The opportunity to study abroad with the Burgundy School is open to all Mason students, but the School of Business has a pre-articulated pathway making it easy for business majors to study abroad at the Burgundy School of Business.
In a new partnership with the Burgundy School of Business in Dijon, France, George Mason University School of Business welcomed Clément Castro to Fairfax for the fall 2022 semester. Castro, a student studying business and marketing, was the first visiting student to come to Mason with this new international exchange program.
Meggan Ford, associate dean of undergraduate programs says the exchange program was created during the pandemic. "The School of Business was approached by the associate dean of international relations at the Burgundy School to talk about the curriculum at the graduate and undergraduate level and discuss the possibility of partnering." The opportunity to study abroad with the Burgundy School is open to all Mason students, but the School of Business has a pre-articulated pathway making it easy for business majors to study abroad at the Burgundy School of Business.
At Mason, we are All Together Different, and international partnerships like this further opportunities for students to reach out beyond their country and culture, and embrace new learning opportunities. George Mason University is among the top 10 most diverse and innovative public universities in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report's "2023 Best Colleges List," and the School of Business sits at #83 for Best Undergraduate Business Programs of the 516 programs ranked. The Burgundy School of Business was established in 1899 and belongs to the top 1% of business schools in the world with a double accreditation by both AACSB, EQUIS, and newly AMBA, which aligns with Mason’s dedication to academic excellence.
For Castro, he says the opportunity will have a lasting effect on him. "This is a unique and exceptional experience that I will keep in my mind my entire life. I had the opportunity to have interesting discussions with my professors, fellow students and so on. But I would say that I shared the most about the differences in our respective countries and cultures with my roommate."
As part of Castro’s graduation requirements at the Burgundy School, Castro was required to participate in an exchange program. Castro was considering English-speaking countries to improve his English, and the U.S. was his first choice. "I chose Mason because of the proximity to Washington, D.C., and the large portfolio of courses I could choose from."
Experiencing the differences in teaching styles was a unique opportunity for Castro as well. He says while group projects were similar as in his classes in France, he found that courses at Mason contained more case studies and lectures.
Castro says he enjoyed his time at Mason. "I created a group of friends including American and other exchange students from everywhere in the world. We loved to get involve in the Patriot Activities Council events and spend time all together discovering the U.S. What I most enjoyed in this experience was to learn about American culture and history by exploring Washington, D.C." American sports also had a lasting impression on Castro. "It is completely different than in France," says Castro. "I really enjoyed cheering our teams in the different sports!"
Castro hopes to pursue a business career in the wine and spirits industry. "Burgundy is a big producer of wine in France and I’ve already experienced an internship in a Champagne Company and I really enjoyed it."
"The Burgundy school affords our students the opportunity to study abroad in the beautiful region of Dijon, France," says Ford. "There is potential to further partner our new Wine and Craft Beverage Management Minor with the many courses offered in Wine Tourism at the Burgundy School."
Castro’s advice to other students interested in pursuing an exchange program: "Don’t hesitate. Do it and enjoy it fully. This is a unique experience that is worth it in terms of both school learnings and the experience of discovering a new culture and a new country." Castro says adding international study to your resume is also a plus. "Companies are looking for people that are ready to go out of their comfort zone and ready to move to another country as well."