ESSEC BBA/EPSCI

Bachelor exchange

Spring 2011 Cergy (Paris)

Marianne Hotvedt Exchange at ESSEC BBA (Bachelor) Spring 2011

In brief
My best semester so far is now unfortunately over, after five months of experiences and fun. ESSEC BBA (before called EPSCI) was definitely a smart choice both due to the school itself and the location, close to Paris. The teaching methods that are used differ from those at NHH in many ways, mostly because of the smaller classes and the great importance of practical work instead of theoretical. ESSEC does not focus on reading a dozen of books but rather on group works and reading up-todate articles; so that my presentation and writing skills have definitely been improved. What is more: you will survive perfectly without speaking French since most of the courses are offered in English. In addition there is the great location close to Paris. With just a 30-40 minutes RER trip you can be in Pairs experiencing one of the most beautiful cities in Europe! And who does not want to have Paris as the closest neighbour? I will in this report present some facts about the school, my courses, the application process and some general facts about housing and the bank system. However, if you have any further questions do not hesitate to contact me on: s092056@stud.nhh.no If you choose ESSEC BBA, you will never regret it! Marianne Hotvedt

About ESSEC BBA and my courses

ESSEC is one of Frances Grandes coles, meaning that it has university status even though ESSEC is a pure business school. However, on the Bachelor level you apply to a different branch of the school that used to be called EPSCI but is renamed to ESSEC BBA. The difference between the two branches (ESSEC and ESSEC BBA) is the way you are accepted into the school; either by being among one of the 200ish best from a test after high school = BBA, or two years of hard work before being allowed in = ESSEC. For us however, the location is the same, and the courses they offer still have the great ESSEC quality. If you take your exchange during the spring semester, as me, you will follow the 4th years courses (since E.BBA is a four year bachelor degree), and in the fall semester you will follow the 3rd year. However, the subjects are not more complicated than the ones we are used to from NHH even though they belong to the 3rd or 4th year. The courses of 3 ECTS contains 10 classes on 3 hours, and are therefore shorter and less detailed as the ones we have in NHH, consequently it is necessary to 2 of 9

choose more than four subjects to achieve 30 ECTS. I will now give a short description of the courses I followed during this semester.

Financial markets = BED030

This course taught me the basic about financial markets, how they work and how they can be approved. The teacher gave us numerous of articles to read, and documentaries to watch that covered the different topics of the course: (1) the basic of financial markets, (2) Todays challenges for financial markets, (3) Behavioural and Ethical issues in Finance (4) The search for value new opportunities in Finance and (5) The last Global Crisis. We had to read the articles, and then we discussed the content and the trustworthiness of it with the teacher based on his lesions and also the chapters in the study book. During the course we had to hold two presentations on the articles, and write a summary of them on 1 page in addition to participation in class and the final written exam which counted for 60 % of the grade. This more practical way of learning made the course more interesting than just reading some chapters in a book. The teacher was also very helpful and if anyone had any questions we could ask him at any time and he would answer quickly back.

Strategic management = SOL040

This course was also very practical, where we each lesion discussed the given chapter and a case connected to that chapter, e.g. new technological innovation and the way of adapting to this. The two professors in the course made us hand in small exercises on the cases to each lesion, in addition to the final exam that counted for 60 %, and participation in class. From the fact that we to each lesion had to evaluate the cases ourselves, and try to find the main issue, I believe that we managed to improve our way of critically looking at a business situation, and more easily find out where a company has to do some changes. The class in itself was however a bit unfocused something that was annoying in the beginning, nevertheless the pieces fell together in the end and I feel that that the professors prepared us well for strategic thinking. Study papers My college and I from NHH had to write a study reports on 11 000-12000 words in each of these two subjects to get them approved as BED030 and SOL040. In Financial markets I chose to write about the Great Depression and how Norway escaped with a milder depression than e.g. the US, and in Strategy I wrote about substitutes and how to reduce the threats from them. It seemed like a very difficult task when I first started, however when I first got started it appeared to be very interesting and it was easy to write. I will recommend all to do these 3 of 9

study papers instead of mixing two subjects together to make BED030 and SOL040, since you otherwise would have to supplement two additional courses to each subject (3+3+3 ECTS). You will in addition get most of the work and papers from April and after so that by starting early you have time to finish at least one before the stress starts.

3 courses = 1 ELECTIVE together 8 ECTS

1) Negotiation work skill shop, 2 ECTS Negotiation work skill shop was a three days long seminar before the other courses started, where we had lessons from the morning till the evening. The meaning of the course was to teach us how to effectively negotiate in a business situation, by going through many different role plays where we, the students, were the actors. The plays were based on different situations you could come up in, and after each act the groups came together to discuss what could have been done differently and what worked efficiently. The course ended with a written exam concerning the theories we learned during those three days. The professor did a very good job in guiding us though the cases and by giving specific solutions after each case so that at least I became better in convincing others with different negotiation techniques. 2) LUnion Europenne, 3 ECTS By taking this course you will learn the history of the European Union (EU), its functionality, the Euro zone and also different possibilities with the union and difficulties with e.g. the adoption of less rich countries and various religions. The content was from time to time slightly boring; however it was interesting and necessary to learn about the union even though Norway is not a part of it. During the class we had to prepare: one presentation of a chosen subject (20 % of grade), one mid-term Multiple Choice (20 %) and the final written exam (60 %). The written exam demanded more indepth answers. LUE is taught in French; however the professor adjusts his language so that it fits for international students with intermediate as a French level. For everyone who have taken FRA012/FRA011 or have similar language knowledge should manage this course without problems. It is also a good way of practising and improving your French. 3) Upper intermediate French, 3 ECTS This French course resembled to the business part of FRA011 since we learned relevant words and had discussions concerning business topics, in addition of learning grammar. The classes were however not focused on facts and theory but on our abilities to speak and discuss in French, thus it is 4 of 9

mostly my oral skills and not written ones that have been improved form this course. During the semester we had 3 short multiple choice quizzes, one oral listening exam, one presentation, one film (we made a 3 minutes presentation and filmed ourselves performing it) and the final written exam. The French professor in upper intermediate French (and also beginners French) was voted by most exchange students as the most popular professor. He was always full of energy and managed to motivate the students in every situation; so that the classes were fun at the same time as we after a couple of weeks dared to speak in class. I will recommend everyone who wants to improve their French to take this course, even though you have had all the French programmes at NHH. Your level will be decided in the welcome week, where you have to take one oral test that places you in the right level. Our French professor asked groups of 3 and 3 to enter and asked several questions that everyone had to answer. He based the level first of all on the comprehension but also on how you answered. I was incredible nervous before the test, however it was a lot easier than I thought.

2 courses = 1 VOA 9 ECTS

1) Entrepreneurship 2 the Business plan, 6 ECTS This course only included 8 hours of standard classroom lecturing; the rest was practical work with your business plan group. Those 8 hours were used by the professors to introduce us to the project and to give us some guidelines on the choice of business. The trick about this class, and the reason for the many ECTS, was that we needed to write a realistic business plan something that included studying the market and finding realistic data, thus it was impossible to invent facts. The work in this class was based on preparing a Business plan, first with a Business Model and then a detailed plan. The Business Model had to be 10 pages where we described how to make money, meaning by giving a description on our competitive advantages, stakeholders etc. that would make us profitable in the market. The Business Plan ended up on around 30 pages. This one had to include a detailed (and realistic) financial plan, a marketing plan including marketing research with your own surveys, competitor analysis etc. They were both graded by the two responsible professors; however the business plan counted for most of the percentages. Everyone felt in the beginning that the project was badly organized, and we had problems with really understanding what to do. I changed however my opinion when we finally managed to finish our business plan, and believe now that this project was the one that learned me the most. We realised 5 of 9

in the process that the professors were not supposed to be professors, but incubators that gave advises in the preparation of a business plan, and that how we made the plan depended totally upon ourselves. We were thrown into it and had to take a 100 % initiative. After having this course I therefore feel a lot more confident when it comes to entrepreneurship and on how to actually create an own business; in real life and not just in theory. Note: during the fall semester this course is not available. You will have to take entrepreneurship 1, which I do not know any details about. It is however not demanded that you have entrepreneurship 1 before you take entrepreneurship 2. 2) Intercultural Marketing, 3 ECTS I recommend this course for everyone who wants to do business outside of Norway. In the first class we learned about the differences between dynamic and static cultural influences where it is the static ones a marketer need to concentrate on since they are hard to change and one must adopt. Religion is the most static influence and the course was therefore focused around the different religions: Animism, Christianity (the Catholic Church, Protestantism, the Orthodox Church), Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. The final grade was based on a 40 % group paper and presentation of the paper, which we could correct after the professors first grade, and a 60 % final written exam. The teacher always used a power point with theory and examples on how to either sell religious products in a profitable way, or most importantly: how to use the religion to sell non religious products in a country. I thought this was the most interesting subject and also one that I feel will be very useful in the future.

CERGY
ESSEC is situated in one of Paris suburbs which is called Cergy. You can find the city on the metro map by looking at the red line, A, and look for the end station called Cergy Pontoise that lies 3-5 minutes away from the campus, and 40 minutes away from central Paris. Cergy is not a big city and it is not much to do there except from school. There are some cafes and a big shopping mall called les Trois Fontaines, nevertheless; most exchange people grasped all the chances to go into Paris for either shopping or partying. I did however find it useful to live close to school so that I could walk everyday instead of troubling with the 40 minutes RER trip from Paris.

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The problem was that the last RER from Paris stopped going at 00.30, and we all had to take the night bus: Noctilian, back home from a night out. Except from this I found it profitable to live close to school. Most of the exchange students also lived there so that we all benefited from the exchange environment and fun.

The exchange environment at ESSEC BBA

We were about 100 exchange students at ESSEC BBA this fall; most people came from Spain, the Netherlands and Canada but there were also many other countries represented. Most of us lived in one of the three ESSEC-residents in Cergy. We all therefore lived close to each other and it was easy to create events and to do things together with all the other students. There is an international committee at ESSEC BBA, as on NHH; however they only arranged a couple of social events for us in the beginning of the semester, as a pizza party, a trip to Versailles and one to Disney land, and the rest the exchange students stood for themselves. There were however many ESSEC parties arranged by different social groups at ESSEC, and there was usually one every week, so that there was no lack of fun going on at the campus. We had a habit of meeting all the exchange students before going to school, and we usually went there together. By going to ESSEC BBA you will therefore experience a close exchange environment where you will get to know many people with different nationalities, thanks to the student residents.

Application process
I will mention shortly about the application process and the approving of subjects by NHH. After the acceptance to ESSEC BBA you will have to fill out a learning agreement with the subjects you wish to take, and also register online. The process requires some paperwork; however it is very easy and does not require much effort. If you apply for one of the residences you will also have to fill out a bunch of papers but as soon as that is done you are secured housing, most likely at your preferred residence. What took time on the other hand was the approval of subjects. ESSEC has a certain number of courses available for exchange students, and it was only two of them that could be approved as mandatory subjects by NHH, SOL040 and BED030. In addition, the ESSEC courses are shorter than the NHH ones, and counts only for 3 ECTS, so that I had to mix many courses together to make one elective and one VOA-subject (see above).

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In case of problems with the schedule I applied for most of the courses offered by ESSEC and got most of them approved by NHH, something that will help everyone who is going to ESSEC BBA after me. You will have to apply for the subjects yourself; however since they have been approved once you can be sure they will be so again. BED030: Financial markets + individual study report (11000-12000 words) SOL040: Strategic Management + individual study report (11000-12000 words) Elective (sum>7.5 ECTS): All level of French, Union Europenne, Negotiation Work Skill Shop, French civilisation VOA (sum>7.5 ECTS): Entrepreneurship 2, Intercultural Marketing, International Marketing, Organizational Behaviour (STMM14043 as a VOA or as a part of Sol020).

5 things I would have liked to have known before leaving

At the end I will give you some tips that I wish I would have gotten before I started my exchange. 1. Which residence to choose? It is Alegessec that is responsible for the housing, and not ESSEC itself. You will get a brochure with good descriptions of the different residences: Le Port, Linandes and Cergy le Haut, nevertheless it does not mention which of the residents most other exchange students live in. I picked Linandes because it was in a walking distance to school and because it was cheaper than le Port, what I did not know on the other hand was that nearly all other exchange students lived in Cergy le Haut or Le Port. All the parties were consequently in Le Port, the newest residence that is situated approximately 30 minutes walking from Linandes. Since it is not safe to walk home alone when it is dark in Cergy, the five of us that lived in Linandes depended on waiting for each other at all time, something which because annoying if you wanted to take an earlier night than the others. Consider therefore this when you choose your resident. 2. French bank account The bank system in France is very complicated, and I experienced some troubles with my bank account. The problem is that the account does not register your costs before after two or three days, so that it is possible to over use your card those days even though you are actually in minus. If you do not constantly keep track of the money you spent you will get troubles. In addition; it takes more than a week to transfer money from your Norwegian bank account to the French one. If you as me have a bank card that does not charge you for using it abroad do not get a French bank account. 3. Exam dates 8 of 9

Most of the exams are in the last week of school, and you can easily have two exams on the same days since they only last for 2 hours. There is an exception however, concerning the subjects where there are only international students: e.g. Intercultural/international marketing, Geopolitics, European economics, Union Europenne. Those courses have the exam in the last class something they often do not tell you in the beginning. It is consequently possible to plan an earlier summer holiday if you only choose those courses. I do however recommend choosing something that interests you. 4. Study papers Since I chose two mandatory courses I also had to write two study reports. When I chose these courses I did not know the amount of words I had to write for each of them, 11000-12000 words, and it came as a bit of a chock. It appeared however to be interesting work and I learned a lot for both of them. I will recommend you to do the same, and not match two courses that together make e.g. BED030 since you then need 7.5 credits and most of the courses at ESSEC are worth only 3 ECTS. Now that ESSEC BBA knows the criteria for the papers you should also start to write them as soon as possible, if possible at once the semester start since you will have a lot of projects in April and later on. 5. APL and birth certificate An APL is a housing subsidy you can get from the French government. I got 200 Euros for April and Mai, and possible for June as well. You will get a lot of information about what documents to bring etc., nevertheless this information is quite confusing. What you will have to do is to send a copy of the documents they require in an email HOWEVER, you also need to bring these originals and copies when you receive your key at Alegessec. Firstly, make at least 3 copies of the mentioned documents in the mail. Secondly: order a birth certificate in French from skatteetaten.no. The information from ALEGESSEC about this is somewhat confusing; however you will need it in order to get your APL.

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