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The University of Notre Dame Australia recently hosted 17 students and two staff members from the Catholic University of Paris for an unforgettable two-week immersion experience in Fremantle.
The School of Arts and Sciences put together a carefully curated program for the students that was designed to give them an insight into Australian culture, history, politics, wildlife, art, law and more.
Sessions were held on topics such as Australia’s colonial history, the natural environment, contemporary culture, and literature and film.
The visitors also had the chance to visit some of Western Australia’s most iconic sites.
This included Caversham Wildlife Park, the Swan Valley, Rottnest Island and Parliament House, where they had afternoon tea with Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Hon Michelle Roberts MLA.
Addressing Notre Dame staff, Catholic University of Paris Head of International Daniel Olliver said one of the highlights of the trip had been the moving Welcome to Country ceremony and lesson on Indigenous culture.
He described the immersion as an “outstanding experience” and said he was looking forward to working with Notre Dame in the future.
“We really learnt a lot about the country, and we finished with an AFL game with Fremantle winning over Richmond, so we are all now Dockers supporters,” Mr Olliver said.
“A year ago, we welcomed 28 of your students to Paris for a two-week program. The big difference with your students and our students is that most of your students had been to France or Europe before so it was not all new for them. For us, none of us had been to Australia before so it was a really new experience.”
Notre Dame first partnered with the highly respected French university in 2019, and the past two years has seen the relationship strengthen.
Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Sciences, Law and Business, Professor Martin Drum, said the relationship with the Catholic University of Paris was one of Notre Dame’s most important international partnerships.
“It has manifested in tangible activities which benefit out students and staff,” he said.