Vivian Hou, '12

Many students are attracted to the Robins School of Business for the opportunity to receive an esteemed international business education. While over 50 percent of all Robins School of Business undergraduates study abroad, few take advantage of the dual diploma program. Having spent a year in Rennes, France, during high school, Vivian Hou knew she wanted to continue her international experience and education in college and came to Richmond to do so.

“As I was looking at colleges, I was really excited to discover the Robins School of Business’ dual diploma program, as it perfectly matched my interests in international business and French,” Hou said. Students concentrating in international business can apply for the Robins School of Business and Rouen Business School dual diploma program. After a year at Rouen Business School in Mont-Saint-Aignan, France, students will have completed multiple courses, a four-month work placement and a research project (among other requirements).  Having completed these requirements and being awarded a Robins School of Business degree with a concentration in international business, they will also receive the Rouen bachelor diploma which is normally earned in four years.

“I believe that in order to fully immerse yourself in a culture and become fluent in a language, you need to spend at least one year in the country,” Hou said. “It may seem daunting at first to study abroad for that length of time, but a semester goes by a lot faster than I imagined.” Hou says she knows the courses at the Robins School of Business and the professors who led lively discussions and encouraged participation greatly helped prepare her for her time abroad. “The professors at the Robins School of Business each bring unique professional experiences to the table, and they have high expectations of students since classes are normally conducted in small group settings. This student-teacher interaction is what makes classes stimulating,” she said.

Upon enrolling in the dual diploma program, Hou learned of the many advantages the program provides. “The program requires a combined international business and French concentration, so I was given the rare opportunity of having a business advisor, Dr. Tom Cossé, Associate Dean of International Business Programs at Richmond, and a French Advisor, Dr. Olivier Delers,  assistant professor for French Literature at Rouen. It was nice to have two different advisors as Dr. Cossé helped me transition into my year at Rouen and advised me on courses, while Dr. Delers supported me throughout my summer research and my senior thesis,” she said.

While at Rouen Business School, Hou challenged herself to make the most out of her time. She participated in a case competition for the first time, analyzing and developing recommendations for a complex business problem in three days, and worked with fellow French students to create a 30-page French business plan for a local carpentry business.

Hou’s experience with the dual diploma program has shaped her plans as a December 2012 graduate from the Robins School of Business. “I’d like to start a career with an international organization that focuses on international development,” she said. A research grant provided by Richmond this summer allowed her to work with French and American companies to study trends in business such as sustainability and environmental relationships and she hopes to continue that work. “I’d like to be involved in either helping businesses develop social and environmental roles or in development projects that involve collaboration with the private sector,” Hou said.

Among establishing her professional career, Hou looks forward to continuing her travels and capitalizing on all she has learned in and out of the classroom, both at the Robins School of Business and Rouen School of Business.