Transcript New York University In Paris

New York University
NYU in Paris
Best In France Case Study
HEC, Autumn 2003
Group ES1.b
Murat Dedeoglu
Gabriel Gomez-Celaya
Justin Oppelaar
Alexandre Minaev
AGENDA
 NYU in Paris –
History & Business
Model
 Students & Services
 Why did NYU Come
to France?
 Merging Institutional
Cultures
 Benefits and/or
Limitations of Being
in France (Cultural,
Administrative &
Financial)
 Essential Advice to
Newcomers
What is NYU in Paris?
 NYU opened its Paris campus on the Rue de Passy in
1969
 Campus was NYU’s second venture abroad (after Madrid
in the late 1950s)
 Began with a few dozen students – now accepting 130 for
the spring 2004 semester
 Overseen directly by the College of Arts & Sciences in
New York (along with Madrid; other study-abroad
programs run by the central administration)
 50/50 mix between NYU students and students from
other schools
NYU In Paris - Financials
 NYU is technically a non-profit entity – in the U.S. and in
France
 But NYU in Paris is highly profitable – the campus
makes between $1.5 and 2 million in profits per semester.
 Paris and Madrid are the only profitable abroad programs
to date
 Other programs – including London, Florence and Prague
– weren’t started until the mid 90s
 NYU tuition, board & fees (at home and abroad)
currently totals $41,106
Students & Services
 Students study abroad for a summer, semester or full year
during their third year of undergraduate study, or in the
summer only for post-grad students
 Why do they come?
– To improve French language skills
– To immerse themselves in a foreign culture
– For some, to be “on vacation in Paris for four months”
– However, NYU keeps the bar high academically – “We
gear our activities to students who are here for the right
reasons”
 What does NYU in Paris Offer?
– Intensive language training
– Courses in literature, history & arts
– Frequent cultural excursions in Paris and across France
Why did NYU
Come To France?
 Original founder, Tom Bishop, was head of the French
department at NYU for 35 years – built the Paris campus
from the ground up based on personal contacts
 Objectives:
– to expand the breadth of its offerings to students in
New York
– To offer a hands-on opportunity to practice the
language taught in classes back home – “our two
primary goals are language acquisition and cultural
immersion”
 “We bring our clients a very specific service - they are
full-time students of France and of French culture.
Everything we do is focused on giving them the best
possible experience”
Merging Institutional Cultures:
Paris vs. New York
 Staff of NYU in Paris have had minimal difficulty
interfacing with French culture
 Staff is split 50/50 between U.S.- and French-born
employees; adjunct faculty is 75% French on average
 No explicit hiring policies - In general managerial
positions are held by expatriates (though the directorship
is currently held by a Frenchwoman)
 Employment laws are “totally different” – i.e. much more
restrictive. But the small office size keeps management employee relations cordial & minimizes conflict
Merging Institutional Cultures:
New York vs. Paris
 Ironically, the most friction comes in dealing with the
“home office” in New York.
 Employees say bureaucracy and anonymity is much
greater there, because of its size and scope
 Cultural ignorance in New York is also a problem:
– Ex. NYU’s New York legal office doesn’t understand
the requirements of doing business in France –
resulting in much unnecessary bureaucratic hassle
– French paperwork requirements (permits, visas, etc.)
take longer than they should because everything must
be approved through New York
Benefits & Limitations I
 35-Hour Work Week: NYU in Paris has made its work
hours more flexible by providing extra vacation days
(6-9 weeks) in return for work beyond 35 hours/week
 Hiring: NYU hasn’t had big problems finding qualified
personnel in France (“we have never had to recruit”) –
though hiring expenses can be significant
– Ex. hiring at $50,000 salary, expect 40% more
for payroll taxes
 Salaries: For French employees, pay is competitive
with local standards. Expats retain their New York
salary and are paid in dollars
(not so advantageous right now!)
Benefits & Limitations II
 Firing: Much more difficult than in the U.S. – If
someone is fired in France, it almost inevitably ends in a
court trial (La Prudhomme)
 “The bottom line is, the employee is always right.”
 That said, NYU has had few problems – again because
of its small size and personal contact among employees
 Cultural Adjustment for Staff: Generally minimal,
because professors and staff are already very familiar
with French culture and norms
– According to one professor: “I am extremely
comfortable in both cultures, plus there is a great
staff at NYU (Paris) that is very gracious
Essential Advice
 Be aware of your surroundings
– “Things are done differently here. You are in a legal
framework that requires a certain level of
maintenance.”
 Make sure you have the full support AND understanding
of the home office
 Give managers in France a minimum level of trust and
autonomy to do the job as they see fit
– “The local staff are more aware of what is going on
and what needs to happen to make the business a
success”
 Be open-minded - and patient
– “the rhythm of life here is different. The
understanding of time here is not always in the
‘Anglo-Saxon’ way.”
A Hearty Thanks To:
 Caroline Montel
Director, NYU in Paris
([email protected])
 Christopher Bouchard
Administrative Manager, NYU in Paris
([email protected])
 Henriette Goldwyn
Professor, NYU in Paris
([email protected])
Our Team:
 Murat Dedeoglu
[email protected]
 Gabriel Gomez Celaya
[email protected]
 Alexandre Minaev
[email protected]
 Justin Oppelaar
[email protected]