five people posing in front of cathedral.

UMF Profs. Matt McCourt and Linda Beck; LMU Prof. Vincent Andreu-Boussut and Ms. Julie Tremoureux

EPP 260, GEO/POS 277, INS 280

Field Work in France: May 5-13, 2024

Students standing in front sign identifying Le Mans Universitie

This course combined a Virtual Global Experience (VGE) with UMF’s French international partner Le Mans University (LMU) with field work in France. This course was part of UMF’s Research Learning Experience (RLE) program under the UMS Transform initiative with funding from the Alfond Foundation. All UMF RLE and Advanced RLEs have a shared Cognitive Learning Objective in addition to other course objectives that students are encouraged to assume responsibility for the discovery process through student-led research/creative projects. In this course, this learning objective was fulfilled through the collaborative VGE with Le Mans University.

The course began with an exploration of global issues of interest to the students at each university, identified in collaboration with their instructors. During the first portion of the course, the UMF & LMU students investigated their topics together, meeting virtually each week to discuss their research and compare their findings for cases in Maine/U.S. and France. Each group then presented a summary of their findings in a common report to the class.

In May, the UMF students traveled to France where they met their French instructors and some of their LMU classmates while exploring themes related to their group projects in Le Mans, the Loire Valley, Mont St. Michel, and Paris. Following their field experiences in France, the UMF students wrote a final reflective essay drawing on their VGE research and observations in France.

This Global Seminar is part of UMF’s Global Classroom project funded by an Undergraduate International Studies & Foreign Language grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Group Research Topics:
  • Sustainability & Agriculture Tourism: Coordinated by Matt McCourt
  • Sustainability & Tourism: Coordinated by Vincent Andreu-Boussut
  • Socio-Cultural Knowledge & Tourism: Coordinated by Linda Beck and Julie Tremoureux

Mobility – UMF Students to France

Several students posing with UMF flag in front of castle and cathedral.
  • Week 1: Meet LMU Counterparts and discuss Global Issues Facing France & Maine
  • Week 2 – 4: Small Group Meeting on Selected Issues
  • Week 5: Group Presentations

Day 1: Departure from Maine

Day 2: Arrival in Paris. Take train to Le Mans University.

Days 2-4: Visit Le Mans University and observe/analyze cultural tourism

Days 4-7: Visit Loire Valley (Chateaux, Wine Tourism, and Environmental Change) and Mount. St. Michel (Impact of climate change and tourism)

Days 7-9: Visit Paris (Global City)

Day 10: Return to Maine

Mobility – LMU Students to Maine

Several students standing on coastal rocks listening to an educational lecture.
LMU students visited Maine to learn about the geography, tourism, and collaborate with UMF students.

Learning Objective for Advanced Research Learning Experience

This course was part of UMF’s Research Learning Experience (RLE) program under the UMS Transform initiative with funding from the Alfond Foundation. All UMF RLE and Advanced RLEs have a shared Cognitive Learning Objective in addition to other course objectives that students are encouraged to assume responsibility for the discovery process through student-led research/creative projects. In this course, this learning objective was fulfilled through the collaborative VGE with Le Mans University.

To learn more about UMF’s connections and history with France visit France Global Classrooms Partnerships (coming soon).

Global Seminars Japan Global Seminar Global Classrooms Virtual Global Experiences

For more information on global experiences, please contact:

Office of Experiential & Global Education
University of Maine at Farmington
106 Fusion Space
117 South Street
Farmington, Maine 04938

UMFGlobalEd@maine.edu