GO GREEN: Sustainability in France and Germany
The GO GREEN (Green Organizations: Global Responsibility for Economic and Environmental Necessity) program is a short-term study abroad program designed to expose students to issues of environmental sustainability in the French and German contexts. GO GREEN not only exposes students to sustainable practices; it also emphasizes the cultural, political, and business aspects of environmental sustainability. n general, EU member countries tend to be more advanced in terms of their sustainable practices when compared to the US. France and Germany specifically provide excellent examples of this because of their focus on national sustainable policies as well as their prominence within the EU. In addition, many of the sites we visit have offices or locations in Indiana (e.g. Roche, Freudenberg). In addition to the organizational site visits listed above, we also organize cultural visits and activities.
In France:
- Hike through the Calanques National Park
- Tour of LUMA art museum in Arles and exploration of Arles
- Boat tour of Calanques National Park
- Boat tour of Frioul Islands
- Visit to Grotte Cosquer (replica of prehistoric cave paintings)
In Germany:
- Tour of Worms (significant site of the Protestant Reformation)
- Visit and tour of Speyer, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Visit to Heidelberg Castle and city
- Visit to Schwetzingen Garten und Schloß
- Visit to Ladenburg
These sites provide students with a connection to the local history and culture of the host country. In addition, many of these sites also highlight issues of sustainability and climate change. For example, Grotte Cosquer is inaccessible due to prehistoric sea level rise (how might modern sea level rise contribute to the loss of culturally important sites?).
Undergraduate objectives for the course include:
- Acquire knowledge of issues in sustainability (interdisciplinary area) as it relates to business and industry internationally and nationally.
- Acquire some knowledge and appreciation of French & German cultures and some language skills.
- Utilize, analyze, and synthesize sustainable knowledge from the course to apply in life upon return to the U.S.
- Understand and analyze the interconnectivity of global concerns.
Graduate objectives for the course include:
- Acquire knowledge of issues in sustainability (interdisciplinary area) as it relates to business and industry internationally and nationally.
- Identify and describe trends and business practices in various sustainable organizations.
- Utilize, analyze, and synthesize sustainable knowledge from the course to apply in life upon return to the U.S.
- Acquire knowledge and appreciation of French & German cultures and some language skills.
- Understand and analyze the interconnectivity of global concerns.
Tentative Program Itinerary
- May 12: FRANCE- Arrivals, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
- May 13: FRANCE- Solar restaurant, Polytechnic School of Aix-Marseille University
- May 14: FRANCE- Calanques National Park tour
- May 15: FRANCE- LUMA, Arles
- May 16: FRANCE- Calanques boat tour
- May 17: FRANCE- Grotte Cosquer, Mucem
- May 18: Travel to Germany
- May 19: GERMANY- Rest/Flex/Prep Day
- May 20: GERMANY- University of Kaiserslautern
- May 21: GERMANY- Worms
- May 22: GERMANY- Schwetzingen
- May 23: GERMANY- Freiburg
- May 24: GERMANY- Roche, Ladenburg
- May 25: GERMANY- Freudenberg Group, Heidelberg
- May 26: Depart for U.S.
Click here to enroll in this program
Contact program leader Kevin Rose via email with your questions.