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Next spring, students may find themselves living in Lausanne, Switzerland.
International Programs added this picturesque city to its list of study abroad programs to replace of the French-speaking program in Lyon, France.
“International Programs has been very impressed with the amount of interest that officials in Lausanne, Switzerland have shown in Pepperdine,” Dr. Charles J. Hall, dean of International Programs, said. “The enthusiasm that Swiss officials have shown and the ease that we have experienced so far in getting the program established has made us feel that Switzerland is going to be an easier place to operate.”
A primarily French-speaking city, Lausanne has a population of about 130,000 and is considered to be one of the safest cities in Europe.
The Spring 2007 program is limited to 30 students, however these students must have completed French 151 to attend. Every attempt will be made to offer general education and language requirements, Hall said.
“The Lausanne program will not be a homestay program like we had in Lyon,” Hall said. “Almost 80 students were put on a waiting list for a community living model program like we have in Heidelberg, Florence and London. Thus, we felt we needed to have another program that adopted that model in order to accommodate the large demand.”
“The program will not be associated with an existing school,” Hall added. “Like Florence, Heidelberg and London, Pepperdine will establish itself as a legal entity operating in Switzerland without ties to any existing Swiss university. We will, however, seek to have close ties to the University of Lausanne as we seek to utilize existing resources for our program.”
Students are thrilled about the new program.
Gwendolyn Siska, a freshman who plans to spend the fall in Paris, is ecstatic she can spend an extra semester in another French-speaking country.
“I’ve only heard great things about Switzerland,” Siska said. “Everyone says they’ve loved visiting it, and that it’s beautiful.”
“I can’t wait to see what the people are like,” Siska continued. “And while I’m really glad that our program is a French-speaking one, I hope to pick up a little bit of the other languages they speak there. I’m so excited.”
Resting along the shores of Lake Geneva, this charming city is approximately 30 minutes from the city of Geneva.
Lausanne is home to not only the Olympic Headquarters and Museum, but also the European headquarters of the United Nations.
Because of its optimal location and the public transportation offered, students have easy access to most major cities in Europe. Paris can be reached in four hours and scenic ski resorts are just a few hours away, according to Hall.
Robert Ramos, a sophomore, is interested in the program because of the great opportunities to travel.
“Switzerland is right in the middle of Europe, so a trip to Ibiza would be as easy as a trip to Turkey,” Ramos said. “And as a connoisseur of snow sports, I would have plenty of snow.”
“There’s also the placement amidst so many different cultures with the German speakers, the French speakers and the Italian speakers all right around you,” Ramos said.
Justin Harper, a freshman who thought his chance to study abroad next year was over, said he was excited that another opportunity became available.
“I heard about the Lausanne program and researched Switzerland,” Harper said. “I was excited to discover it had a central location that bordered some of the countries I was interested in.”
The program is set to kick off in January. International Programs is in the process of hiring a program director and choosing a Pepperdine visiting faculty member at the location. If anything should delay the expected starting date, students will be given the opportunity to study in Paris, a program operated by ACCENT.
To apply for the Lausanne program, students can go to http://seaver.pepperdine.edu/internationalprograms. Space is limited.
Further questions about the Lausanne program should be directed to the International Programs Student Office at ext. 4230.
Submitted 03-29-2006
MALIBU, CA
