US students get a classroom with a view

In September, 18 students will begin a new masters programme in EU policy studies in Florence. What makes them unusual is that they will be students at an American institution, John Madison University (JMU) of Harrisonburg, Virginia. "To have a programme taught entirely abroad is a bit unusual in the United States," according to Lee Sternberger, executive director of JMU’s Office of International Programs. "Certainly there are many universities that are opening up branch campuses or offering degrees abroad. Often, however, those programmes are focused on a particular target audience in a particular country. Ours is a bit different in that we are focusing on American students learning about a particular subject within that culture."

The subject is also an unusual one to offer to American students. "There are regional degrees that focus on a part of Europe and its history and culture, but to focus on the European Union as an entity and its policies is quite different," she says.

JMU offers a range of undergraduate courses in European studies, but this is its first masters in the subject. The one-year programme is cross-disciplinary, taking in the EU’s economic and monetary policy, justice and home affairs, health, ageing, immigration, education and technology policy (including science, information security and environmental policy). It concludes with a choice of a research project or an internship with an organisation engaged in either shaping or implementing EU policy. The courses will be taught in English by academics from the universities of Florence and Bologna, and the European University Institute, among other institutions.

"The intention is to prepare graduates to fully participate in the conduct of international affairs, whether it be in the business, governmental or non-governmental or education sectors, both in the United States and abroad," explains Jessica Adolino, professor of political science at JMU and director of the programme. And while the main target audience is American, ultimately she hopes to build an international student body. "We are very much interested in recruiting European students for the programme."

JMU already has a presence in Florence, with undergraduate courses in Italian language and literature, art and art history and political science. However, a decisive factor in extending this to include graduate students has been finding new premises. This has been achieved in style: in collaboration with the Florentine authorities JMU is renovating and adapting the 17th century Palazzo Capponi, overlooking the river Arno.

The building will include classrooms and meeting rooms, computing facilities and living quarters for the masters’ students. Undergraduates will be taught there, but will continue to live with Italian families. There are also plans for a fellowship programme that will bring selected JMU faculty to Florence.

"We see a great deal of possibility for the building as an intellectual centre for JMU," explains Sternberger. "We certainly envision other kinds of experiences there, such as internships for students in, for example, media manage-ment, or working in galleries or tourism. And there is room in the cellar that we hope will become studio space where local artisans and our students could work side by side."

Meanwhile, other masters programmes taught abroad are under discussion. "There are a number of other graduate level courses that we are working on, not in Florence but in other parts of the world. This model is one that JMU will pursue in other places," she says. While it is very early days, JMU’s other projects include a masters in environmental sustainability, with partners in Malta, and a masters in Beijing dealing with US-China political and economic relationships.

• Ian Mundell is a freelance journalist based in Brussels.

In September, 18 students will begin a new masters programme in EU policy studies in Florence. What makes them unusual is that they will be students at an American institution, John Madison University (JMU) of Harrisonburg, Virginia. "To have a programme taught entirely abroad is a bit unusual in the United States," according to Lee Sternberger, executive director of JMU’s Office of International Programs. "Certainly there are many universities that are opening up branch campuses or offering degrees abroad. Often, however, those programmes are focused on a particular target audience in a particular country. Ours is a bit different in that we are focusing on American students learning about a particular subject within that culture."