The Town of Jouy-en-Josas

Jouy-en-Josas is situated four kilometres to the south east of Versailles, right in the middle of the valley of the Bièvre river. A small town with nearly eight thousand inhabitants, half of Jouy-en-Josas is covered by forest. It is home to the HEC School of Management and is located approximately ten miles from the center of Paris. The town dates back to the ninth century when monks from the abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés settled the area. However, the population diminished rapidly in the fourteenth century due to a number of wars and epidemics. By 1466, there were only three houses left in the village. Following this, the town became home to several aristocratic families and in the mid-17^th century emerged as a center for industry. Towards the mid-18th century, industry waned and a hundred years later, HEC moved its campus to Jouy-en-Josas. Today, the city is home to several higher education institutes and research centers as well as several historical chateaus and churches, particularly the Roman Catholic Church of St. Martin, which dates back to the 18^th century. The town is easily accessible to Paris via the suburban train, a mere 45 minutes ride.

HEC School of Management

Created in 1881 by the Paris Chamber of Commerce, the École des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC) is France’s leading business school and one of the top business schools in Europe. Located in the heart of the thriving, diverse Paris business community, the school has earned international acclaim for its superior programs, groundbreaking research, and outstanding student body. The HEC Business School was ranked number one in Europe by the Financial Times two years in a row, firmly establishing the university’s reputation both within Europe and the rest of the world.

The University has a long-established tradition of welcoming international students to its lively and friendly campus: an ideal environment in which to live and learn. HEC prides itself on consistently having over eighty nationalities represented on campus and over 200 exchange students every year. Students are offered many opportunities, both professionally and academically, through the wide range of management courses and specializations. HEC’s outstanding academic achievement and the high quality of research undertaken in all fields of management reflect the intellectual profile of its students and the world-class research of its faculty.

This program represents an ideal opportunity for students to complete a part of their home degree at HEC, allowing them to enjoy not only the high quality of the university’s academic environment but also the stimulating, multicultural life of HEC and Paris. HEC is committed to developing knowledge and techniques in management. Active involvement in research guarantees that teaching is based on the latest findings in management science. A vibrant research environment makes HEC a place of choice for the best professors in management and contributes to its international reputation.

The HEC campus is a unique site located on a 250-acre green setting in Jouy-en-Josas, about fifteen miles southwest of central Paris with easy commuter rail and bus service to the city center. The campus has been designed to foster relaxation, exchange of information and mutual support. In addition to the classroom spaces, HEC has on-campus accommodation, a language learning center, an infirmary, student restaurants, a special financial trading room, a library, a number of outdoor and indoor sports facilities, and several computer rooms.

Program website: http://www.hec.fr.

Penn Students at HEC

Students participating on the Wharton-HEC exchange will select their courses from a number of different types currently offered by the School. The Cours Obligatoires make up part of the required curriculum for all HEC degree candidates and include coursework in accounting, management, business law, marketing and business strategy. Wharton students participating on the exchange must select at least two cours obligatoires as part of their program of study. Cours Obligatoires are offered in both French and English.

Seminaires de Comportement Managerial are intensive courses designed to build student skills in a specific area of business studies such as negotiations, strategic planning or working with group dynamics. They will typically take place on two weekends during the term. Students on the exchange will complete one seminaire.

Cours Optionnels offer a wide variety of elective courses in business and the humanities and include courses in intermediate and advanced French. All participants are required to enroll in the appropriate French language course as part of their coursework at HEC. Wharton exchange students will typically enroll in one cours optionnel in addition to a French course to complete their curriculum at HEC. HEC offers several courses in English that are open to all students. Penn students may take a maximum of one course in English per term; the remaining courses must be in French.

Course Load

All students are expected to enroll in a courseload comparable to that of HEC students, typically five to six courses per semester. Students will enroll in two cours obligatoires, one seminaire de comportement managerial, one French course and at least one cours optionnel.

Grading

Grades are given using the ECTS (European Credit Transfert System) A to F scale. ECTS grades will be converted to Penn grades using the following equivalencies: ECTS A= A, ECTS B= A-,ECTS C=B, ECTS D=B-, ECTS E=C, ECTS Fx=D, ECTS F=F. As on all Penn Abroad programs, grades are recorded on the Penn transcript and are calculated in the cumulative grade point average. The pass/fail option can be exercised according to the Penn on-campus policy.

Academic Calendar

Fall semester: early September - late December

Spring semester: early February - early June

Living Arrangements

All exchange participants will live on-campus in one of the HEC student dormitories. Campus accommodation consists of 14 student halls, which are divided into individual furnished rooms and flats. The rooms are equipped with a shower (shared between two rooms), a single bed with sheets and blankets, a bedside table, a desk, shelves, two chairs, a wardrobe, a telephone and plugs for TV and network connection, and each have a balcony. A student restaurant, snack shop and bar are all available on the HEC School of Management campus and are popular amongst the students.

Student Life

HEC’s Student Union, referred to as BDE (Bureau de Élèves), is the umbrella organization for all the clubs and associations on campus. Participation in sports is a major part of student life at HEC and the campus has a wide variety of sports facilities to suit student interests: a soccer stadium and rugby field, a martial arts center, basketball courts, climbing walls, tennis courts, a fitness center and access to a nine-hole golf course and a lake. Tuesday and Thursday afternoons are reserved for sports training and competition. Even if your level is not very good, all students are encouraged to participate. Students are also encouraged to participate in one of the artistic associations at HEC such as theater, drawing or photography or to join an association devoted to your national culture.

The Bureau des Elèves, with its 36 members, is one of the main organizers of events. In addition to welcoming new students and introducing them to campus life, the Bureau organizes social and leisure events at HEC and trips to other areas in France and Europe. One of the main associations on campus is the HEC Junior Conseil, which is a non-profit organization entirely managed by 17 students of the HEC business school. Gathering the strengths of the campus, HEC Junior Conseil offers efficient consulting services to the market. With about 1,200 members, the organization undertakes more than 100 studies per year for companies of all kinds.

In addition to the cultural, humanitarian, leisure, sports, and international opportunities on campus, the city of Paris, located about 45 minutes from HEC, offers an abundance of activities for students to explore, and students should take advantage of the many museums, performances and cultural and sporting events that can easily be found in the city.

Insurance and Health Notes

International students attending French universities are required to purchase a supplemental medical insurance policy. This policy can be obtained upon arrival at HEC, and will cost approximately $325 for the semester.

Visa

The French government requires that all program participants obtain a student visa and a carte de séjour. Instructions are provided to admitted students. Non-U.S. citizens must consult a French consulate for visa requirements.