France – Jaeyeon
Student: Jaeyeon
Course: Bachelor of Business (Sport Management)
Program: NEOMA Sport Federations Summer Programme, France, June–July 2026
Winter Abroad grant recipient
Describe the city you were living in
Over the three weeks, I lived in two cities, Paris and Reims. Everyone knows Paris, so I’ll talk about Reims instead, a city I only discovered because of this programme. It’s a much smaller, quieter place, which suited me well since I’ve never been a huge fan of loud, chaotic environments. It was summer, so the weather was warm and sunny most days. Reims is known for its champagne houses, and you’ll find them scattered throughout the city. Historic sites are everywhere too, often tucked away on streets you’d walk straight past if you weren’t looking for them.
How did you make friends and what sort of things did you do together
The programme was small, only twelve of us, with students from England, Australia, Canada, Colombia and a few other countries. Because we were together for six hours a day, everyone got close naturally, there wasn’t really an option not to. After sessions, whoever was free would head out together, sometimes to a nearby pub, sometimes to a shopping centre, or just wandering around to see the famous sights of Paris. It felt less like a group of strangers on a programme and more like a proper friend group by the end of it.
How will your trip add value to your studies
This experience gave me a much more realistic understanding of the sports industry, the field I want to work in. Every instructor on the programme had genuine industry experience, so their insights came from real work rather than theory. The stadium tours were especially valuable, since the guides were club or venue staff who shared details about how clubs operate, the kind of thing you’d only learn from being on the inside. It helped me see the industry clearly for the first time and gave me a much sharper sense of direction for my own career plans.
Learn more about the NEOMA Sport Federations Summer Programme