The Eiffel Tower – one of the world-famous landmarks our students took time to explore while in Paris
Paris in springtime might conjure images of pavement cafés, buttery croissants and the sun sparkling on the Seine… but for a group of De Montfort University HRM and Business students, it was the setting for serious discussions on the future of work.
On a DMU Global trip that combined education, culture and professional networking, our group took a deep-dive into the world of French human resource management.
The visit was hosted jointly by the Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT) Union, one of France’s most prominent labour organisations, and the Ciffop Business School at the University of Paris. At the CGT headquarters, students were given a guided tour before engaging in a lively debate on the pressing challenges facing today’s workforce. The frank and varied discussions, from shifting employment laws to the impact of tech on job security, revealed the different but insightful perspectives of French and UK approaches. The group then joined HRM Masters students at Ciffop Business School for a lecture examining employment relations in a European context, proving that HR challenges transcend borders (and language barriers).
But the Paris experience wasn’t confined to seminar rooms. Between the serious bits, our students took time to explore some of the city’s world-famous landmarks – from the treasures of the Louvre to the restored spire of Notre Dame – and practise their French in cafés, shops and bars.
The trip was a whirlwind of ideas, inspiration and international friendship, with just enough croissant crumbs left behind to mark their trail.