University Prep is finalizing a plan to establish a Global Link France with a high school in Saint Brieuc called St. Pierre. In October, the head of St. Pierre, David Hersin, and economics teacher Karina Chouisnard visited to see and learn about UPrep. Due to language barriers, Kate Williams, Global and Outdoor Program Manager, paraphrased Hersin and Chouisnard’s quotes. 

“We have the same objective for education,” Williams translated. “It’s that our students engage in their life. It’s not just succeeding on an exam but having the skills to be successful everywhere.”

St. Pierre has partnerships with multiple other schools in Europe but UPrep is their first in North America.

“Europe is very different from the United States,” Williams translated. “They also have these preconceived ideas of what the United States is. So they’re coming here to test those ideas and live life with you as somewhat Americans for a time.” 

Williams, along with Isabelle Rio, the head of the language department, helped build the new relationship, and believes that it will benefit both schools.

“These are two very similar schools in their logistics but also in their philosophy,” Rio said. “So I think it will be a wonderful partnership.” 

Students from St. Pierre are scheduled to visit UPrep this Spring, and the school plans to send students to France during the 2025 school year. 

“I’ve been here 11 years and, you know, there’s a Global Link for Spanish: Colombia, there is one in Taiwan,” Rio said. “So, this is very exciting to have one with France.”

Learning and understanding other cultures is very important to Rio.

“If we connect, we can solve something. I know your story, you know my story. And then you understand. You have to put you in another person’s shoes and truly mean it,” Rio said. “And by doing trips like that. You understand how other cultures think and would solve a lot of problems.”