The purpose of the visit was to develop and strengthen partnerships between the institutions, with a view to establishing new means of cooperating in the fields of language studies and international studies (i.e. civilization, trade, politics and economics). A framework agreement has existed between Rennes 2 University and URI since 2013, promoting student mobility, in particular by welcoming American students to the CIREFE to learn or improve their French.

The URI delegation consisted of:  

• Ms. Jeannette Riley - Dean and Professor, College of Arts and Sciences

• Mr. Paul Larratt - Dean and Professor, College of Pharmacy

• Ms. Nedra Reynolds - Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

• Mr. Ric McIntyre - Chair and Professor, Economics Department

• Mr. Marc Hutchison - Professor and Department Chair, Department of Political Science

• Mr. Brett Feret - Clinical Professor and Director of Experiential Education, College of Pharmacy

• Ms. Karen De Bruin - Associate Professor and French Department Chair

Already partnering with the three Rennes higher education institutions, URI wishes to further extend this collaboration within the framework of its new "International Studies & Diplomacy" program. This multidisciplinary program, which extends through the Master's level, includes a mandatory period of international mobility, allowing URI students to benefit from an international experience in total immersion in order to strengthen their linguistic capacity.

The Rhode Island delegation also expressed their wish to learn more about social science courses (economics, political science, history, anthropology) available in Rennes and indicated that it considered Rennes as a structure for the development of its international policy. The visit was made in the context of the construction of the University of Rennes, which should further enrich the collaboration between the higher education institutions of the Breton capital and their American counterparts.