Two Wor-Wic Community College students recently represented the United States at the Ports of the Future International Summer School, an international learning program in France hosted by the Université Le Havre Normandie.
The program brought together 28 students from 15 universities and 13 countries, including Angelina Li of Berlin and Torre’ Phillips of Pittsville, the only representatives from the U.S. The program focused on the future of port cities, with an emphasis on sustainability, innovation and climate adaptation.
“From a Wor-Wic perspective, this was a meaningful opportunity for our students to engage in an international academic environment, collaborate across cultures and connect classroom learning to real-world global challenges,” said Daron Mulligan, global education coordinator. “Our students were outstanding representatives of the college. They embraced every opportunity to learn, collaborate with international peers and showcase their knowledge through impressive final presentations.”
It was an enriching experience for the students.
“Each day was a mix of lectures, discussions, professional field trips and cultural experiences,” Phillips said. “We attended lectures from professors and industry professionals on topics including the impacts of decarbonization, presented by a professor from the University of Le Havre, and geopolitics related to Mediterranean ports, taught by a professor from EMUNI University in Slovenia. We participated in daily field trips, including a behind-the-scenes tour of Port 2000 with an insightful conversation with two of the port’s dockers, a boat tour of the Bay of Le Havre and a guided walking tour focused on the city’s remarkable reconstruction after World War II.”
Phillips said she had never traveled internationally before, and the experience has sparked her interest in exploring even more. “One of the best parts of the program was meeting students from around the world, including Greece, Vietnam, Bulgaria, Poland, Brazil, Martinique and many other places. It was fascinating to hear different perspectives and learn about everyone’s educational backgrounds and cultures while spending the week together.”
The program was perfectly tailored to her interests: “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study abroad while learning about a topic that connects to my interests in business, finance and global trade,” she said. “Additionally, I had always wanted to visit France. As a child, my bedroom was Paris-themed, so the Ports of the Future Summer School combined a lifelong dream with an incredible academic experience.”
Her fellow student Li, who also participated in Wor-Wic’s Scotland study abroad program, also found the experience valuable.
“Academically, I learned about the role that ports play in global trade and how technology and sustainability are shaping the future of the maritime industry. However, I learned just as much outside the classroom,” Li said. “Living in another country taught me to be more adaptable and open-minded in unfamiliar situations. I became more comfortable communicating with people from different cultural backgrounds and learned that there are many different perspectives on solving global challenges.”
Both Li and Phillips say the experience will help in future business careers.
“Studying abroad challenged me to step outside my comfort zone, adapt to new environments and work with people from diverse backgrounds,” Li said. “These are skills that will benefit me throughout my career, especially because I plan to work in business where collaboration across cultures is increasingly important.”
Phillips agreed, saying, “The experience broadened my perspective and strengthened skills that will benefit me both academically and professionally as I continue my education and prepare for a career in business and finance.”
